Institute of Government partnerships build more vibrant, prosperous communities across the state.
A vibrant mural at the corner of North Broad Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Buena Vista, Georgia, catches the eyes of passers-by with its bright blue border. The mural tells the story of the longleaf pine forests that once dominated Marion County and the turpentine industry, flora and fauna that the trees supported—from gopher tortoises to bobwhite quail.
The mural is just one way the city is hoping to attract visitors and residents from nearby U.S. Army installation Fort Moore to boost its tourism, as recommended by the University of Georgia Defense Community Resilience Program. Housed in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the program connects military installations and their surrounding communities with UGA expertise, strengthening local economies, supporting soldiers and their families, and fostering thriving communities across the state.
In Buena Vista, the 2015 departure of Tyson Foods eliminated 400 jobs in the area and forced the community to reconsider its economic strategies.
“It pushed us to start focusing on tourism and trying to bring a transient population into the community to shop at our mom-and-pop shops and leave revenue with our small business community,” explained Mayor Kevin Brown.
Mayor Kevin Brown discusses infrastructure with students, Institute of Government faculty member Ileeia Smith, and community members. (Photo by Sara Ingram)
The UGA Institute of Government first partnered with the community in 2021 as part of the River Valley Community Compatible Development plan, which provides strategic direction to spur economic development in the six rural counties outside of Fort Moore and Columbus.
Since 2022, Buena Vista has achieved several economic successes through its partnership with UGA, with an estimated impact of $500,000 from various projects providing a blueprint for success. Faculty from the Institute of Government helped to revitalize the city’s development authority, which enabled Buena Vista to identify grant opportunities with governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations focused on economic development.