North Georgia Green Industry Gaining Strength

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - As Hall County and other parts of North Georgia continue to experience commercial and residential growth, it creates both opportunity and uncertainty.

While the added stress of increased traffic and problems with infrastructure concern us all, "green" industry businesses are thriving.

The industry is one of the fastest growing segments in Georgia agriculture. According to Jean Ray, executive director of the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association, "Urban agriculture involves everything occurring in the outdoor environment: landscape installation and maintenance, landscape lighting, irrigation, hardscapes and even outdoor entertainment."

Here in Gainesville and Hall County, it's common to see landscape and lawn maintenance employees hard at work in both commercial and residential areas. Green industry agribusinesses are popping up all over the area at a tremendous pace, all of which are vying for their share of an industry that has an economic impact of $7 billion in Georgia.

And while there appears to be plenty of work to go around, countless numbers of people new to the landscape and lawn care business are jumping in feet first.

The concern of many industry experts is that those new to the Green industry may be knowledgeable on their subject matter (trees, shrubs, turf, weeds, etc.) but don't have the business skills they need to keep their business going long-term.

And it is these financial and management skills that many new to the landscape and lawn care business struggle with, some even going out of business after only a short time. Now, the University of Georgia College of Agriculture is working to address this problem.

Those new to the landscape or lawn care profession or those interested in starting one of these business are encouraged to attend a two-day business skills workshop Oct. 6-7 on the Griffin campus of The University of Georgia.

Taught by university faculty and experienced landscape professionals, participants will learn the nuts and bolts of starting a business. Representatives from various trade associations will also be on hand to answer questions.

The topics for the business skills workshop include how to develop a business plan, selecting equipment, managing employees, laws and regulations, avoiding legal headaches, cost estimating and job bidding and troubleshooting landscape problems.