Commuting Cherokee: Do you leave the county to work?
It is common knowledge that Metro Atlanta residents commute. It is evident on the morning traffic report and evening news, people leaving the communities in which they live to earn a living. Did you know that 78% of Cherokee County residents leave the county to work? This staggering number is one that the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) would like to change, and they need your help.
COED is currently in the process of strategic planning that will shape their efforts for the next 5 years. Having engaged Boyette Strategic Advisors (BSA), an economic development consulting firm, COED launched the Opportunity Cherokee Plan. Part of the planning process has included numerous stakeholder meetings and online surveys to gather the valuable information needed to design their economic blueprint. This Out-Commuter Survey is one of the final steps in this process.
“Cherokee is filled with a talented and skilled people. We would like to see these residents working locally, spending more time in the community and with their family, rather than in a car commuting,” Misti Martin COED President remarked. COED is asking any Cherokee resident that leaves the county to work to complete a brief Out-Commuter Survey by visiting www.OpportunityCherokee.com and clicking on Provide Your Input.
About Opportunity Cherokee
Opportunity Cherokee, which will be focused on enhancing the county’s competitiveness to attract new jobs and investment, has been developed to position the county to compete for high-value jobs through a competitive assessment that will include identification of the area’s unique assets; benchmarking of Cherokee County against similar and/or aspirational communities; validation/identification of targeted business sectors that are a good fit for the county; and development of strategic recommendations to enhance the county’s competitiveness.
This planning process, which was launched in late March, will be completed by the end of August 2015.
COED and BSA are looking forward to sharing the results when the planning process is completed.