Cherokee Office of Economic Development

What Cherokee Office of Economic Development does

The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) is the public economic development authority for Cherokee County, Georgia, established in 1981 and operated under the Development Authority of Cherokee County. Headquartered at One Innovation Way in Woodstock, GA, COED leads business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts for the county, serving over 10,000 employers ranging from large manufacturers to small offices. The organization provides a broad portfolio of no-cost services including site selection, permitting guidance, workforce development, and incentive navigation, funded entirely through public funding from the Development Authority of Cherokee County.

COED's core offerings are organized around its Cherokee By Choice (CBC) 2.0 strategic plan across four pillars: Attractive & Connected Places, Innovative & Enterprising Business, Educated & Talented Workforce, and Vibrant & Inviting Community. The product portfolio includes the Startup Cherokee entrepreneurship platform (LaunchPad Bootcamp via KSU HatchBridge, North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service via MIT VMS, Fresh Start Mornings, Cherokee Tech Meetup), the Work in Cherokee workforce initiative (Cherokee Jobs Board, Cherokee Career Expo, Summer Internship Program), the Cherokee Workforce Collaborative, FLEX Cherokee student entrepreneurship program, Be Pro Be Proud Georgia workforce initiative, and the Metro Atlanta Film Summit. COED also serves as Cherokee County's Camera Ready Liaison with the Georgia Film Office, having facilitated more than 350 film projects.

The organization operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining direct field engagement with enterprises considering Cherokee County for location or expansion, self-serve digital platforms for entrepreneurs and job seekers, and a deep partnership ecosystem with educational institutions (Chattahoochee Technical College, Kennesaw State University, Reinhardt University, Cherokee County School District), state-level workforce organizations (WorkSource Georgia, Be Pro Be Proud Georgia), and community organizations (Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Goodwill of North Georgia). The technology stack is conventional and non-proprietary, leveraging standard digital platforms for job listings, property databases, and entrepreneurship resources. No AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The organization has a small team (1-10 employees) and is led by President Heath Tippens.

Name

Cherokee Office of Economic Development

Legal name

Development Authority of Cherokee County

Website

https://cherokeega.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cherokee Office of Economic Development is the public economic development authority for Cherokee County, Georgia, providing no-cost business attraction, retention, workforce development, and entrepreneurship services to over 10,000 county employers and residents, funded by the Development Authority of Cherokee County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodstock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: COED is funded by the Development Authority of Cherokee County and operates as a public government entity. All services to businesses and residents are provided at no cost, supported by public funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

COED is the public economic development authority for Cherokee County, Georgia. It provides free, end-to-end support for businesses seeking to locate, expand, or start in the county, including site selection, workforce development, permitting guidance, and community integration. It also delivers entrepreneurship programs under Startup Cherokee, workforce initiatives under Work in Cherokee (career expo, summer internship, job board), film industry liaison services as Camera Ready liaison for the Georgia Film Office, and student programs like FLEX Cherokee and Be Pro Be Proud Georgia.

Product overview

Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) is a public-private partnership economic development organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected workforce development, entrepreneurship support, and business attraction programs rather than a unified software product. The core strategic framework is Cherokee By Choice (CBC) 2.0, organized around four pillars: Attractive & Connected Places, Innovative & Enterprising Business, Educated & Talented Workforce, and Vibrant & Inviting Community. Key programs include: Startup Cherokee (entrepreneurship hub offering LaunchPad Bootcamp, Venture Mentoring, and Fresh Start Mornings), Work in Cherokee (workforce initiative with the Cherokee Jobs Board and Cherokee Career Expo), Cherokee Summer Internship Program, FLEX Cherokee student entrepreneurship competition, Cherokee Tech Meetup, Metro Atlanta Film Summit, and Be Pro Be Proud Georgia workforce initiative. COED serves as a Camera Ready Liaison with the Georgia Film Office and supports key business sectors including Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Film & Media, Corporate Operations, International Business, and Commercial Development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cherokee By Choice: Strategic plan developed by COED in partnership with private and public sector leaders to tackle economic challenges facing Cherokee County, focusing on attractive & connected places, innovative & enterprising business, educated & talented workforce, and vibrant & inviting community.
• Startup Cherokee
• Work in Cherokee
• Metro Atlanta Film Summit (MAFS)
• FLEX Cherokee
• Cherokee Workforce Collaborative
• Cherokee Summer Internship Program
• Be Pro Be Proud Georgia

