THE ROAD TO SUCCESS LEADS TO CHEROKEE BY CHOICE

Five years ago, the Cherokee By Choice (CBC) initiative sealed its place in history, and the results are nothing but extraordinary. What started as a bold brand identity and public-private partnership is now a lifestyle–one that other communities strive to capture and recreate.

People are often surprised to learn about the diverse array of industries that share Cherokee County zip codes. Own a Ford, Volkswagen, BMW, or RAM truck? You can thank Cherokee-based Inalfa Roof Systems for your state-of-the-art sunroof.

Craving a Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich? This Chick-fil-A favorite was researched and developed at Canton-based Pilgrim’s—one of the world’s leading poultry suppliers.

While the list of Cherokee-based companies is impressive, these industries all have one thing in common—they are all in Cherokee By Choice.

The appeal of Cherokee By Choice extends far beyond the ever-popular #CherokeeByChoice hashtag to the partnerships that drive its success. When a company (large or small) locates in Cherokee, they are a partner for life. These partners are often Cherokee’s greatest storytellers and many, like 2019 Cherokee Entrepreneur of the Year and Reformation Brewery CEO Spencer Nix, have become lifelong champions of giving back to the community they call home.

“I like to think that Reformation is one of Cherokee’s favorite exports. We are proudly North Georgia Made and Cherokee County FIRST By Choice,” Spencer says.

This same collaborative spirit is what makes investing and being in Cherokee By Choice such an easy decision. So much so, that over 75+ investors committed over $2.7 million in funding for the inaugural Cherokee By Choice Initiative in 2018, which led to over $437 million in capital investment and 57 business locations/ expansions—creating 2,026 new jobs.