There were 144 new business licenses issued throughout the county in August, up from 125 in July and 143 in August last year.

So far this year, 1,267 new business licenses have been approved in the county, down from 1,419 new licenses at this point a year ago.

Pam Carnes, president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said it appears “there has been a little bit of a turn” in the economic environment.

Based on the amount of traffic seen in shopping areas and restaurants, she said, people seem to be spending more, which creates a better environment for starting a business.

Mark Goddard of Cobb EMC, chairman of the chamber board, said activity could increase further as the summer winds down.

“Now that the summer is over, people are taking the next step,” he said of new entrepreneurs. “Hopefully, this is a strong indicator.”

Cherokee County’s business license office filled 88 requests for new licenses last month, up from 78 in July and 83 in August last year.

Chad Corn, owner of Kernel Corn Kennels in Lathemtown east of Canton, said he has been watching after other people’s dogs for many years. After having some difficulty finding a job, he’s turning dog care into his profession.

“I decided to make it official,” he said about opening a kennel, adding that Cherokee has the potential for many new businesses. “There is room for a lot of growth. It depends on the business.”

The county office has issued 814 new licenses this year, down from 924 at this time in 2009.

Woodstock’s business license office approved 29 new licenses last month, up from 20 in July but down from 34 in August last year. This year so far, the city has issued 215 new licenses, down from 253 at this time last year.

In Canton, 19 new licenses were issued last month, equal to the number approved in July. The city department filled 18 requests for new licenses in August last year. So far this year, the city has approved 139 licenses, down from 165 through August 2009.

The business license office in Holly Springs approved eight new business licenses last month, a small increase from seven in July and up from four in August last year. The city has issued 100 new licenses this year so far, up from 55 issued at this time last year.

The City of Ball Ground didn’t issue any new licenses last month, the same as July, but did approve three in August last year. The city has issued 17 new licenses so far this year, down from 21 at this time a year ago.

The City of Waleska also didn’t approve any licenses last month, down from one in July and one in August 2009. The city has filled requests for two new licenses this year, up from one at this time last year.

The City of Nelson has not issued any new licenses in Cherokee County so far this year, nor did it approve any last year.

Cherokee County’s growth slowed down over the past year but was still the fourth-fastest in the 10-county metro area, according to a report from the Atlanta Regional Commission.

According to the report, the 10-county region added 31,500 new residents between April 1 of 2009 and April 1 this year, a rate “dramatically slower” than historic levels. Since the recession began more than two years ago, the region has added approximately 56,000 people, the slowest growth period in the region since the 1950s.

The ARC attributes the slowdown to the national economy, which it blames for slim job opportunities and the difficulty homeowners are having selling their houses.

Cherokee did see its population increase during the one-year time period from 205,900 to 209,100, a total increase of 3,200. That total was the fourth highest in the region, behind Fulton (12,300), DeKalb (6,900) and Gwinnett (4,500).

The average yearly change in the county from 2000-09 was 6,720 people, according to the report. Buzz Ahrens, chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and member of the ARC board, said that the percentage of growth for the county has been at about 1.5 percent the last two years.

“I think we have hit the bottom on the percentage,” he said. “Or it may hold for another year. I don’t think it will go down to one.”

Ahrens said the growth could increase as a result of business opportunities in the county such as the Cherokee Commerce Center in southwest Cherokee and the Airport area. He said the Cherokee Office of Economic Development has a lot of prospects it is considering for the county.

“(Cherokee County) is a good place to be looking,” he said. “That is a really positive direction.”

ARC Board Member Dennis Burnette said some of the growth is natural, adding that Cherokee is having babies faster than people are dying. Outside of natural growth, he said, Cherokee is still attractive to outsiders.

“We have the most affordable housing within the closest commuting distance to major employment centers,” he said. “Cherokee is still very attractive from a housing standpoint.”

Waleska Mayor Doris Jones, a member of the ARC board, said she feels that the economy is turning around, which could free up some more job and housing opportunities.

