The Problem:

Protecting existing jobs and creating new jobs should be a top priority at all levels of government. The competition between counties and states to attract new employers and retain existing ones is fierce. Fulton County cannot afford to have any employers move from the county and it must be competitive in attracting new employers.

	We must work to not only attract new employers to Fulton County, but also, and probably more importantly, to retain the current employers who provide valuable jobs throughout the county. Steve will accomplish this goal by working closely with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, North Fulton Chamber, South Fulton Chamber, local city chambers, and the Economic Development Commission.
	We need to ensure Fulton County’s employers view the county as a desirable place to operate their business. Governors of nearby states have representatives in Fulton County to recruit our employers to their states. Many Fulton County employers have told Steve they have never been contacted by Fulton County other than to collect property taxes and business license fees or for other regulatory-related purposes. Steve understands that retaining an employer is much less expensive than recruiting a new employer to the county.
	Fulton county government must create an attractive atmosphere for employers through lower taxes, less litigation, and minimal regulation.

The Solution:

Reducing property taxes throughout the county, creating an efficient process to issue construction permits and business licenses within the unincorporated areas of the county, working cooperatively with the economic development agencies and the Chambers of Commerce, and providing leadership in the development of the regional transportation plan that equitably taxes all Atlanta-metro area counties.