16978012:Cobb Life October 2012 dummied to trim_new size
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Of the approximately 2,200 businesses that call Smyrna home, the majority are small businesses, many of which are located along the city’s well-traveled commercial corridors or its downtown district. Its eclectic mix of industries includes bioresearch, medical, electronics, civil engineering and government contractors. If you travel down Highlands Parkway and Oakdale Road, you’ll find companies that manufacture items such as home goods, paper goods, firearms, radiation detectors, distribution and logistics, and telecommunications. Lydia Jones, district director of the University of Georgia Small Business District Center, can’t say enough positive things about Smyrna. The key, she says, is its people, which have an average median age of 33.7. “Business owners tell us about the friendly nature and community spirit in Smyrna. It’s refreshing to see businesses in all sectors come together in local associations. Activities like the upcoming ‘shop-hop,’ sponsored by a group of retailers, reveal how well they work together, and how they share innovative approaches to markets.” According to the Lowe Foundation Report, from 1999-2009, business growth increased 19 percent in Cobb County establishments that opened and expanded businesses. “Given the business growth experienced by the county as a whole, Smyrna’s strong contributions to that growth and expected population increases, it is an ideal location for a business,” Jones says. That trend is consistent with what the small business community already feels about Smyrna. “Small business owners see Smyrna as a safe, accessible community with affordable commercial space and housing options,” says Andrea Hall, redevelopment coordinator for the City of Smyrna. “If a small business wants to get involved in the community, there are many opportunities. The Smyrna Business Association is an established fixture for networking and professional development. Some business owners are Partners in Education with Cobb County schools, while others participate in the Rotary Club or Golden K Kiwanis. And the city hosts many annual festivals and events in the downtown district that offer a variety of business participation and sponsorship opportunities.” Hall says the city diligently supports the small business community. For example, the city employs two staff members dedicated solely to economic development. And, to help promote growth, businesses that relocate to one of the city’s designated Opportunity Zones or create new jobs or capital investments may qualify for economic incentives such as state job tax credits. Smyrna’s low property tax rate, which makes up 40 percent of its general fund revenues, also has been a bonus for businesses of all types.
52 Cobb Life
October 2012