Forward Rabun Gap Analysis: New Business Case Study

The Issue
Case Studies & Inspiration
Recommended Actions

The Issue

Due to limited land available for development and limited available buildings, Rabun County has faced challenges in attracting new businesses to the area. There are likely some individuals already here that would like to start a business, but lack the resources and knowledge to do so. The local economy is very driven by tourism.

Case Studies & Inspiration

Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center

The Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center (GEC) is a facility sponsored by Gwinnett County, Georgia, that supports entrepreneurs and nurtures startup small businesses. The GEC offers a broad mix of options knowing they have businesses in a variety of stages. It combines the need for an affordable facility that startups can rent space from as well as opportunities for the entire facility to be rented. In addition to co-working space, it also provides member businesses with opportunities for networking, instructional workshops and classes, business coaching services, and peer learning. The GEC offers resident members secure, 24/7 access to the facility.

Recreation Economy for Rural Communities

The Recreation Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance program helps communities identify different strategies for growing their outdoor recreation economies and also helps revitalize their Main Streets. This program helps create opportunities to improve what a community already has while paving the way for new recreational businesses.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

After completing the community workshop and planning process, this community secured a grant from the State of Colorado as well as the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to engage and expand access to outdoor recreation assets in the area for all residents. The community has also been working on increasing affordable housing, sustainable management for natural assets and recreation amenities, and recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and a wildfire.

Jasper, Alabama

After participating in the workshop, this community has worked to integrate the revitalization of its Main Street with outdoor recreation assets such as Walker County Lake, water trails, and Bankhead National Forest. Expanding access to these assets will help improve the health of residents and is creating a “trail town” that connects natural amenities to Main Street, which helps draw in more visitors.

Poultney, Vermont

The closure of Green Mountain College, a major employer and community anchor, in 2019 deeply impacted Poultney. The community is exploring how outdoor recreation can help them build back better and stronger by bringing more economic diversity and strengthening Main Street businesses. Poultney has a great network of trails they are working to grow as a way to get local residents involved in outdoor recreation, as well as to draw new visitors in.

Hartwell, Georgia

The City of Hartwell is a 2022 Recreational Economy for Rural Communities planning assistance recipient. The city and its partners want to leverage the city’s access to the third largest lake in the Southeastern U.S. by building a trail to connect the lake with the historic downtown area. This will increase connections between the lake and downtown communities as a way to support both agrotourism and outdoor recreation.

Recommended Actions

Business Incubator:

Explore possibilities for setting up a business incubation center to leverage business knowledge from second-home residents in Rabun County to support new businesses to start or relocate to the county. This can include discussions with the Gwinnett County Entrepreneur Center and other similar facilities.

Recreation Economy for Rural Communities:

Request a meeting with the City of Hartwell, GA to discuss the process of applying for planning assistance to further determine if this is a viable option for Rabun County.
Reach out to other past recipients to learn how the planning assistance has helped grow business in their areas.