CANTON — Business activity remains stagnant in Cherokee County, and local observers are blaming uncertainty as the culprit of holding back new growth.

Ninety-five business licenses were issued throughout the county, which was the same number issued in May, but also lower than 124 issued in June 2011.

The year-to-date number continues to lag behind, with 852 issued by the close of June 2012, down from 1,104 at the end of June 2011.

Steve Holcomb, chairman of the Development Authority of Cherokee County and president at United Community Bank, said he hasn’t noticed much change in the economic climate to encourage prospective entrepreneurs to start up their businesses.

He also said he believes there’s a lack of confidence in the air surrounding the “volatile” stock market and the uncertain American economic climate.

“This has caused, I believe, a number of businesses to simply rethink their timing and postpone decisions,” he said.

The Cherokee County Development Services Center issued 63 new permits in June, down slightly from 70 doled out in May and 95 in June 2011. The county has issued 577 this year, down from 899 granted by the end of June 2011.

Cherokee Office of Economic Development President Misti Martin added that while the dropoff continues across the county, she noted her office is seeing increased prospect activity “for businesses looking to locate or relocate their business to Cherokee County.”

She later added the lag could be attributed to the election year as some residents become stymied by the intense political climate.

For Keisha Bruce, the intense political climate hasn’t stopped her from continuing a New Orleans tradition passed onto her from her father.

Bruce, along with her husband, Daniel, has opened Paw-Paw’s New Orleans Original Sno-balls, which operates on a mobile food truck during the weekends. The truck operates from noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 505 Arnold Mill Road near Woodstock.

Bruce, a native of New Orleans, said she makes her sno balls with shaved ice and hand-made syrup that’s soaked into the ice. Bruce grew up making sno balls with her father and noted she always wanted to start the business in Georgia.

However, she had a minor setback when was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009 and with breast cancer just six months later.

Bruce said she was “lucky” to have the diagnoses discovered early and was able to complete treatment successfully.

“I felt that at that point, you’re not promised tomorrow,” she said. “I did this on pure faith and the love of sno-balls.”

In Woodstock, the number of licenses issued in June was 17, up from 13 and 14 issued in June 2011. The city this year has approved 128 licenses, up slightly from 121 by the close of June 2011.

Holly Springs granted five new licenses for June, up from two issued in May and three issued in June 2011. The city this year has issued 32 new licenses, down dramatically from 71 granted in by the same point in 2011.

The county seat also witnessed a drop in business licenses. The city of Canton issued six permits in June, down from 10 in May and 10 in June 2011. The city approved 60 licenses this year, down from 96 granted year-to-date in 2011.

Neither Waleska nor Nelson issued any licenses in June or May. Both cities have not issued any new licenses this year. Waleska issued one license by the end of June 2011, and Nelson remained without a new business by the end of the same time period.

Ball Ground approved two licenses in June. The city did not approve any licenses in May, but issued one in June 2011. The city so far has granted permits to 11, down from 17 by the same point last year.

Bruce said her business is a way to bring “a piece of home” to the county and hopes her children will carry on that tradition.

“I do this out of pure love and my dad,” she said. “He’s the one that put it inside me. I truly believed growing up in that environment gave me the desire to want to do this.”

Ball Ground

Ashdan Property Management, LLC

109 Covington Drive

DiCamillo Tile and Stone

100 Holcomb Manor

Canton

Best Methods LLC

130 Prominence Place Suite 130

Florinda Gonzalez

459 Center St.

Semper Fi Painting Company

319 Hillcrest Lane

Warrior Trading and Pawn

196 North St.

Webb & Lathem Properties

1883 Old Hickory Flat Highway

Zaxby’s

2036 Cumming Highway

Cherokee County

A to Z Grading & Construction

Home-based business

A Perfect Custom Remodel, Inc.

Home-based business

Allsouth Painting & Wallcovering, Inc.

Home-based business

AM Tech Consulting, LLC

7990 Knox Bridge Highway Canton

Angokh Systems

Home-based business

Apryl’s Antics And Zuri Graphic Design

Home-based business

Audra Mitchell Photography

Home-based business

Avery Montessori Academy, Inc.

9626 Hickory Flat Highway Woodstock

B & C Brothers

Home-based business

Beach Fruit & Veg, Inc.

Home-based business

Beers Housing, INC.

Home-based business

Blair Ice Cream

Home-based business

Blue Ocean Development, Inc.

