Welcome to the world of Entrepreneurship!


We are glad you decided to make Turner County the home of your new adventure. New business adventures are exciting and overwhelming. We have put together some information to make the entrepreneur process a little easier:
 
 
Preparing a Business Plan:

David Dunn
230 S. Jackson St. Ste. 333
Albany, GA 31701
Phone: 229-430-2965
 
Zoning Requirements:

Mike Mastrario
County Annex Bldg.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-3563
 
Business License:

City of Ashburn
Sandy Lumpkin
121 E. Madison Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-2605
 
City of Rebecca
51 N. Railroad St.
Rebecca, GA 31783
229-643-7212
 
City of Sycamore
City Hall
Hwy 41 South
Sycamore, GA 31790
229-567-4296
 
 
Turner County
Turner Co. Building and Zoning
208 E. College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714


 
Banks:

Colony National Bank
515 E. Washington Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4383
 
Community National Bank
561 E. Washington Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-9686
 

Certified Public Accountants:


John C. Goss, CPA
321 E. Washington Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4367
 
Beverly North, CPA
1164 Monroe Rd.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-567-2348
 
Melanie W. Raines, CPA
257 E. College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-0890
 

Lawyers:

Cheryle T. Bryan, Atty.
419 E. Washington Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-3441
 
Holland & Holland, Attys.
320 North St.
P O Box 824
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-2824 or 2823
 
Steve Ivie, Atty.
317 McLendon St.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-2414

 
Real Estate:

Century 21 Smith Branch, Inc.
1814 U.S. Hwy 41 North
Tifton, GA 31794
229-386-8737
 
Jenkins Insurance and Real Estate
150 N. Main St.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4032
 
ERA Coleman Overstreet Realty
813 Love Ave.
Tifton, GA 31794
229-238-1899
 
 
 
Websites to help entrepreneurs:
 
 
Community-based E&SB Programs
www.georgia.org/esbd/community-based 
 
 
Georgia Dept. of Economic Development
Mary Ellen McClanahan � [email protected]
Or
404-962-4071
 
Georgia Rural Development Center
Swainsboro, Georgia
Www.gredc.org/entreprenuer_services.htm 
Or
478-289-2138
Or
Email: [email protected] 

 

United States Postal Service:

U.S. Post Office U.S. Post Office
218 E. College 33 W. Jewett St.
Ashburn, GA 31714 Sycamore, GA 31790

 

City of Ashburn Services:

City of Ashburn, within the city limits, will provide water, sewer, natural gas, propane
Gas, and sanitation services. In order to get services turned on, please contact:

Ashburn City Hall
121 E. Madison Avenue
Ashburn, Georgia 31714
229-567-3431

City of Sycamore Services:
City of Sycamore
City Hall
Hwy 41 South
229-567-4296

City of Rebecca Services:
City of Rebecca
51 N. Railroad St.
Rebecca, GA
229-643-7212

Turner County Services:

All permits for digging wells and septic tanks must be obtained at:
Turner County Health Department
745 Hudson St.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4357


City Electrical Power Services:

Georgia Power Company
336 E. Washington Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
1-888-660-5890

County Electrical Power Services:
Irwin EMC
915 W. 4th St.
Ocilla, GA
229-468-7415
1-800-237-3745

Mitchell EMC
Sylvester Hwy
Camilla, GA
229-336-5221

Crisp Co. Power Commission
202 S. 7th St.
Cordele, GA 31015
229-273-3811

Middle GA EMC
Rochelle, GA
229-365-2263


Telephone Services:

Alltel
112 E. Central Ave.
Fitzgerald, GA
1-800-501-1776



Community Services:

Please visit the Ashburn�Turner County Chamber of Commerce for events and a welcome packet to our county.

Ashburn-Turner County Chamber of Commerce
238 E. College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-9696, or 1-800-471-9696 or email us at
[email protected]  or [email protected]



Employment Issues

Information Needed

If your legal form is a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, or if you have employees, you need a Federal Tax ID Number.

SS-4 Federal Tax ID Number contact:

Internal Revenue Taxpayer Educational Serve. Div.
401 W. Peachtree St., N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 522-0050 (SS-4 Inquiry)
Phone: 800-829--FORM
Fax: 678-530-6156 (use only to FAX the SS-4 to IRS)

Web: www.irs.gov 

W-4 Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate:

All Employees need to complete a W-4. It stays in your employee personnel files, and is NOT mailed to the IRS.





State of Georgia Requirements

State of Georgia Number:
 
All employers are required to have a State Withholding Number. This number is used to identify and deposit State of Georgia Income Tax withheld from employee checks. This application can be faxed or mailed.
 
