Economic Growth Survey Under Way in Johns Creek

A feasibility survey asking local business owners if they would support an economic development growth initiative in the city is under way, thanks to a Johns Creek Chamber project.

To complete the study and the initiative, the chamber is in the process of obtaining non-profit status for the Johns Creek Economic Development Corp., a group it formed to collaborate with on the study and then the project if it passes muster with local business owners.

The group is comprised of a board of directors of business and community leaders including:

• John Bemont, Johns Creek Chamber president
• Chris Borders, general manager
• Kent Davis, vice president
• Cleve Gaddis, Gaddis Partners manager partner
• John Kachmar, city manager
• Craig McVoy, CEO
• Neil Stevens, executive vice president
• Rees Waite, vice president

“For the last couple of years Johns Creek has been talking about the need to put in place some efforts for economic development,” said Neil Stevens, who is serving as chair of the board and is also incoming chairman for the chamber.

The effort, which would also be know as “Grow Johns Creek” to the public, would have eight basic initiatives:

1. New business attraction and recruitment
2. Retaining and expanding existing businesses
3. Small business start-ups and growth
4. Improvement of retail and commercial space, obtaining 85 percent occupancy
5. Workforce development
6. Attracting amenities to support businesses
7. Creating an opportunity fund that would be on hand for situations such as having matching dollars to close a deal, etc.
8. Investor relations and transparent governance

For now, with the 60-day feasibility study, the group is trying to gauge if business owners would be interested in helping fund the project, which would require a fulltime staff member and would operate at a total cost of $1.2 million for three years. 

“This effort is not so much in response to any challenges as a proactive effort,” said Stevens, who has lived in the Johns Creek area since 2001 and serves as vice president of the community-based KeyWorth Bank. “We have a unique city; ours is more residential-oriented and we can benefit by bringing in more companies and diversifying the tax base.”