“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. “PROPEL is just the starting point. We see great opportunities to partner with these communities going forward.”
Baldwin County PROPEL committee members pose with members of the UGA Institute of Government team and Director Rob Gordon. (Photo by Sara Ingram)
Jonathan Jackson, executive director of the Development Authority for the city of Milledgeville-Baldwin County, credits PROPEL for helping his county address workforce issues. The county assembled a task force with representatives from the local college and career academy, chamber of commerce, technical college and others. With help from the UGA Institute of Government, the Baldwin County team held a workforce summit to align worker skills with local industry needs. They also developed a hyperlocal job board that focuses on in-county job postings to help Baldwin County residents find local positions.
“What we learned the most from our experience was to be flexible and meet these companies, job seekers and educators where they are and get them talking to each other,” Jackson said. “UGA has helped us to see things that we may not have seen otherwise.”
In Burke County, PROPEL has helped local leaders work on tourism, including helping revive a Waynesboro farmers market.
“The farmers market has been one of our best accomplishments. UGA helped us take something that was withering and made it flourish again,” said Elizabeth Highsmith, a member of Burke County’s PROPEL steering committee.
Highsmith said a team of PROPEL Rural Scholars researched ideas from other markets and designed advertising that attracted new vendors and customers. “It’s been a complete turnaround,” she said. “We went from having just a few vendors and sparse turnout to an active market with a nice crowd. The community support has been magnificent.”
Jason Dunn, Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority executive director, said PROPEL has been instrumental in the work of reestablishing Fitz LEADS, a community leadership program. Fitz LEADS, a partnership between the economic development authority and Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce, prepares area residents for service on local boards and councils, laying the foundation for strong community leadership and engagement in the future.
PROPEL has also led to downtown revitalization efforts in Fitzgerald, including the recent completion of a Downtown Renaissance Fellowship through the Institute of Government. Among its suggestions, the plan calls for new trees along Pine Street and ideas for refurbishing building facades.
“The fellowship has given us some achievable and financially feasible goals that can instantly make a difference. It’s been a big win for downtown,” Dunn said.
Rural Georgia communities mark progress with PROPEL
Communities across Georgia are achieving big goals with help from a nationally recognized rural development program at the University of Georgia.
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.