James January-February 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 22
“The Chamber’s tag line of connecting, creating,
and cultivating enables us to measure outcomes from
the organization’s various program and initiatives.
Whether connecting business and community, creating economic viability and value, or cultivating member engagement, success stories are what motivate
our volunteers and staff,” Carnes points out.
Carnes is very optimistic that the Chamber will
continue to grow as the community grows, saying,
“Both the chamber and county must be mindful
of the needs of our ever-changing landscape. The
implementation of new programs and services—
whether for Chamber members or Cherokee County
residents— are vital. We will, from both an external
volunteer perspective and internal staff mindset,
continue to work collaboratively to strive to meet the
Chamber’s mission of promoting business to expand
the economy and enrich the community.”
Office of Economic Development
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development
(COED) is working to diversify the tax base and
create job opportunities by recruiting corporations to
Cherokee County and assisting existing companies in
expanding their operations, COED president and CEO
Misti Martin explains.
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JAMES
JANUA RY/F E BRUA RY 2 02 5
COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR HARRY JOHNSTON, CANTON MAYOR BILL GRANT
AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE
CHARLIE FERGUSON COMMUNITY CENTER IN CANTON.
“We have worked on infrastructure projects
including two sewer expansions to future corporate
sites. COED has also been working to get several sites
construction ready, including Canton Corporate Park,
a site at The Bluffs, and a new site in the Cherokee
County Airport area,” Martin said.
The boards and team at COED in 2024 also worked
to maximize the American Rescue Plan funding from
the County Commission— specifically in small business
and workforce development assistance.
COED has launched the Work in Cherokee Campaign, which includes a hiring bonus to residents
new to work in the community such as recent graduates, new residents, and previously unemployed.
“We also developed a new comprehensive Workforce
Strategy including a Wage & Benefit Analysis and
Skills Gap Analysis. Over 1,200 businesses, residents,
and educators participated in the Workforce Strategy,” Martin said.
To build the future workforce, a new Be Pro
Be Proud Mobile Workshop to visit eight- through
12th-graders was unveiled. “This Mobile Workshop
is full of state-of-the art simulators to give students
an interactive experience while learning about
high-demand careers in the skilled trade professions,” Martin notes.
Furthermore, COED created “Launchpad,” in
partnership with Kennesaw State University’s Hatchbridge Incubator. This program had three cohorts of
entrepreneurs who received business plan assistance
to launch or grow their business and were also eligible for a grant. Forty-four businesses were served and
over $200,000 in grants received. And building on the
award-winning “Filmed in Cherokee” App, COED has
released the 2.0 version that gives users a fun, interactive experience and encourages film tourism.
Martin concludes that “consistency in leadership
has given us an advantage over other communities.
Having business leaders and elected officials who
enjoy collaborating to tackle challenges is a plus.”
Rebecca Johnston is an award-winning journalist, former managing editor
and columnist for The Cherokee Tribune.