Products and services

• Cherokee By Choice (CBC) 2.0 Strategic Plan Strategic plan for Cherokee County's economic development organized around four pillars: Attractive & Connected Places, Innovative & Enterprising Business, Educated & Talented Workforce, and Vibrant & Inviting Community. Developed in partnership with private and public sector leaders.
• Startup Cherokee Entrepreneurship hub supporting innovators, founders, and small-business leaders with education, mentorship, community connection, and digital tools including market research and business planning resources.
• Work in Cherokee Workforce initiative focused on reducing out-commuting by connecting local employers with skilled talent through job boards, career expos, and workforce partnerships.
• Cherokee Summer Internship Program Competitive 6-week paid internship program for rising high school juniors and seniors providing real-world work experience with Cherokee employers.
• Cherokee Career Expo Annual employer recruitment event connecting Cherokee employers with qualified local talent; free participation for both employers and job seekers.
• Cherokee Jobs Board Free online job board platform (jobs.cherokeega.org) enabling Cherokee employers to post open positions and job seekers to browse and apply for local opportunities.
• Cherokee Workforce Collaborative Community-based partnership uniting educators, community leaders, and industry decision-makers to align training with workforce needs and strengthen Cherokee's skilled-worker pipeline.
• FLEX Cherokee Local implementation of Georgia Foundational Leadership & Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX) enabling high school students to create real businesses, earn revenue, and develop leadership and workforce skills.
• Cherokee Tech Meetup Free tech community event series, co-hosted with Black Airplane, bringing technologists, founders, and creatives together to share ideas and collaborate.
• Metro Atlanta Film Summit (MAFS) Annual summit for Metro Atlanta film industry professionals featuring sessions on career development, industry trends, and networking, hosted in partnership with the Georgia Film Office.
• Cherokee Student Film Summit Annual immersive film-industry exposure program for upper-level AVTF students featuring industry-led workshops and real-world insight from working film professionals.
• LaunchPad Bootcamp Series Free six-week cohort-style bootcamp in partnership with Kennesaw State University's HatchBridge Incubator, guiding founders through business model development and go-to-market strategy.
• North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service Free mentorship service principled and trained by the MIT Venture Mentoring Service model, connecting founders with experienced business leaders for strategic guidance.
• Fresh Start Mornings Monthly meetup for local entrepreneurs to brainstorm solutions, share experiences, and access educational programs or founder story discussions.
• Camera Ready Film Liaison Services Complimentary services for film and TV productions as COED's Camera Ready Liaison with the Georgia Film Office, including location scouting, permitting, and connection to local crew, vendors, and resources.
• Be Pro Be Proud Georgia Statewide workforce initiative connecting students with post-secondary training and high-demand skilled professions through Mobile Workshops and hands-on career exploration tools spanning 21 skilled professions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 350 film projects connected to necessary resources through Camera Ready liaison program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Be Pro Be Proud GeorgiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Statewide workforce initiative connecting students with post-secondary training and high-demand skilled professions. COED helped launch this initiative which reaches over 96,000 students and has completed nearly 500 tour visits. Partnership includes annual Skilled Professions Signing Day celebrating students committing to skilled careers.
• Kennesaw State University's HatchBridge IncubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for LaunchPad Bootcamp Series - cohort-style entrepreneurship program guiding founders through business model development and go-to-market strategy over six weeks. KSU provides structured curriculum, feedback, and actionable insights.
• MIT Venture Mentoring ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOED's North Atlanta Venture Mentoring Service is principled and trained by the MIT Venture Mentoring Service model, providing free mentorship connecting founders with experienced business leaders for guidance and strategic advice.
• Black AirplanecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal web-app developer and Cherokee By Choice investor that partners with COED to host the Cherokee Tech Meetup series, bringing together technologists, founders, and innovators for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Georgia Film OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOED serves as Cherokee County's Camera Ready Liaison with the Georgia Film Office, facilitating film permits, location scouting, and connecting productions with local resources. Has helped foster over 350 film projects.
• Goodwill of North GeorgiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Cherokee Career Expo providing free day-of resume review assistance and connecting job seekers with workforce development resources.
• Cherokee County School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting FLEX Cherokee entrepreneurship program, Student Film Summit, Career Expo participation, and workforce development alignment. Serves approximately 42,000 students across 40 schools.
