ATLANTA – Sen. John Wilkinson (R – Toccoa) was recently named Georgia’s Legislator of the Year by the Rural Jobs Coalition. The nonpartisan organization supports small, rural businesses and advocates around the country for policies that benefit rural economic growth.
Sen. Wilkinson was chosen as Legislator of the Year for his support of agribusiness and policies that help drive job creation, revitalization of small businesses, and economic opportunities for small, rural communities across the state.
“Born and raised in rural Georgia, I know first-hand the struggle of our small businesses to access affordable capital in their rural communities in order to grow operations and hire and retain workforce,” said Sen. Wilkinson.
Wilkinson sponsored the Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act (GARJA) in 2017. The legislation provides a tax credit for investors in rural funds to increase capital available to small businesses in rural Georgia. These investments can be made in agribusiness, businesses dealing with healthcare, transportation, technology or other areas deemed appropriate by the Department of Community Affairs.
“Georgia is a national leader in the effort to rebuild our rural areas; I am proud to be a part of that passionate movement,” said Wilkinson.
To read more about the GARJA, click here.