Georgia Dept. of Revenue
Income Tax Division
1800 Century Center Blvd., N.E.
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30345
 
Phone: 404-417-4317 (general)
404-417-2311 (withheld dept.)
877-602-8477
 
Fax number for applications: 404-417-6011
 
Albany Regional Office: 430-4241
 
Dept. of Revenue Website:
Information: www.gatax.org
Registration: www.georgiabusinessregistration.com 
 
 

State of Georgia

DOL-1 State Unemployment Application:

All employees are required to have a Georgia Dept. of Labor Number in order to pay State Unemployment Insurance on behalf of their employees.

Georgia Dept. of Labor
310 S. Tift Ave.
Tifton, GA 31794
229-386-7300

Web: www.dol.state.ga.us 

Employers new Hire Reporting Program:

All employers are required to report new hires to the State. This information is used to identify employees who are delinquent in Child Support payments.

New Hire Reporting Program
P O Box 38480
Atlanta, GA 30334-0480
Phone: 1-888-541-0469
Fax: 1-888-541-0521



Georgia State

INS Form I-9 Citizenship Verification:

I-9�s must be filled out by each employee and kept on file by the employer with the appropriate documentation required.

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Svc.
75 Spring St. , S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404-331-2762

Web: www.ins.usdoj.gov 

Minimum Wage/Overtime:

A small business Resource Guide is available at the DOL Website. This guide contains information on overtime, minimum wage and other relevant employee benefit issues.

Georgia Dept. of Labor
310 S. Tift Ave.
Tifton, GA 31794

Phone: 229-386-3322

Web: www.dol.gov


Georgia State

Worker�s Compensation Insurance:

Employers with 3 or more employees are required by law to carry Workers Compensation Insurance. This insurance is regulated by the State but sold by local community insurance agents. Three quotes are recommended.

Contact:
State of Georgia
State Board of Worker�s Compensation
270 Peachtree St., N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-1299

Phone: 404-656-2048
Forms: 404-656-3870
Fax: 404-651-9467

Drugs Don�t Work:

Contact: Ashburn-Turner Chamber of Commerce
238 E. College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
Phone: 229-567-9696
Fax: 229-567-2541


Georgia State

Trade name Registration:

All businesses organized as sole proprietorships or partnerships should register their trade name with the Clerk of Superior Court.
Clerk of Superior Court
219 E. College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-2011


Food Handling Distribution:

This State agency inspects and licenses all food preparation facilities with NO seating. Food Storage facilities such a grocery stores and warehouses are also inspected.

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
Consumer Protections Division
19 MLK Jr. Drive Rm 306
Atlanta, GA 30334

Phone: 404-656-3627
FAX: 404-463-6428
Web: www.AGR.State.GA.US


 Georgia State

Cooking or Preparation of Food:

Any food preparation facility with seating including inspections of Hotels and Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Personal Care Homes, Restaurants are inspected by the County. This agency issues Food Service Permits.

Turner County Health Department
745 Hudson St.
Ashburn, GA 31714

Phone: 229-567-4357

Beer License:

Contact: City of Ashburn
121 E. Madison Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714

Phone: 229-567-3431

State Licenses:

Over 30 professionals such as electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, etc. have to pass State certification boards and re licensed by the State:

State Licenses

Contact: Georgia Secretary of State
166 Pryor St. S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404-656-3900
Web: www.sos.State.ga.us/ebd 

UGA Small Business Development Center:

The Small Business Development Center provides free-of-charge business consulting services to small business owners and those considering starting a business. Assistance is provided in marketing, record keeping, customer service, taxes, market research and business planning. The SBDC also provides workshop format training in these areas:

University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
501 Gloucester St., Ste. 200
Brunswick, GA 31520

Phone: 912-264-7343
FAX: 912-262-3095
Web: www.sbdc.uga.edu



Community Overview

Demographic Information

Population
Ashburn 4,495
Turner County 9,504
Area Labor Market 59,148
Note: The area labor market is composed of Turner and its 6 surrounding counties: Ben-Hill, Crisp, Irwin, Tift, Wilcox, and Worth.

Trends 1990 1998 2003 Growth
Census Estimate Forecast Rate
Population
City of Ashburn 4,827 5,031 5,670 4.2%
County 8,703 9,160 9,656 5.3%
State 6,487,216 7,642,207 6,955,190 18.0%

Population -By Race
Caucasian 58.96% 53.13% 50.14%
African-American 40.61% 45.93% 48.00%
Asian 0.23% 0.37% 0.40%
Other 0.23% 0.58% 0.58%
Hispanic 0.4% 0.71% 1.1%
(% of above )

Population -By Gender
Male 47.28% 47.21% 46.86%
Female 52.72% 52.79% 53.14%