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Catherine Long
Planning Division Manager
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Comprehensive Plan|ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Back to Comprehensive PlanBALANCED TAX BASE AND DIVERSE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
A balanced tax base is one of the keys to a successful community. As residential development continues, Cherokee County, Ball Ground and Waleska must balance that residential growth with commercial and industrial growth. Economic development goals include encouragement of existing business expansion and new business creation, continued diversification of the types of employment in the County, and ensuring the job skills of residents match employers’ needs. These economic development strategies are key to creating an economically competitive community.
Jobs in Cherokee County have historically been in manufacturing, with this industry accounting for more than 25 percent of the employment in the 1980’s. Over the past two decades, there have been major shifts in the national and regional economy towards a “knowledge”/service economy including professional and administrative services, technology, education, and health and social services. It is important for our economic development policies and strategies to reflect this change.
The County recognizes the need for economic development to ensure sustained growth. This will most certainly be important to the future of the whole community in creating a broad and diverse economic base for a robust local economy that can withstand the fluctuations in the larger markets.
For related policies, implementation strategies and more information on keeping a balanced tax base and diversified economy, please click here.