“I have that feeling that when you go out, you see more people shopping,” she said. “There is a different atmosphere now.”

Just a few years ago, many were complaining that development was out of hand in Cherokee County.

So out of hand, that several slow growth candidates took over the county commission.

Current Chairman Buzz Ahrens was one of them.

“We had some 25,000 to 30,000 homes already permitted and ready to be occupied basically, 3 & ½ years ago,” Ahrens told 11 Alive News on Thursday.

Then the bubble burst and the booming economy wilted.

Many of those homes remain unbuilt or unsold.

Many new retail spaces remain empty or vacated.

Right now no one is even asking for any rezoning permits in Cherokee County and yet, there is a bright sign in the county’s development department.

Building permits are on the rise again.

“I think that’s really good news,” says Commission Chairman Ahrens.

“We’re talking 20 to 30% mix of residential and commercial, both kind of balance and that’s really good news,” he adds.

While many remain cautious, some businesses, like bicycle retailer Trey Richardson, say sales are starting to pick up.

“The traffic out here has been increasing,” Richardson tells 11 Alive News, “We’ve seen some growth and we’re starting to see more of that come into our store.”

Cherokee County’s Chamber of Commerce saw memberships drop off from a high of 1,300 a few years ago to about 1,000.

They also reduced their 250 new member goal to 175 this year.

But now they say those memberships are on the rise again.

“We’d like to think as an organization that is, of course, pro business, that business is still on the upswing and the economy is heading in that direction here in Cherokee County,” says Chamber President Pam Carnes.

But she also admits some business people may be joining the Chamber to increase the possibility of networking, which they may not have thought was as important when times were better.

Everyone we interviewed said a big concern remains the difficulty of getting financing from tight-fisted banks.

They are also wary about talk of another possible double-dip recession and the uncertainty of the November elections.

But Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens says when the recovery comes, Cherokee County expects to be ready.

After falling for two months, housing activity in Cherokee County picked up again in June.

There were 45 single-family housing permits issued throughout the county last month, increasing just slightly from 43 in May and 44 in June last year.

So far this year, 296 new single-family permits have been issued in the county, one up from the 295 new permits issued at this time in 2009.

Mike Shina, president of the Cherokee chapter of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, said there are good signs in the market. One is that some of the subcontractors he deals with have been adding to their staff.

“It is at least getting a little better,” said Shina, who is with Windsong Properties of Woodstock. “They are confident enough to hire people.”

Greg Padgett, a partner with RJK Homes in Woodstock, said the company has started a speculative house in Cobb County, but has only sold just a couple of houses so far this year.

“From what I’m hearing, there is not a lot of improvement,” he said. “Jobs will have to come before the houses.”

The county building department, which serves unincorporated Cherokee and Waleska, filled 35 requests for new single-family permits last month, a rise from 24 issued in May and 15 issued in June 2009.

So far this year, the county department has issued 148 new permits, down from 155 issued at this time a year ago.

County Commissioner Jim Hubbard of Hickory Flat said he sees a slow trend of improvement.

“There are a number of people contracting their own home,” he said. “As long as unemployment is as high as it is, I don’t expect an influx of builder homes for sale.”

Canton’s building department issued seven new permits last month, down from 13 in May and 14 in June last year.

The city has approved 69 new permits so far this year, a big jump from 28 issued at this time a year ago.

The Woodstock Building Department filled just two permit requests in June, dropping from six in May and nine in June last year. The city has issued 38 new permits this year so far, a decrease from 46 through June last year.

The building department in Holly Springs received no permit requests for the second consecutive month. The city issued six new permits in June last year.

This year so far, the city has issued 40 new permits, down from 55 through June 2009.

Ball Ground’s building department filled one permit request last month, up from none in May and none in June of last year. The city has issued one permit this year so far, plummeting from 11 issued at this time a year ago.

The building department in Nelson has issued no permits so far this year nor had it issued any at this time last year.

