There were 161 new business licenses issued throughout the county last month, down from 209 issued in March and 208 in April of last year.
So far this year, there have been 717 new business licenses issued, trailing last year's pace of 807 issued through April.
Pam Carnes, president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said the drop in licenses last month could be because of timing.
"Potentially, with spring break, they lost a week and were not focused in the early part of the month," she said. "That week off could have had an affect."
William Anderson of Atlanta Gas Light, vice chairman of economic and small business development for the Chamber, said he feels the market is still strong.
"It will pick back up," he said. "This one month is not an indication of things to come."
Cherokee County's business license office issued 109 new licenses last month, down from 127 in March and 116 in April last year. This year, the county office has issued 466 new licenses, down from 518 issued at this point last year.
One of those licenses was issued for Bethany Boutique on East Cherokee Drive in Macedonia. The thrift store will generate income for Bethany Place, a transitional home that has sheltered more than 1,800 women and children over 22 years.
"For this kind of business, now is the best time," Sandy Reed, executive director of Bethany Place, said about opening a thrift store during this economically depressed time. The store is expected to be open next month. Latimer Construction volunteered to construct the building free of labor charges.
Woodstock issued 17 new licenses last month, a drop from 32 in March and 43 in April last year. So far, the city has issued 103 new licenses this year, off from the 150 licenses issued through April last year.
Canton issued 22 new licenses last month, down from 25 issued in March and 35 issued in April of last year. This year, the city has issued 75 new business licenses, trailing last year's pace of 90 issued through April.
Holly Springs issued 11 new business licenses last month, down from 20 issued in March but up from eight issued in April last year. The city has issued 62 licenses this year, up from 38 issued through April last year.
Ball Ground had just one new license in April. The city issued five in March and six in April last year. There have been 10 licenses issued in the city this year, down from 11 issued at this time last year.
Waleska issued its first new license of the year last month. It had not issued any at this time last year. The city of Nelson has not issued any new business licenses in the county this year.
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