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Fulton County District 5 Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr. is now a member of the prestigious National Association of Counties (NACo) Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. The Commissioner’s nomination to the committee was confirmed in early August. As a member of the Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee Arrington’s responsibilities will include having detailed knowledge of legislative and regulatory actions relevant to Fulton County.

“It is truly an honor to represent NACo and Fulton County in this capacity,” said Commissioner Arrington. “This will be an opportunity to demonstrate my pledge to not only serve the residents of District 5, but constituents across the county.”

Work of the NACo Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee is a rewarding commitment that assist in providing feedback on a legislative policy decision being made in Washington D.C. Arrington’s confirmation to the committee will also presents a great opportunity to share information to the Board of Commissioners and county colleagues. Additionally, Arrington will attend NACo’s Legislative Conference and its Annual Conference on the following dates:

• NACo 2025 Legislative Conference, March 1 – 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
• NACo 2025 Annual Conference, July 11-14, 2025, in City and County of Philadelphia, Pa.

For more Fulton County news, sign up for the weekly e-newsletter #OneFulton at https://goo.gl/Nb1L84. You can also visit Fulton County’s website at www.fultoncountyga.gov or connect with Fulton County government on Twitter at @FultonInfo or Facebook at @fultoninfo.

PROPEL communities share successes and gain insights from USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development

Rural Georgia community leaders recently gathered in Baxley to learn from each other and share their successes as part of the University of Georgia’s award-winning PROPEL rural development program.

PROPEL, or Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership, provides resources to rural communities to support economic and community development strategies. Working with UGA faculty, staff and students, key stakeholders identify and execute a long-term vision for their community’s economic future. The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, leads the program.

The PROPEL Ramble, a professional learning event organized by the UGA Institute of Government, drew representatives from participating PROPEL communities, prospective communities and partner organizations, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Greg Wilson, the institute’s faculty member who leads PROPEL, said his team planned the event after participating communities requested more networking opportunities.

“When you’re a leader in a rural community, it can be challenging to connect with other communities, even when you’re tackling some of the same issues, like workforce development and building leadership capacity,” Wilson said. “This event is a chance for communities to learn from each other and encourage each other.”

Basil Gooden, USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development, addresses PROPEL Ramble attendees in Baxley.

USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Basil Gooden and State Director for Georgia USDA Rural Development Reggie Taylor came to the event to see PROPEL in action and talk about the USDA support available to rural communities. The USDA has funded PROPEL with three grants since the program’s launch in 2021.

“With PROPEL, the University of Georgia is doing life-changing and vitally important work in rural communities across the state,” Gooden said. “At USDA Rural Development, we want to ensure that rural America has access to the same things metropolitan and urban areas have, whether it’s health care and housing or jobs and broadband. That’s why we’re excited to partner with UGA and PROPEL.”

As part of the Ramble, Baxley City Manager Keri Orvin led a downtown tour, sharing Baxley’s progress on revitalization projects. Since Appling County became a PROPEL community in 2022, six new businesses have opened in downtown Baxley.

“Sometimes economic development work can fall to the bottom of the barrel as you go about your day-to-day work. PROPEL coaches help you stay accountable,” Orvin said. “PROPEL has been a great tool for us to keep going and push forward. We’ve been able to accomplish some of our goals.”

The group also toured the local campus of Coastal Pines Technical College and Southern Pines College and Career Academy, where they learned about the schools’ workforce development efforts and heard from Andrea Fernando, a UGA student from Baxley.

State Director for Georgia USDA Rural Development Reggie Taylor looks on as Coastal Pines Technical College President Lonnie Roberts, left, leads a tour of college’s Baxley campus.

Fernando is pursuing a master’s degree in public health, and she spoke about how her experience as a PROPEL Rural Scholar has helped her prepare for a future medical career in her hometown. The PROPEL Rural Scholars program teams UGA students with faculty and staff to work on guided research projects in PROPEL communities.

“I learned how to advocate for rural communities by listening to their needs and supporting their goals. Working alongside rural communities with PROPEL strengthened my passion for addressing various inequities through a career in rural medicine,” Fernando said.

Tim Powers, regional president of Planters First Bank in Cordele, attended the meeting from Crisp County, which joined PROPEL in 2024. Representing a newer PROPEL community, Powers said he was inspired by the downtown tour and conversations with people from other counties with more experience in the program.

“I really liked the opportunity to walk around downtown to see the renderings and the progress they’ve made. It helped me have a better idea of what’s possible in my own community,” he said. “Plus, I made some good connections.”

PROPEL is made possible with USDA funding and additional support from the UGA Foundation. The program was awarded top honors at the 2023 University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Awards of Excellence. Learn more about PROPEL at https://cviog.uga.edu/services/georgia-workforce-and-economic-resilience-center/propel.html.

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As a record number of businesses opened last year, Lendio reveals the top states to start a small business. 

