Doing Business in Stephens County

Links to pages of interest to businesses are located on the right side of this page (bottom of the page if you are viewing on a mobile device).

Stephens County has worked hard since the establishment of the Development Authority in 1965 to develop its reputation as a business-friendly community. The county offers a well-educated and skilled labor force, comprehensive job training, affordable utilities and easy access from to major highways.

The county has three industrial parks with more than 60 manufacturing plants and is served by 11 banking offices. Toccoa is located 14 miles from Interstate I-85 and three miles from Hwy. 365/441 between Atlanta, GA and Greenville, SC. The area is also served by two railroads.

In the new global economy where industrial recruitment is fiercely competitive, Stephens County leaders also realize the importance of growing our our economy through entrepreneurship and small business development. Our goal is to create a culture that is supportive of entrepreneurship and will allow small business to start and expand while offering myriad opportunities for large businesses and industry to locate here.

Georgia ranks No. 1 in the nation for providing the best climate for small businesses. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, 278,125 business establishments represented Georgia employment in the fourth quarter of 2018. Of that total, 99.7% are categorized as small business (fewer than 500 employees) and 75.4% employed fewer than 10. Half of all fortune 500 companies started from a home-based small business and 60% started with less than $50,000 in start-up investment.