Cherokee County is welcoming about 14 additional residents a day, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, and a growing percentage of them are minorities.

The county had a population of a little more than 215,000 people as of July last year, which is up from 210,000 in July of 2008 and a significant jump from 143,783 people 10 years ago.

“It is quality of life, it is schools, it is proximity to Atlanta,” Doug Bachtel, a demographer and University of Georgia professor, said as to why Cherokee attracts newcomers despite the economy. “It is going to continue.”

Bachtel said the diversity should grow as the county’s population soars.

“There are more job opportunities and housing opportunities are growing,” he said. “It has got a bit of everything.”

The Hispanic population in Cherokee has boomed from 7,880 people in 2000 to 19,149 people in 2008 and 20,221 as of last July.

The black population was up to 13,402 people last July, an increase from 12,681 in July 2008 and up about four times from 3,717 in July 2000.

The local Asian population increased from 1,204 people in July 2000 to slightly more than 4,000 in July 2008 and 4,246 last July.

The new Census report also shows increases in certain age populations.

The number of children ages 5 to 13 increased from 29,667 in 2008 to 30,632 as of last July, a leap from 20,937 in July 2000.

The number of teens ages 14 to 17 also has climbed: from 7,839 in 2000 to 11,872 in 2008 and 12,233 in July.

The number of children ages 5 and younger in the county grew from 11,808 at the beginning of the decade to 17,812 in 2008 to 18,052 in July of last year.

Mike McGowan, director of public information, communications and partnerships for the Cherokee County School District, said its enrollment has grown by 13,000 students over the last 10 years. In May, there were 37,726 students, up from 36,761 in May last year.

The district is keeping up, he said, with schools being constructed nonstop countywide.

Three elementary schools are under construction, and two replacement middle schools are scheduled for construction pending federal funding.

“Thanks to the vision and the foresight of the superintendent and school board, and taxpayers and voters of Cherokee County who have overwhelmingly approved three [Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax] referenda, 13 new and replacement schools were built during those 10 years, and seven school classroom additions were completed,” he said.

Cherokee’s senior population also is booming, jumping from 9,486 in 2000 to 15,828 in 2008 and 16,425 last July.

Nathan Brandon, director of Cherokee County Senior Services, said his department is seeing more demand.

“There is a steady increase in all the numbers,” he said.

The agency offers activity and lunch programs, home meal delivery, assistance with government programs and other services.

Participation in the daily lunch program increased from 9,750 meals in 2006 to 11,194 in 2008. The case management department’s workload jumped from 2,500 to 4,000 cases during the same period.
Read more: Cherokee Tribune – Cherokee s population on the rise

Cherokee County’s election season geared up this week with the first forum for local candidates.

Incumbents and challengers for county and state races addressed about 100 people at the county Farm Bureau and Chamber of Commerce’s “Meet the Candidate” event on Thursday night. The free forum was conducted at Cagle’s Family Farm in Hickory Flat.

Each of the candidates had three minutes to introduce themselves and their platform. Issues that appear central to the campaign for the July 20 Republican primary and November general election include job creation, transportation and charter schools.

“The economy is still one of the major issues,” said State Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs), who is seeking his third two-year term.

His challenger in the Republican primary, John Forrester of Woodstock, has stepped out of the race, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Jerguson still will face Democrat Bill Brown in the November general election. Brown didn’t attend the forum, but sent a representative in his place.

Stephanie Webb of Hickory Flat, who has qualified as a Democrat to run against state Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Hickory Flat), said job growth could be spurred by starting new transportation projects.

“We need a strong infrastructure to support economic development,” she said.

Hill, who is seeking his fifth two-year term, was represented by a supporter at the forum, who talked about the state budget crunch.

Candidates for the county school board were asked about their stand on charter schools. So far, the school board has not approved any charter school applications presented to it.

A representative for Post 3 candidate Michael Geist of southeast Cherokee, who is challenging Gary Puckett of southeast Cherokee in the July primary, said he is in favor of charter schools.

