fiveover the past

• $437M in capital investment and 57 business locations/ expansions–creating 2,026 new jobs

• 23,877 students reached statewide by Be Pro Be Proud Georgia, an initiative promoting 15 of Georgia’s most in-demand skilled professions; over the last two years, 53 Cherokee County students participated in a “signing day” to begin careers and/ or technical training within these professions as a result of Be Pro Be Proud

• 17 North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service Ventures; 33 mentors donated 624+ volunteer hours

• 4 collaborative corporate park/mixed use projects in partnership with cities and/or county underway

• $629K in grant funding awarded to 51 small businesses in response to the negative impacts of COVID

• 209 projects filmed; 3 Annual Cherokee Film Summits with 270 students/700 professionals; 60K+ total interactions on the “Filmed in Cherokee” Mobile App

• 41 Circuit Woodstock members (Cherokee’s first coworking space); members represent various target sectors such as I.T., corporate operations, film/media, and other professional services

• 70 High School Summer Internship Program participants since June 2018, resulting in both full and part-time employment

• 3,400+ Cherokee Career Expo participants with 35+ local employers per hiring event

The strategic initiative addressed key challenges facing businesses, including talent, site locations for new and expanding businesses, and ongoing support to recruit and retain companies.

Powered by five years of winning strategies and partners representing nearly every industry sector, COED launched CBC 2.0 in March 2022—a plan that builds upon the success of CBC 1.0 with three specific goals:

• Retain, Align, and Attract Educated & Talented Workers to meet the needs of employers and job seekers

• Grow Strong, Innovative Businesses to ensure economic opportunity for all

• Develop Infrastructure & Products to establish Cherokee as a “total package” that’s attractive to businesses, workers, and residents

In addition to these goal areas, COED has identified six high-growth target sectors that will drive sustainable growth over the next five years:

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Headquarters

• Technology

• Film & Digital Entertainment

• Entrepreneurs/Startups

• Commercial Developers

Big goals require bold action, and this initiative delivers just that. With CBC 2.0, headlines like these are one step closer to hitting neighborhood newsstands:

“Cherokee Lands Another Major International Headquarters”

“Cherokee Named Top Destination for Startups in Southeast”

“Cherokee Leads Nation in Talent, Workforce Development”

Cherokee’s story is one of resilience and success—191 years in the making. Though much has been accomplished, we’ve only just begun. The business community and people who call Cherokee home are second to none and together, we are building an ecosystem that serves as a launching pad for businesses of all sizes.

Regardless of whether you’re a homegrown entrepreneur like Spencer Nix or an executive at a multi-national company looking to relocate, the road to success is paved with opportunity and leads to Cherokee By Choice. •

Accelerate your future—visit CherokeeGA.org to learn more.