DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — One of the first things Gov. Brian Kemp did after being sworn into office in January was issue an executive order to create the Georgians First Commission, with the belief that small business is the backbone of the state’s economy.

Scott Hilton, a commercial banker with an MBA from Emory and undergraduate degree from Georgetown, was chosen to head the commission. He explained the purpose of the organization at Thursday’s Rotary Club of Dawson County luncheon at Chestatee Golf Club.

“Our goal is simply this: Cut red tape, remove barriers, streamline government and promote small business in Georgia,” Hilton said.

The commission’s advisory board is made up of 18 small business owners from all across the state. “They text me all day with ways we can get government out of the way,” he said. “The No. 1 thing I hear is if you can just get government out of the way, I can grow, expand and do all the things that make our community so great.”

The commission has one year to develop a list of recommendations it can make to Gov. Kemp about what the state can do legislatively through the General Assembly or through changing the rules and regulations that control the more than 80 agencies that make up state government.

“The needs of our state are so different, it really gives you an appreciation for how diverse our state is, how big the state is and what different areas are struggling with,” he said. “What we struggle with in Atlanta is very different to what rural Georgia is struggling with.”

Members of the commission are looking at what other states are doing to make things better for small business owners, or prospective owners. States that are being closely assessed are Indiana, Ohio and Arizona.

“One of the things we’re working on is a one-stop business site where you can access the Department of Revenue or Department of Labor or whatever and update your information,” he said. “You’re in, you’re out, you’re done, saving hours of your time dealing with the frustration of state and local government.”

The commission is also looking into making improvements in occupational licensing requirements which is a barrier to entry into the workforce. Georgia requires licenses for 41 different professions, everything from cosmetologists to librarians.

Hilton pointed out the difficulty of military families who often are frequently required to move from state to state. “When they move here to Georgia, we require them to go through the same process all over again of getting a license, paying a fee, taking a test. Maybe that is some place we could create reciprocity.”

Hilton said the commission is working on other ideas, including tax reform and innovation in technology.

“We have so many technology assets here in the state,” he said. “What is the next big idea – 3D printing, aerospace, autonomous vehicles, drone technology? What is the next big thing we can plant our flag in and say Georgia is going to lead the way in this area?”

One of the Rotarians pointed out that access to capital is one obstacle that has to be overcome.

Hilton agreed and said “One of the things that keeps me awake at night is those kids at UGA or Georgia Tech who say, ‘I have a great idea but all the money is out in California of Austin, Texas, or Boston.’ How do we create an ecosystem here so from birth all the way through, a company has access to the money it needs?”

 

 

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