Post 6 candidate Rob Usher of Towne Lake, who is challenging incumbent Debi Radcliff of Towne Lake in the July Republican primary, said charter schools are “an option we need to look at.”

Both Democrat candidates, Alice Archey of Towne Lake for Post 6 and Tony Guice of Woodstock for Post 3, said while they don’t oppose charter schools, traditional public schools are their priority.

Public schools “can be every bit as good or better than any charter school,” Guice said.

Neither Mrs. Radcliff, who has served since 2005, nor Puckett, who is seeking his fourth four-year term, attended the forum.

Rob Wofford of Canton, who is a shoo-in to fill the school board Post 1 seat being vacated by Stephen Bentley, said charter schools have a place in the school system.

State Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock), who is running for re-election in the Republican primary to her fourth two-year term, said she has heard from constituents that illegal immigration reform is important to them.

“I think it is going to be an issue,” she said, adding people are upset about the impact illegal immigration has on government services.

Her Republican challenger, Michael Caldwell of Towne Lake, didn’t attend the forum; Democratic opponent Lillian Burnaman of the Victoria community was present and spoke about education.

Also at the forum were county Commissioner Derek Good of Towne Lake, seeking his third four-year term, who talked about fiscal conservatism and recreation, and his Republican challenger, Jason Nelms of Woodstock, whose platform includes jobs and recreation.

State Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), who is running for his fourth two-year term, talked about limiting the state government, while his Democratic opponent Patrick Thompson of Woodstock touched on education and jobs.

County commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens of Garrison Farms and Commissioner Harry Johnston of Canton, who both are unopposed, also attended the event.

Republican gubernatorial candidates Nathan Deal and Democratic candidate Dubose Porter spoke at the forum, while Republican candidate Eric Johnson sent a representative.

Some of the candidates in the races for Georgia labor commissioner, attorney general and insurance commissioner also attended the forum.

Cherokee Tribune
April 23, 2010
Ashley Fuller

After increasing the past couple of months, Cherokee County’s unemployment rate saw a decrease last month.

The county’s unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in March, according to a Georgia Department of Labor report released Thursday. The rate dropped from 9.7 percent in February but is up from 7.9 percent in March last year.

Cherokee had the second-lowest unemployment rate in metro Atlanta, trailing only Fayette County’s 9 percent. Cherokee’s labor force increased from 107,710 in February to 108,092 last month. The number of employed people in the county increased from 97,263 in February to 97,958 in March.

David Simmons of Chattahoochee Technical College, a member of the board of directors for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said he is hopeful the economy may be improving.

“There are some signs that things are turning around,” he said. “That might indicate that we are seeing an improvement.”

Karen Lance of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers and member of the board of directors for the chamber said improvements should be on the way.

“(We) are seeing more building permits being pulled, which will create some construction jobs,” she said.

Bob Robinson, president of Express Employment Professionals in Woodstock, said there is improvement, but a turnaround will be a slow process.

“The economic recovery is slowly gaining momentum but has yet to encourage companies to ramp up hiring. This low confidence and resulting slow jobs growth may be with us for quite some time,” he said.

The metro Atlanta unemployment rate in March was 10.4 percent, down from 10.7 percent in February and up from 8.8 percent in March of last year.

Statewide, the rate was 10.6 percent, increasing slightly from 10.5 percent in February and up from 9 percent in March last year.

The national unemployment rate held steady from February to March at 9.7 percent. The national rate was 8.6 percent in March last year.

Other unemployment rates in the region include: Bartow at 11.9 percent, Clayton at 12.1 percent, Cobb at 9.7 percent, DeKalb at 10.4 percent, Douglas at 11.4 percent, Fulton at 10.6 percent, Gwinnett at 9.5 percent, Henry at 10.7 percent, Paulding at 11 percent and Rockdale at 11.6 percent.

Business creation increased in Cherokee County for the fourth straight month in March but is still behind last year’s pace.

