Institute of Government program helps rural communities make strides in workforce and community development
Communities across Georgia are achieving big goals with help from a nationally recognized rural development program at the University of Georgia.
PROPEL, or Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership, provides resources to rural communities to support economic and community development strategies. Working with UGA faculty, staff, students, and key stakeholders identify and execute a long-term vision for the community’s economic future. The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach, has led the program since its launch in 2021.
Baldwin, Ben Hill and Burke counties have just completed the two-year program. Crisp, Emanuel and Marion counties started working with PROPEL in 2024 and are halfway through the program.
The teams from each county recently gathered for a workshop at the UGA Special Collections Library to celebrate their accomplishments, share ideas and learn about available resources to help their communities as they continue to build upon their successes.
Wrapping Up – Baldwin, Ben Hill and Burke
“We are really excited about what Baldwin, Ben Hill and Burke have accomplished and the leadership they’re building in their communities,” said Greg Wilson, the UGA Institute of Government faculty member who leads PROPEL.
Moving Along – Crisp, Emanuel and Marion
The recent UGA workshop provided an opportunity for teams from Crisp, Emanuel and Marion counties to connect with their counterparts around the state as they gear up to execute the plans they have created through their first year in the program.