Georgia’s small business owners now have a voice. While Georgia has been recognized for many years as the number one state to do business, Governor Brian Kemp is committed to making sure Georgia is also the number one state for small business. In one of his earliest actions as the state’s top leader, Kemp created the Georgians First Committee, and Wednesday, the commission launched a website to hear directly from the public about burdensome regulations, fees, and taxes that negatively impact Georgia’s small business environment.
“The Georgians First Commission is working hard to tackle the challenges affecting entrepreneurs and job creators across our state. Together, we are committed to making Georgia the best state in the nation for small business, but we need your help,” said Governor Kemp. “To reach our goal, we are asking hardworking Georgians in every region of our state to tell us about the obstacles that they face in starting and growing their companies.”
The Georgians First Commission was established by Governor Kemp on January 14, 2019. The commission will review state regulations, policies, and procedures to streamline government, remove inefficiencies, and secure Georgia’s place as the top state for small business in the country. The Georgians First Commission will receive input from every region of the State through the website, regional listening sessions, and numerous events within Georgia’s small business communities.
“On his first day in office, Governor Kemp made Georgia small business a top priority for his administration by creating the Georgians First Commission,” said Scott Hilton, the former state Representative who was tapped by Kemp to serve as Executive Director. “Since January, our team has traveled the state, engaged key stakeholders, and established a foundation to achieve Governor Kemp’s goal of making Georgia the No. 1 state for small business. The Georgians First Commission website will enable us to expand our reach, hear directly from entrepreneurs, and provide invaluable insight on how we can improve Georgia’s business environment.
“We’re asking the public to share their small business story and work together with Governor Kemp’s administration to make Georgia a better place to work, start a business, and grow a business,” Hilton added.
The website lists The Georgians First Commission values as:
● The voices of hard-working Georgians
● Data-driven decision-making that produce tangible results and a positive return on investment to taxpayers, and
● Responsiveness, diversity, teamwork, and empowerment through ownership.