There were 209 new business licenses issued throughout the county last month, up from 177 issued in February but down from 220 issued in March last year.

So far this year, there have been 556 new business licenses issued in the county, trailing last year’s pace of 599 new business licenses issued through the month of March.

Cherokee County’s business license office issued 127 new licenses last month, up from 113 in February but down from 159 issued in March of last year. This year, the county office has issued 357 new licenses, down from 402 issued at this time last year.

Mandy Sykes Chapman of Roytec Industries in Woodstock, a board member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks there is growing confidence in the market.

“It maybe doesn’t seem quite as scary to put yourself out there,” she said about people choosing to begin their own business now.

Chamber Board Member Larry Peterson of Creekside Bank in Woodstock said he has seen some positive signs of improved economic activity.

“It looks like people are trying to take advantage of low rents to get some space ready,” he said. “We are just seeing, incrementally, a little bit better economy. There are still a lot of risks out there. Generally, I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Canton issued 25 new business licenses last month, up from 19 in February and 12 in March of last year. So far this year, the city has issued 53 new licenses, a slight drop from 55 issued at this time last year.

Woodstock issued 32 new licenses last month, up from 28 issued in February but down from 36 issued in March last year. This year, the city has issued 86 new licenses, down from 107 issued at this time last year.

Holly Springs issued 20 new permits in the county last month, up form 17 in February and 12 in March last year. The city has issued 51 new licenses this year, up from 30 issued at this time last year.

Amy Butler opened her business, Amy’s Grooming Salon, in the city last month and said the area is still primed for more growth.

“It is a good area and a good location,” she said. “It seems like it is (still growing).”

Ball Ground issued five new licenses last month, up from none issued in February and one in March of last year. The city has issued nine new licenses this year, up from five at this time last year.

The cities of Waleska and Nelson did not issue any new licenses in the county last month. They have not issued any new licenses this year.

Cherokee County’s unemployment rate continued its upward climb February, though some local experts feel some improvement could be coming.

The county’s unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in February, according to a Georgia Department of Labor report released Thursday. The rate increased from 9.6 percent in January and 8 percent in February last year.

Cherokee had the second-lowest unemployment rate in metro Atlanta, trailing only Fayette County’s 9.4 percent. Cherokee’s labor force increased slightly in February, rising from 107,737 in January to 107,833 last month. The number of employed people dropped slightly from 97,436 in January to 97,304 in February.

Misti Martin, president of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, said none of Cherokee’s major employers have been a victim of the economy. She said her office has received some good prospect activity lately, adding that the recently approved opportunity zone, a tool that allows local governments to provide tax incentives for new jobs created, along Highway 92 in southwest Cherokee, is helping the county get more exposure.

“That has given us a boost in prospect activity,” she said. “It has helped us tremendously.”

Nathan Smith, of New Horizon Home Services and member of the chamber’s board of directors, said the growing rate could be a reflection of economic hard times but sees some hope in the future.

“I see people a little bit more confident,” he said, adding that people are a little more willing now to spend money. “All that is going to translate into good things.”

Alan Thompson of Mojo Productions and a member of the chamber board said the high rate could be attributed to the continued building downturn.

“Everything else in Cherokee seems so positive,” he said, adding that confidence is catching on with other people. “The people I have talked to have some degree of optimism.”

The metro Atlanta unemployment rate was 10.8 percent, the same as the rate in January and up from 8.8 percent in February last year.

Statewide, the rate was 10.5 percent, a small increase over 10.4 percent in January and up from 8.7 percent in February of last year.

The national rate was 9.7 percent, remaining unchanged from January. The national rate in February last year was 8.2 percent.

Other unemployment rates in the region include: Bartow at 12.2 percent, Clayton at 12.7 percent, Cobb at 10.1 percent, DeKalb at 10.7 percent, Douglas at 11.7 percent, Fulton at 11 percent, Gwinnett at 9.9 percent, Henry at 10.9 percent, Paulding at 11 percent and Rockdale at 12.2 percent.