ATLANTA — Parents and young companies would get help from the state under two initiatives Gov. Sonny Perdue unveiled Tuesday.

Perdue made his comments before 2,000 executives at the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Among those attending were two Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce officials, Al Hodge, president and chief executive officer, and Randy Quick, incoming chairman of the board of directors.

To improve attendance under Perdue’s initiative, the 550 schools with the highest truancy rates would get extra staff to urge parents to get students to class under his proposal.

Dubbed Very Important Parent recruiters, the staffers would help parents deal with school paperwork, stay connected with teachers and develop parenting skills. Taxpayers would pay $14.25 million for the program.

Schools already funded graduation coaches for high schools and middle schools, and now he said “recruiters” were the next piece, drawing on football analogies that he’s familiar with.

“Focusing on critical involvement by parents and guardians is the next step in ensuring student success,” Perdue said.

He recommended a different type of parenting for start-up companies.

Mindful that he was speaking to a business audience, Perdue pulled the wraps off a state/private venture-capital fund to invest in beginning companies that start in Georgia.

Taxpayers would put in $10 million to match $30 million in private funds with the aim to keep promising startups from leaving the state to find investors. In exchange for funding, the companies would give the state a share of any eventual profits.

While not commenting on the Perdue initiatives, Hodge and Quick said they found their trip fruitful.

“I thought it was good and productive. I was happy to see the spirit of cooperation among the three state leaders,” said Hodge, referring to Perdue, Glen Richardson and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.

“I felt they seemed to have a good working relationship,” added Quick. “I hope they will consider the needs of our region and explore the concerns we have, especially House Resolution 900.”

Bryant Steele, Rome News-Tribune Business Editor, contributed to this report.