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On Thursday, Kemi Co. Tax Agency officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting hosted by the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce.

Kemi Co. Tax Agency provides tax services, audit control, bookkeeping, accounting and soon, notaries.

Founder Martina Pickett said opening up her own company was a dream come true.

As a self-described “rough cookie,” Pickett has seen a lot of ups and downs in her life. From health struggles to furthering her education, Pickett has been through it all and felt like the odds were against her.

“I’ve always been a person to accomplish things, but it’s like I got rid of the old me and became the person I am now,” Pickett said.

Pickett initially started at Superior Tax Office, where she learned how to do tax returns before deciding to venture out on her own.

Now officially a part of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Pickett said she looks forward to learning from other people in business and helping the community.

“You can never stop learning,” Pickett said. “I don’t want to learn one way. I want to learn how to help people be financially stable, how to prevent young people from messing up their credit — I want to learn all that and more.”

Pickett said she wants to help her community thrive and show them just because you come from a rough background doesn’t mean you can’t succeed.

“I love my community. I love people,” Pickett said. “I wish I was rich so I could show them just how much I love them.”

Pickett said people used to see her as a bad person because of the person she used to be.

“I want to show the young ones this isn’t how we have to be, and I’m here to prove it,” Pickett said. “I’ve been to jail, and now I’m a part of the NAACP. I want to show people that because it seems like the odds are against you doesn’t mean you can’t beat them.”

Pickett said her next venture will be in insurance.

Kemi Co. Tax Agency is located at 1028 Hogansville Road and is open Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.