About Eatonton, GA
Within the first moments of arriving at Eatonton, Georgia, it’s clear this is a
town with imagination. Along street signs and doorways, you will find paintings and sculptures. Most prominent being Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox, characters from Joel Chandler Harris’s adaptation of the collection of animal stories, songs, and oral folklore.
The creative spirit extends far beyond the streetside animals and famous authors like Chandler or Alice Walker (The Color Purple) who have called Eatonton home. The lakeside community is focusing on entrepreneurship to strengthen their economy and enhance the quality of life for residents of Putnam County and surrounding region.
"The beauty of this community is that you have a lot of arts, history, and tourism that have grown organically. Now, because of the growth of the area, the growth of Lake Oconee, you have a lot of people moving in that have really taken an interest in the downtown area,” shared Matt Poyner, Executive Director, Putnam Development Authority.
A growing community
Attracted to the beauty of Lakes Sinclair and Oconee, the county’s population has grown nearly 3% since 2020. While historic charm is abundant in Eatonton, it’s also within a car ride to Atlanta (72 miles) and Athens (57 miles). This proximity to top universities and innovation hubs is one reason it’s attracting businesses and residents from outside of the state.
Supporting local businesses
Participating in Georgia Power’s CREATE (Cultivating Rural Entrepreneurship and Transforming Economies) program is one way that the region is weaving entrepreneurship into the community’s plans.
“We got involved in the CREATE program because we saw it as an opportunity for us to partner with Georgia Power and look at any gaps we have as a community,” said Matt Poyner. “You’re always trying to figure out how you can be better for our businesses and better for our community.”
To prepare for more growth, leaders in the city and county are working together to understand how more businesses will affect other aspects of the region – like housing. The city leaders are focused on increasing multifamily housing in support of downtown’s small businesses.
“People are interested in our downtown. Community development is very important and so is the housing aspect,” shared Mayor John Reid. “One of the things we’ve done to improve housing is the addition of the Sumter Street Station apartments with 62 housing units where people can live right here in the downtown area.”
The CREATE program equipped a group of Eatonton-Putnam leaders with skills, resources, and programs to implement their own small business growth plans for the community.
- Christina Hinz, CTAE Director, Putnam County H.S.
- Lisa Jackson, Director of Planning & Development, Putnam County
- Maria Jimenez, City Clerk, City of Eatonton
- Robbie King, President, Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce
- Matt Poyner, Director, Putnam Development Authority
- John Reid, Mayor, City of Eatonton
- Janie Reid, Councilmember, City of Eatonton
- Gary Sanders, City Administrator, City of Eatonton
- Lauren Singleton, Director, Eatonton Main Street
- Greg Tyson, Area Manager, Georgia Power
- Ryan Waldrep, Regional Economic Development Manager, Georgia Power
Working together, the CREATE champions have already analyzed the existing assets and gaps in their region to prioritize the types of programs, policies, and places that will have the greatest impact on the region.
“Communities are often surprised by how many resources they currently have available to help entrepreneurs. Organizations like Small Businesses Development Centers from UGA, local lending programs like ACE, and chambers are all great places to start when evaluating how small businesses grow in Georgia towns and cities,” Scott Purvis, Regional Economic Development Manager at Georgia Power.
What's next
The analysis has given the leaders direction on what resources existing businesses in the community are looking for, and what programs or opportunities still must be created. The next steps include a “road show” to promote the plan and gather input from business owners and residents.
With the imagination and support from community leaders and businesses, the city’s tagline feels more relevant than ever.
“It’s a great place to be and a great time to be here.”
Who is creating opportunity in your region?
Growth often starts locally. Check with your region's development authority or a Chamber of Commerce to learn about any programs specific to small business and entrepreneurs.
Find out more about chambers here.