The Habersham County Chamber of Commerce has announced that the county has been selected for the 2024 Georgia Power CREATE Program.
The Georgia Power CREATE program offers training and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs and small business owners to strengthen and grow their communities. It is a program designed to help leaders in rural communities implement entrepreneurship and small business growth plans.
As a participating community, Habersham County will receive coaching and support to help identify and address critical barriers to entrepreneurship and small business development in the area.
The county’s application for the program was accepted due to the strong interest in developing an entrepreneurship ecosystem and community. Additionally, Habersham County demonstrates clear evidence of readiness for the lessons in the program and an ability to use strategies beneficial to entrepreneurs.
“As a participating CREATE community, we will receive the technical assistance and guidance to accomplish many things,” said Ellie Van Doornum, President of Habersham County Chamber of Commerce. “It gives the ability to identify the assets and gaps of our community’s entrepreneurial and small business support system, including potential areas for investment.”
Van Doornum added that a major part of the program is understanding the importance of a healthy entrepreneurial/small business support system to our local and regional economy and how this supports long-term community and economic development goals.
The 2024 CREATE program will be held Wednesday, August 14th, and Thursday, August 15th at the Georgia Experience Center.
“Georgia Power was very specific as to the number of community leaders who could attend to include two from the Chamber office, two who work to develop the community, and a small business owner,” Van Doornum explained.
Members of the Habersham CREATE team include Ellie Van Doornum, President of Habersham County Chamber of Commerce; Alex Michelle, Marketing Director of Habersham County Chamber of Commerce; Jessie Owensby, Community Development Manager, City of Cornelia; Mark Musselwhite, City Manager, City of Demorest; Colby Moore, Mainstreet Director, City of Clarkesville; Amanda Fulmer, Owner of Wealthy Kids Academy and Amanda Fulmer Real Estate.
