Dawn Townsend

TRENTON, Ga. — Dade County on Thursday took its place with 14 other Northwest Georgia counties declared “entrepreneur friendly” by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“This is an exciting day,” said Dawn Townsend, project manager for the state’s Small Business and Innovation Office. “We are here to review Dade County’s progress and designate the community as entrepreneur friendly.”

A review team analyzed the county’s attention to its small businesses, specifically those with fewer than 20 employees, to determine its qualification as being an entrepreneur friendly community.

Gov. Sonny Perdue launched the Entrepreneur Friendly initiative in 2007 to help put small business support into a community’s overall economic development strategy. Local chambers of commerce must go through a list of steps to receive the designation.

“The economic activity created by small businesses and entrepreneurs brings prosperity and opportunity to every part of Georgia,” Gov. Perdue said in a prepared statement released as Dade became the 118th Georgia county named entrepreneur friendly. “By championing these businesses, we are investing in a stronger future for communities throughout the state.”

Catoosa and Walker counties were recognized as entrepreneur friendly in April and May, respectively.

Entrepreneur Friendly recognition should pay off in paycheck and tax dollars, according to local officials.

“Small business is the backbone of our economy,” state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, said Thursday during the events here. “This is another tool in recruiting.”

Not only does the support network help lure new business to an area, that support aids locals wanting to establish their own mom-and-pop operations, he said.

The Department of Economic Development’s “Entrepreneur Friendly” designation shows potential businesses that a community is committed to supporting its small-business members.

“The majority of new jobs are created by small businesses,” said Leamon Scott of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “A jobs here, a few jobs there — they add to a critical mass in a community.”

For first-time business owners, that certification means an established network of resources for help and guidance is in place.

“All you have to do is ask,” said Brenda Gass, who with her husband, Dewayne, opened D&B Custom Powder Coating in the Dade County Industrial Park nearly two years ago. “Everybody in the county is helpful. I love my little town.”

The Gasses serve clients from Canada to Florida, but much of their business comes from manufacturers in Chattanooga and, even nearer, the industrial park in Trenton.

“We had this idea, and knew what we wanted to do,” Mr. Gass said. “Now, here we are.”

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