Page 49 - Dahlonega NCG 2016

economic development DAHLONEGA
I T’S P U R E G O L D
The downtown historic district
is home to 135 businesses, and
when viewed as a whole, it is one
of the region’s largest industries
with more than 400 employees.
Downtown’s economic activity
averages more than $300 million
dollars annually. During the
past eight years, downtown has
seen $48 million of private and
public investment, adding 58
new businesses, 29 expanded
businesses, and 188 new jobs to
Lumpkin County’s economy.
The mission of the Downtown
Development Authority and Main
Street Program is to stimulate and
sustain economic development
in Downtown Dahlonega by
encouraging cooperation and
building leadership; by advancing
a positive image of downtown and
promoting it as an exciting place to
live, shop, and invest; by sustaining works with business, education,
and improving the appearance of
downtown; and by strengthening
and expanding the economic base
of downtown.
Learn more about the
services and programs of the
Downtown Development
Authority & Main Street Program
at www.dahlonegadda.org and on
Facebook “Dahlonega Downtown
Development Authority.”
Dahlonega-Lumpkin
County Chamber &
Visitors Bureau
Amy Booker, President
The Dahlonega-Lumpkin
County Chamber of Commerce
program of work is far-reaching,
47 Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber and Visitors Bureau • (800) 231-5543 • www.dahlonega.org
Wolf Mountain Winery
but its mission is simple: to make
Dahlonega and Lumpkin County
a great place to live, work, visit,
and do business. The Dahlonega-
Lumpkin County Chamber of
Commerce accomplishes this in
several ways.
The Chamber provides a wide
range of business support services,
from start-up assistance to business
promotion avenues to networking
opportunities. It is a clearing-
house for business facilitation,
information, and training.
Dahlonega is designated by the
state as an Entrepreneurial Friendly
Community and the Chamber has
an economic development team
working to attract and retain small
businesses that are a good fit with
our business climate and quality of
life. The Chamber’s governmental
affairs committee keeps businesses
informed of legislative issues that
may affect them. And the Chamber
government, civic, and non-
profit leaders to support positive
community initiatives.
University of
North Georgia
Dr. Edward Mienie, Associate Vice
President, Economic Development
and Community Engagement
Ms. Tate O’Rouke, Director,
Economic Development
Tap into the resources at the
University of North Georgia
through the internship program
to benefit your business or
organization. Internships are
semester-long work experiences
where upper-level students apply
their academic knowledge to
real-world work experiences.
Students benefit from receiving
work related to their major and
career, and employers benefit
from the knowledge, skills, and
perspective that they bring. To learn respective regions.
more or advertise an internship,
simply contact Career Services
for assistance at (706) 864-1951
(Dahlonega) or (678) 717-3964
(Gainesville).
Other engagement
opportunities are available
through the Office of Economic
Development and Community
Engagement as part of the
University of North Georgia’s
mission to partner with the
broader community through
our educational programs. The
University of North Georgia
(UNG) engages its communities
and service areas, tackling societal
challenges, creating great places
to work and live, and advancing
economic growth and prosperity.
UNG partners with community
organizations, state and local
governments, entrepreneurs, small
businesses, major corporations,
and economic development
organizations. Collaborative efforts
focus on creating a shared vision
for healthier and more engaged
citizens, thriving economies, and
other outcomes that lead to a
better tomorrow.
Contact UNG at (678) 717-3541
to promote partnerships and
regional approaches that are
essential in today’s global
economy. Additional information
is available at: http://ung.
edu/economic-development-
community-engagement/
Georgia Department of
Economic Development
Tammy Caudell, Region 2
Project Manager
The Georgia Department of
Economic Development brings
its comprehensive resources to its
role as a partner with economic
development professionals
in Lumpkin County and the
Northeast region of the state.
GDEcD’s regional staff members
work with Georgia’s existing
companies to help them grow,
identify expansion opportunities,
and work new investment projects
specifically targeted for their
The Department assists existing
businesses with the information
and resources they need to
compete in the global marketplace.
That includes a variety of services
such as site selection, financing,
access to state incentives, and
assistance with exporting goods or
services. Also provided is economic
development support to the
community to ensure they have
the tools to help businesses at the
local level.
Georgia Department
of Labor
Mark Butler, Commissioner
The Georgia Department of
Labor works closely with the
Lumpkin County Development
Authority, Chamber of Commerce,
Georgia Mountains Workforce
Investment Board, and business
community to attract more and
better jobs to the county and
promote economic development.
The Department provides
specialized recruitments for
companies trying to hire skilled
employees. And, for new
companies locating in Lumpkin
County, its Business Services Unit
will provide customized recruiting
to attract potential employees,
screen the applicants according to
employer specifications, and then
refer the most qualified applicants
to the employer for job interviews.
Staff works with jobseekers to help
them finds jobs, advance their
careers, and, when necessary, refer
them to training to gain the skills
that are in demand by current
and potential employers. This
office also administers the state’s
unemployment insurance program.
Lumpkin County employers
and jobseekers are served through
a state-of-the-art career center in
nearby Gainesville.