A Top City in the Southeast

Canton was built by innovation and industry. Our economy has diversified from the cotton textile manufacturing of our early days to now include healthcare, education, technology, advanced manufacturing, corporate and regional headquarters, government services, and retail trade. We are surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and we are part of the enterprising metro Atlanta region. Unique cultural opportunities and a top-ranked quality of life adds to Canton's desirability as a wonderful place live, work, invest, and play.

Incentives

The City of Canton, along with our economic development partners, offers exceptional incentives to relocating and expanding businesses. Our economic development team can help your business explore potential incentives that will help your business grow.

Central Business District (CBD)
Businesses that locate within the Central Business District may qualify for an 80% reduction on all new water and sewer tap fees.

Central City Opportunity Zone
Businesses that locate within the Central City Opportunity Zone may become eligible to receive $3,500 per created job when two or more jobs are created.

Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund (DDRLF)
Available through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the DDRLF offers below-market rate financing to fund capital projects in core historic downtown areas and adjacent historic neighborhoods where the DDRLF will spur commercial redevelopment.

Façade Improvement Program
The Canton Main Street Program in partnership with Canton Tourism administers a grant program for downtown property owners seeking to improve the exterior of their buildings. Property owners can apply for up to $2,500 in matching grant funds that can be used for a variety of exterior work.

Freeport Exemption
The City offers a 100% Freeport Inventory Tax Exemption. This exemption covers raw materials and goods in process of manufacture, finished goods produced in Georgia within the last 12 months, and finished goods stored in Georgia within the last 12 months and destined for shipment out-of-state.

Riverstone
Businesses that locate within Riverstone may qualify for a 30% discount on new sewer tap fees.

River Mill Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Enterprise Zone
Businesses that locate within the River Mill LCI Enterprise Zone may qualify for abatement of occupational tax, inspection fees, and other fees based on the project’s economic impact. Property tax abatement is provided for a certain period of time based on the value of investment into existing property improvements. Eligible businesses must create and maintain at least five new full-time jobs.

Technology Ridge Opportunity Zone
Businesses that locate within the Technology Ridge Opportunity Zone may become eligible to receive $3,500 per created job when two or more jobs are created.

Let us know how we can help you.

Resources

Canton Main Street Program
The Canton Main Street Program sees historical downtown as the heart of the community where social, economic and civic activities generate a welcoming environment in which local citizens and visitors can live, work, shop and play.

Chattahoochee Technical College
With close proximity to many companies and industries, the Canton Campus offers popular business courses to students, including Business Management, Accounting, and Marketing Management. These programs prepare students for entry into management or supervisory occupations in a variety of businesses and industries.

Cherokee Chamber of Commerce
We invite you to become a part of Cherokee County’s largest and strongest business-to-business network. The mission of the Chamber is to promote business and the community while expanding the economy and enhancing the quality of life.

Cherokee Office of Economic Development
The Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) works each day to drive economic development in Cherokee County. COED promotes the community’s business, academic and lifestyle strengths to continually attract dynamic companies and professionals to the county.

Georgia Department of Labor
The Georgia Department of Labor provides a wide range of services to job seekers and employers. These include administration of Georgia's unemployment insurance, employment service, provision of workforce information to the public and private sectors, and oversight of child labor issues.

Georgia Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. The SBDC’s mission is to enhance the economic well-being of Georgians by providing a wide range of educational services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Go Build Georgia
The Go Build Georgia Foundation is the private arm of the public/private partnership of the Go Build Georgia program undertaken by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development. Go Build Georgia educates children on the value of learning a trade.