2023 was a record-breaking year for small businesses as a record-breaking 5.5 million new business applications were filed in 2023, according to the Small Business Administration.

The 2020s have been one of the most challenging historical decades for small business owners. The economic impact of the global pandemic continues to ripple through the American and global economies. Inflation, high interest rates, and the unprecedented migration of educated workers to new locations have been just a few of the challenges that small businesses face. Amid such paradigm shifts in how—and where—Americans work and live, Lendio commissioned this study to see the state of the small business landscape across the country.

Key Findings

We explored trends in ten metrics that are critical to the success of small business owners in 2024’s rapidly changing and uncertain landscape. These metrics included small business lending, cost of living, real estate data, educated worker migration, corporate tax rates, state-level incentives for business owners, and more. Our key findings include:

• Top states – Florida, Texas, and North Carolina rank top in our list due to lower taxes, an influx of movers to these states, sufficient business funding, and higher amounts of personal consumption expenditures.

• Bottom states – Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Nebraska are the bottom three states, due to low business funding and venture capital availability, limited local incentive programs, high tax rates, and high cost of living.  

• Ranking shifts – While the states that made the top 10 stayed the same from Lendio’s 2023 analysis, there were some shifts in the line-up including Florida edging out Texas for the top spot.

• Ranking factors – The states that rank highest are those that experienced large influxes of migration, with reasonable costs of living. The availability of business funding, venture capital, and local incentive programs were also important factors that impacted the rankings. 

Top 10 best states to start a small business.

10. Oklahoma (Previously 7)

This state boasts some of the most favorable local incentives in the country for business owners, with 84 inventive programs in total. Housing prices and cost of living are lower, compared to other states. Combined with a low, 4% corporate income tax rate, this creates an environment many entrepreneurs will find attractive. On the flip side, businesses in Oklahoma have lower-than-average access to capital and have seen a decline in educated workers moving to that state.

9. Utah (Previously 10)

Businesses in the state of Utah have exceptional access to capital. Utah is approved for the highest number of SBA loans per 100,000 population in the U.S. It also had $10,000 in VC funding per $1 million GDP, ranking No.10 in the U.S. in 2023. The state also has a lower corporate tax rate of 5% and offers 34 tax incentives to small businesses. The reason Utah did not rank higher on our list is that it has become an increasingly popular destination, and as a result, housing costs have increased significantly.

8. Massachusetts (Previously 4)

It’s no wonder tech-savvy Massachusetts gets the most amount of venture capital disbursed per $1 million of GDP, ranking No. 1 in the U.S. The state offers 73 different incentives for business owners. Massachusetts businesses also have one of the highest five-year survival rates of 57%. On the flip side, it has one of the highest median housing values in the U.S., and it is seeing more people leaving (57,000)—rather than moving to—the Bay State.

7. Georgia (Previously 9)

Georgia is also a great place for businesses, as it is within the top states with the most small business loans approved—over 30 small business loans per 100,000 residents through Lendio’s marketplace. Georgia has seen an influx of 81,406 people move in, making it the sixth-best state in this crucial category. Although the housing prices remain reasonable, Georgia has the second-highest growth in cost of living. 

6. Ohio (Previously 3)

Ohio has no corporate income tax rate. Even with the state’s gross receipt tax rate, which is not strictly comparable to the corporate income tax rate, it’s still considered a low-tax state. Ohio is also among the top states that have small business loans approved per 100k residents. With very low housing costs and good local incentive programs for businesses, Ohio is a good place for small businesses to settle. 

5. South Carolina (Previously 8)

Half of all startups in the Palmetto State have survived at least five years, and the state government offers 77 different incentives for small business owners—only three states offer more incentives than South Carolina. The state has a low 5% corporate income tax rate. In addition, housing prices and cost of living are among the lowest of all states, and 84,030 people moved in in 2022, making it the 4th-hottest place to relocate. 

4. Colorado (Previously 6)

If you are in Colorado, you may have a good chance to land a small business loan. Colorado ranks No. 7 in the U.S. for issuance of small business loans, with 27 small business loans per 100,000 residents. It also has the 7th highest amount of venture capital per $1 million GDP. With 55,768 educated workers moving here and a 4% corporate income tax rate, business owners can find a good place to start a small business. 

3. North Carolina (Previously 5)

North Carolina has been a hot place for in-migration, with 99,796 people relocating there in 2022 (the 3rd highest in the U.S.). Businesses here have an above-average, five-year survival rate. The state also has a low corporate tax rate of 2.5% and above-average access to business loans. With low housing costs, business owners find it an attractive location to start and run a small business. 

