When I arrived in Georgia in May 2002, I quickly sensed that I had landed in the most entrepreneurially oriented place among my various tours of duty with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Many people I encountered, even casually, were thinking about starting a business, were starting a business or had an established business. Even individuals who held traditional jobs also operated their own enterprises. Statistics have supported my initial observations. Ninety-five percent of the businesses have fewer than 50 employees, with 87 percent employing five or fewer individuals. The Kauffman Foundation ranks Georgia second among states for increases in entrepreneurial activity over the past decade. The Atlanta-Marietta-Sandy Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area tied for second nationally in entrepreneurial activity among metropolitan areas.
