The UGA Institute of Government recently received $132,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand its work in rural Georgia. The $132,000 USDA grant will allow two additional Georgia counties—Lamar and Haralson—to participate in the nationally recognized PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program in 2025.
PROPEL provides rural communities with resources to support economic and community development strategies. Through the PROPEL model, UGA faculty, staff and students work with government and business leaders and other key community stakeholders to identify and execute a long-term vision for the community’s economic future. In addition, the PROPEL Rural Scholars program offers undergraduate students interested in rural Georgia opportunities to work alongside PSO mentors and community leaders on PROPEL projects.
This latest USDA grant to PROPEL is part of the federal agency’s Rural Community Development Initiative, which helps support community and economic development in rural communities.