2. Texas (Previously 1)

Texas ranks as the second-best state for small businesses. While Texans receive a lower amount of SBA loan approvals/100K residents than other states, they were the 7th highest state for loans offered through Lendio’s marketplace. Of all businesses started in 2017 in the state, more than half survived five years of operations, outlasting those in many other states. According to Census Bureau data, over 400,000 people with at least some college education moved into Texas in 2022, making it a prime location for educated entrepreneurs to spread their wings. Beyond just workers, Texas has become one of the most popular places for Americans to relocate—thanks, in part, to its lack of a state income tax.

1. Florida (Previously 2)

Florida is the best state to start a business due to a low corporate tax rate (5.5%) and the mass migration of consumers and companies to the state. The Sunshine State sees more than half of its startup businesses survive for at least five years. It’s also a top recipient of SBA loan dollars (12th compared to other states) and ranked 2nd for the number of loan offers facilitated through Lendio’s marketplace.

For the full report visit www.lendio.com

Five attorneys with Atlanta-based Finch McCranie law firm have been recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Each was highlighted by the national directory of legal professionals as a Best Lawyer in Atlanta in his respective practice area. In addition, Michael A. Sullivan was named “2025 Qui Tam Lawyer of the Year” for Atlanta, an honor reserved for only one lawyer per practice area in each region covered. The honorees are:

Richard W. Hendrix, Best Lawyer in Atlanta for Bet-the-Company Litigation,
Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Personal Injury Litigation:
Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation: Plaintiffs

Walter E. Jospin, Best Lawyer in Atlanta for Litigation-Securities, Securities Regulation

Michael A. Sullivan, Best Lawyer in Atlanta and 2025 Atlanta Lawyer of the Year for Qui Tam Law

Carl Lietz, Best Lawyer in Atlanta for Criminal Defense: White Collar

David Bouchard, Best Lawyer in Atlanta for Commercial Litigation, Criminal

Defense: White Collar and Qui Tam Law

“We are delighted that the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America has recognized our attorneys as being among the very best in their respective practice areas,” said Richard Hendrix, Finch McCranie senior partner. “While we deeply appreciate the many accolades our firm has received over our 60-year
history, it is always especially gratifying to be honored by a well-respected industry publication devoted to the legal profession.”

Since 1981, The Best Lawyers in America® has researched and showcased the most distinguished attorneys in the U.S. across various practice areas. Honorees are selected through a rigorous peer review process which includes analyzing over 25.8 million evaluations on the legal abilities of lawyers around the world based on their specific practice areas. This ensures honorees meet the highest
standards of professional excellence, and exhibit integrity, skill and dedication in their legal practice. www.bestlawyers.com/united-states

With the state closing in on 1.5 million licensed, registered businesses, Georgia continues to solidify its reputation as the number one state for business. This ranking has been maintained for over a decade, and the Secretary of State’s office is committed to preserving it. Secretary Brad Raffensperger underscored his goal of delivering excellent services, among other key priorities, during his address to business professionals at the Gwinnett Chamber On Topic Luncheon presented by Porter Steel.

Raffensperger emphasized Georgia’s robust economic landscape, from entrepreneurial ventures to large industry operations, and discussed ongoing efforts to modernize the state’s licensing software systems, with plans to implement these updates over the next two years. He highlighted the importance of professional licensing, noting that his office currently manages around 140 different types of licenses across 40 boards, and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing online applications and customer service calls to provide top-tier licensing service to Georgia’s business professionals.

“As a small business owner, I uniquely understand what our businesses face daily,” Raffensperger said. “That is why I fight every day to cut the red tape and hold unelected bureaucrats accountable to you… keeping Georgia the number one place to do business.”

Raffensperger also addressed the most pressing responsibility of his office: ensuring safe, secure elections. He described the challenges of this role, particularly given the complexities of swing-state national elections and global pandemics and emphasized his continued leadership with integrity and a genuine passion for Georgia and the nation. Since 2018, Raffensperger has implemented strategic measures to secure the vote, including an auditable paper ballot system and expanded voter accessibility. He explained that all voting methods—early, absentee, or day-of—require photo identification, with eight different acceptable forms of ID. Post-COVID voting habits show that absentee voting accounts for only 6-7% of the vote, with more than 90% of voters choosing to vote in person, either early or on election day. Despite media attention on absentee ballots, Raffensperger noted that this method is not widely chosen by citizens in Georgia. He praised the diligent work of election directors across Georgia’s 159 counties, ensuring fair, honest, and secure elections, and highlighted the strong relationships his office maintains with each county.

In his closing remarks, Raffensperger reinforced his deep commitment to Georgia and its people, stating that there is no better place for opportunity than the United States, and no better state in which to build a future than Georgia. He assured business leaders, employees, and citizens that their voices matter and their votes count, but only once.

Farmers and lawmakers gathered this week at the 2024 Agriculture Issues Summit to discuss issues facing Georgia’s agriculture industry.

The owner of Dawson Brothers Farm, Rodney Dawson, is a peanut, grains and cotton farmer.

Read More At: 41WMGT

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