Welcome to National Small Business Week!
Did you know? More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.
Here at the Cobb Chamber, we believe small business is the backbone of our county. We just wrapped up our own Small Business of the Year awards, recognizing the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, the 2019 Small Business Hall of Fame recipient and the 2019 Businesses to Watch–and throughout the month we will celebrate each of the Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year. Each day, a new post will share more information about each recipient’s impact in the community and help you get to know the small businesses that help create the story of Cobb County.
Otter’s Chicken, 2019 Business of the Year
Our 2019 Small Business of the Year, Otter’s Chicken is a family-friendly, sports-themed restaurant that strives to serve the absolute best chicken around, at a fair price and in a fun atmosphere. Since opening their doors nine years ago, every menu item is hand-breaded and prepared to order. All of Otter’s ingredients are sourced locally and are prepared fresh. Signature items, such as their batter and popular Otter Sauce, are homemade. Otter’s mission is to serve high-quality food at a reasonable price, while making lasting connections within their community.
“We believe that if we treat our employees the right way, they will treat our customers the right way. We use that basic philosophy to make all of our decisions regarding our team.”
Will Peterson, owner
One way Otter’s Chicken outshines its competition is through its partnerships with local schools and non-profits, such as Still, Kemp and Cheatham Hill Elementary Schools; youth sports programs and community clubs; and numerous other local schools and organizations. Through these non-profit contributions, Partners in Education programs have benefited from sales percentage gifts, homeless mothers and children at Cobb Street Ministries have received meals and numerous elementary, middle and high school groups and teams have been served.
As the Chamber’s 2019 Small Business of the Year, Otter’s Chicken will compete in the state’s small business of the year competition.
2019 Small Business Hall of Fame recipient
2018 Small Business of the Year, The Service Fort, was also honored at the May First Monday Breakfast. The reigning small business of the year was inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame, which includes all county and state winners of the Small Business of the Year award from Cobb County since 1982.
2019 Businesses to Watch
In order to recognize the impressive accomplishments of many new Cobb businesses, the Cobb Chamber expanded its Small Business of the Year program to include the Businesses To Watch awards presentation. These are businesses that have launched less than three years ago and have already achieved substantial growth. The 2019 Businesses To Watch are:
- About You Family Medicine
- Afonza
- Gator Pizza, LLC
- Governors Gun Club Kennesaw
- Little Red Bird Gifts
Thanks for following along! We’ll see you back here tomorrow as we feature Top 25 Small Business of the Year AquaGuard Foundation Solutions.