• Cherokee County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for FLEX Cherokee hosting FLEXpo event, providing Chamber President Pam Carnes as Master of Ceremonies for competitions, and collaborating on workforce initiatives including Cherokee Career Expo.
• Chattahoochee Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest technical college in Georgia located within Cherokee County, providing workforce-aligned programs and skilled trades training. Partner for Be Pro Be Proud Georgia, Skilled Professions Signing Day, and workforce pipeline development.
• Kennesaw State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRanked #5 Top Public University in Georgia, located 20 minutes from Cherokee County. Partners for LaunchPad Bootcamp, Graduate College recruitment at Career Expo, and HatchBridge Incubator collaboration.
• Reinhardt UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate liberal arts university in Waleska, Georgia with MBA programs and community engagement focus. Recruiting online and on-campus students at Career Expo and supporting workforce development.
• WorkSource GeorgiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide workforce resource provider supporting job readiness, search assistance, skills profiling, and connecting individuals with education and training opportunities within Cherokee County.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Student Film Festival providing judges including Julian De La Cal and Graham Scott, and awarding scholarships for SCAD Summer Seminar to top student filmmakers.
• Berry CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides judges for Cherokee Student Film Festival including Steven Hames.
• Clayton State UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides judges for Cherokee Student Film Festival including Shawn Bulloch.
• University of GeorgiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides judges for Cherokee Student Film Festival including James Hamilton.
• The Circuit WoodstockcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDynamic coworking and community hub in downtown Woodstock supported through Startup Cherokee's network. Provides flexible workspace and programming for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small teams.
• Georgia Film Office's Help Wanted HotlineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorgia Film Office resource for acting auditions and film industry job postings, promoted through COED's Work in Cherokee film sector page.
• Moxie Property GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of The Mill On Etowah redevelopment project in Canton - a former denim mill transformed into vibrant mixed-use destination with retail, dining, coworking, and family programming. Leading transformational economic development project.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC): Sun Belt county/regional EDO model with a comparable mandate of business attraction, workforce, and site-selection services, used as a non-regional functional benchmark for COED.
• Greater Nashville Chamber (Economic Development): Regional chamber/EDO delivering business attraction and workforce development for the Nashville metro, a comparable growth-market peer with overlapping programmatic structure to COED.
• Greater Houston Partnership: Regional business and economic development organization serving the Houston region with business attraction, workforce, and international trade programming analogous to COED's portfolio at a larger regional scale.
• Charlotte Regional Business Alliance: Regional economic development organization for the Charlotte region, providing comparable corporate attraction, workforce, and entrepreneurial programming for a fast-growing Southeast metro.

Direct peers

• Cobb Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development): County-level economic development organization for Cobb County, Georgia, serving the same Atlanta-metro market as COED with comparable site selection, workforce, and business attraction functions.
• Forsyth County Economic Development: County-level EDO north of Atlanta with a similar suburban growth, workforce development, and corporate attraction mandate, directly competing with COED for relocating businesses.
• Gwinnett County Economic Development: Economic development arm of the Gwinnett Chamber, providing business attraction, retention, and workforce programming in adjacent Atlanta-metro Gwinnett County with overlapping target industries.
• DeKalb County Economic Development: County-level economic development authority serving DeKalb County in the Atlanta metro, offering comparable business attraction, expansion support, and workforce alignment services.
• Georgia Department of Economic Development: State-level EDO that funds, partners with, and at times competes against county EDOs like COED for film projects, corporate relocations, and international business attraction in Georgia.
• Invest Atlanta: City of Atlanta's official economic development authority, the metro anchor peer for COED, focused on business attraction, film/creative industries, and workforce development within the same regional ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CherokeeOED
• Facebookfacebook.com/cherokeeofficeofeconomicdevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cherokee-office-of-economic-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/cherokeeoed
• Xx.com/CherokeeOED

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cherokee Office of Economic Development