Page 34 - White County NCG 2021

Top Technical College
White County’s contributions are key to Graduate Degrees
Georgia’s place as a leading broiler producer
in the country.

In 2019, tourism brought in $83.66 million •Welding
in direct spending in White County and
supported more than 700 jobs. Destinations • Automobile Technology
Economic Development Patch Kids, are cornerstones of the area’s • Business Administration and Management Freudenberg-Nok Gen Partnership
like Helen, the area’s beloved Bavarian village,
and the world-famous BabyLand General®
• Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology
Hospital, birthplace of the original Cabbage
tourism base. Don’t forget the charming
Black Bear Treatment Center, LLC
Cleveland town square, lined with restaurants,
• Emergency Medical Technology
quaint cafes, and notable shopping
Cobb Vantress, Inc.
opportunities, as well as the natural wonder
of Sautee Nacoochee.
Outdoor adventures at places like the
Adventure Lodge at Unicoi State Park attract
infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, and
Like residents of many destination
Georgia State Parks/Unicoi Lodge
visitors with its zip lining, archery ranges,
parks. White County will use the remaining
communities, White County voters approved
paddle boarding, and more. Add to that the Infrastructure and Improvements wastewater improvements as well as public Friendship Health & Rehabilitation, LLC
60 percent ($16.8 million) for courthouse
Ingles Markets, Inc.
20 breathtaking waterfalls, year-round trout a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or renovations, upgrades to roads and bridges,
fishing, and of course, “shooting the ‘Hooch” SPLOST, to fund a variety of public projects. and Yonah Preserve Park, along with other Mountain Education Center, Inc.
on a tube down the Chattahoochee River, and The one-penny local tax is expected to smaller projects.
tourism continues to grow in White County. generate $28 million over a six-year term Truett-McConnell University
that began in 2020, thanks in large part to Those improvements will build on an already
White County is also the Wine Capital of the transactions of the county’s 2.5 million strong infrastructure that includes broadband Walmart
Georgia, featuring a dozen wineries/tasting annual visitors. redundancies in many areas, which ensure
rooms, many of which are award-winning internet access for manufacturing and Sources: Georgia Department of Labor Area Labor
and nationally recognized. Wine lovers from Helen and Cleveland will each receive industrial operations will not be interrupted. Profile 2020, United States Census Bureau Quick
across the region visit regularly to uncork a 20 percent of the total collections ($5.6 Facts, United States Census Bureau American
Fact Finder, USDA Census of Agriculture,
sweet adventure in and around White County. million), allocating the majority to water and Education andWorkforce University of Georgia Farm Gate report
White County’s workforce is more than
16,000 strong and is expected to grow as the
local population increases. The U.S. Census line to the deep-water ports of Savannah,
Bureau projects the county’s residential Brunswick and Charleston, South Carolina.
population to jump 12.5 percent by 2025. Those ports are within six hours of White
County. The county is also less than two
White County and its surrounding areas help hours from the Appalachian Regional Inland
build a strong workforce with excellent K-12 Port, which is a direct conduit to the Port of
schools, various post-secondary education Savannah via rail.
options, and workforce-specific training.
White County’s award-winning public school Traveling to and within White County is easy
system boasts a 94.7 percent graduation as well, with an accessible highway system
rate. Pair that with several higher education and several nearby airports.
institutions, including North Georgia
Technical College, Lanier Technical College, White County’s highway system makes
Truett-McConnell, Piedmont University, and traveling on the road easy. U.S. Highway
the University of North Georgia right in our 129 runs right through the county seat of
own backyard, and it’s easy to pursue lifelong Cleveland, as do Ga. Highways 115 and 75.
learning. Qualified White County industries The county is also home to Ga. Highways 17,
can take advantage of Georgia’s Quick Start, 254, 255, 356, and 384.
which offers free workforce training to new
and expanding businesses. The county hosts Mountain Airpark, a private
airpark a few miles outside of Cleveland, and
Location and Transportation five additional airports are within 25 miles.
Less than two hours from Atlanta, White Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
County is the natural gateway to the Airport is only two hours away and connects
mountains yet still close enough to the the area with more than 150 U.S. destinations
South’s largest city to enjoy outstanding and 75 international destinations.
global opportunity. The 104-acre Northeast
Georgia Inland Port, planned for the Hall White County businesses have access to
County, Habersham County line will be only deep-sea ports within six hours in Savannah
11 miles from Cleveland, making it the perfect and Brunswick, Georgia and Charleston,
location for a distribution center with a direct South Carolina.

30 White County Community Guide | 706-865-5356 | WhiteCountyChamber.org