6845 Highway 92 Woodstock

Bonsai Landscape, Inc.

Home-based business

Champion Cycles, Inc.

7990 Knox Bridge Highway Canton

Cherokee Home Service, Inc.

Home-based business

Derek Dixon Consulting

Home-based business

Donald Payne

Home-based business

E-Bar Electrical Services LLC

Home-based business

Elite Pro Home Services, LLC

Home-based business

Enzone Sports, LLC

Home-based business

Georgia Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center, LLC

2000 Village Professional Drive Canton

GA Nails

12420 Cumming Highway Canton

Georgia Prime Volleyball

Home-based business

Outdoor Effects, Inc. DBA Outdoor Effects Landscape Group

6589 Bells Ferry Road Woodstock

Holly Springs Pharmacy, LLC

3422 Sixes Road Canton

High Value Gear

Home-based business

HRM FishGym, LLC dba Gymboree Play & Music

6764 Hickory Flat Highway Canton

Inspired Business Services

Home-based business

J.G. Leone Enterprises Inc.

3540 Ball Ground Highway Canton

Jerry C. Dempsey DBA Dempsey Radiator Service

Home-based business

Josh Mahnke

Home-based business

Kelley’s Construction & Renovation, LLC

Home-based business

Kenneth Burns Cleaning

Home-based business

Kenneth J. St. Romain Jr.

Home-based business

Kinetic Firearms, LLC

Home-based business

Machotline, LLC

Home-based business

Merino & Associates, LLC

2230 Towne Lake Parkway Woodstock

Mister E Magic

Home-based business

Newman’s Custom Renovations, Inc.

Home-based business

North Georgia Amateur Umpire Association, Inc.

Home-based business

Outdoor Effects, Inc. DBA Outdoor Effects Landscape Group

6589 Bells Ferry Road Woodstock

Pagm Marketing LLC

Home-based business

Palm Street Properties, LLC

Home-based business

Patriot Family Supply, LLC

Home-based business

Paw-Paw’s New Orleans Original Sno-Balls

504 Arnold Mill Road Woodstock

Predrag Jaric

Home-based business

RA DentStudio

Home-based business

Radiant Stoppers LLC

Home-based business

Red Handed Gifts, LLC

Home-based business

Reliable Pressure Washing

Home-based business

Rick Cheney

Home-based business

Roof Coatings Network, LLC

Home-based business

Sambria Pharmaceuticals LLC

719 Bascomb Commercial Parkway Acworth

Scott Plumbing Service

Home-based business

SJBIBSVCSD, INC

145 Wes Walker Memorial Drive Ball Ground

Syncomation, LLC

Home-based business

TechnoMan Studios LLC

Home-based business

The Staging Spot

Home-based business

Terra Works, LLC

Home-based business

Whole Body Yoga Therapy

Home-based business

World Class Auto Sales LLC

5439 Reinhardt College Parkway Waleska

X-Fynity with Class, Inc.

5940 Highway 92 Acworth

Holly Springs

Harmony Virtual Assistants

223 Glenwood Drive

JCE Photography

220 Lee Court

Meridian Surgical PC

684 Sixes Road Suite 225

Southgate Process Equipment Inc.

87 Hickory Springs Industrial Drive

Trident Paintless Dent Repair

213 Reserve Crossing

Woodstock

All About You Too, LLC

2774 Hawk Trace Court, Marietta

Amarc Medical and Research Clinic, Inc.

N/A

Autospace

608 Mauldin Drive

Imagine Counseling Services, LLC

242 Creekstone Ridge

Metro PCS

9425 Highway 92 Suite 190

NexSlim of Towne Lake

200 Parkbrooke Drive Suite 130

OCTO Lights, LLC

2000 Brittania Circle

Papa P’s

2295 Towne Lake Parkway Suite 160

Piedmont Physicians Neurosurgery

980 Woodstock Parkway, Suite 300

QuickSpa Carwash

12176 Highway 92

Shuan Yuan

8265 Highway 92 Suite 113

Target Audience Magazine

400 Raven Mocker Lane

The Law Office of C. Mark Anderson, PC

P.O. Box 2299

The Photo Factory and Studio, LLC

3259 Eagle Watch Drive

Turfwell Athletic Fields, LLC

1375 Chatley Way

Wendy D. Black

5170 Shadowood Drive

Woodstock Psychological Associates

3380 Trickum Road Building 1000 Suite 102