Politics & Government

Cherokee Office of Economic Development Gets Boost From Cities, County

The Cherokee County Commission on Tuesday voted to provide up to $60,000 for three years to the Cherokee Office of Economic Development.

A request from Cherokee County Chairman Buzz Ahrens to shore up the county's economic development efforts has garnered formal approval.

The Cherokee County Commission on Tuesday voted to approve matching up to $60,000 each year for the next three years, which would be funneled into the annual operating budget of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development.

The county will match the collective amount each of the five cities will contribute towards CoED's budget. 

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Ahrens said the $120,000 is "enough to make a difference."

Ahrens in January formally emailed the cities Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs, Ball Ground and Waleska and asked them to each consider contributing money towards CoED's budget.

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He also emailed the cities of Mountain Park and Nelson, but both of those cities declined to participate. 

He requested that both Canton and Woodstock contribute $20,000, Holly Springs to give around $10,000, and for Waleska and Ball Ground to each donate $5,000.

If each of the five cities give those amounts, the county would then contribute $60,000, which would give CoED at a commitment of $120,000 each year for the next three years.

Ahrens noted that Canton and Ball Ground have already signed onto the proposal and both Holly Springs and Woodstock said they will consider the proposal when they begin their budget planning process.

He's set to speak with the city of Waleska during the council's meeting on Monday. 

County Manager Jerry Cooper said the county could cut around $75,000 from the county's budget that funds a copier service that would not have any impact on service levels. 

Ahrens reiterated the move to help CoED is all about giving CoED President Misti Martin and her two additional employees the tools they need to market and promote Cherokee County through advertising and participating in conferences.

He added Martin's office has seen a "significant" increase in the number of prospects the office is fielding and has not had the opportunity to increase its staff or budget to accommodate the growth. 

He added this will give CoED the "tools" to make the necessary changes needed to become more competitive. 

The county also approved sending a grant application to Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to obtain funds in an effort to establish a mental health court in Cherokee County. 

Probate Court Judge Keith Wood told the commission during its work session that the grant would be in the amount of $169,000 and would be available to those facing criminal charges. They would be given the opportunity to receive mental health services.

Wood said the idea to establish a court has been in the making for a year and is a collaboration between the county's State Court, Superior Court and the Cherokee Sheriff's Office. 

Having a court will "allow us to connect those people with the services they are not otherwise going to have access to," Wood told the commission.

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