The PROPEL Rural Scholars program provides undergraduate students interested in rural Georgia the opportunity to work alongside a Public Service and Outreach mentor and community leaders to work on and implement relevant research to communities. The two semester program will equip future leaders with the knowledge and experience to take roles in economic development, community development, and civic leadership.
The scholars program is part of the PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program that is led by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The program guides rural cities and counties through a six-step model to develop and implement a plan to advance their economies. It helps communities build resiliency and capacity for long-term economic success.
Register here for more information.
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How PROPEL Works |
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The program was created through a generous donation from the UGA Foundation as well as a USDA Grant. PROPEL communities embark on a two-year journey working with a core team of community leaders along with coaches from the Archway Partnership, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Small Business Development Center, and Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. They learn to analyze economic and labor market data and identity community resources that could drive growth in the community. Scholars will work alongside PROPEL communities and faculty. |
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PROPEL Process |
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The are several steps in the PROPEL Model. Using this model, the communities will learn to utilize resources to promote lasting developments to push them forward for future development.
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Lead With Us! |
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Applications for the 2023-2024 program are now closed. Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort will open in mid-Spring 2024. Students interested in the PROPEL Rural Scholars Program may complete this form for more information. |
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The Rural Scholars Program |
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The scholars program is open to any undergraduate student. The year-long program begins in September and concludes in April with final deliverable presentations. Scholars attend five two-hour seminars throughout the fall semester, covering various aspects of economic and community development in rural Georgia. Following the second seminar, students will participate in a community visit to an active PROPEL community, study the opportunities and challenges facing rural communities, and interact with community leaders. In the spring, students will complete an internship where they will conduct research and complete a project that will assist their assigned PROPEL communities. While the PROPEL communities are across the state, interns will be able to complete the work from the Athens campus. Funds will be available to support Rural Scholars travel to their assigned PROPEL community. Students are able to earn non-course experiential learning credit through their participation in the program. |
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Current PROPEL Communities |
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PROPEL In the News |
UGA students explore needs of rural Georgia communities through new program
April 6, 2023
UGA students are learning about economic drivers in rural Georgia — and why they matter to the state as a whole — as scholars in PROPEL, a unique program led by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) provides rural communities with resources to create systems needed to support their own economic and workforce development strategies.
April 6, 2023
“My core identity is deeply rooted in rural Georgia, so my aspiration has always been to find a career path that would allow me to improve conditions for rural communities like the ones where I grew up," says PROPEL Rural Scholar Max White.
Institute of Government adds three new communities to PROPEL
February 1, 2023
The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government is expanding efforts to support rural communities in Georgia thanks to funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development as well as resources provided by the University of Georgia Foundation. The Institute of Government is a Public Service and Outreach unit at UGA.
PROPEL Rural Scholars program launches first cohort of nine undergrads
November 15, 2022
Nine undergraduate UGA students committed to boosting Georgia’s rural communities were named as inaugural PROPEL Rural Scholars at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
PROPEL provides tools for rural community engagement and economic success
October 31, 2022
In rural areas of Georgia, like Grady County, losing young adults to schools and jobs in other cities and states can break the succession of community leaders, which is vital to future success.
As an initial PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) community, Grady County surveyed students at Cairo High School to find out what young people would like to see in their hometown, how much they knew about job opportunities in the area, and if they planned on staying close to home after graduation.
Support from UGA Foundation benefits students and communities
May 25, 2022
A generous $500,000 gift from the University of Georgia Foundation board of trustees to support rural economic development will enable UGA to reach even more communities and provide experiential learning opportunities to more students.
PROPEL gives rural communities the tools to prosper and thrive
May 5, 2022
Over the next two years, PROPEL participants will work through a six-step model focusing on economic development, data analysis, strategic planning, community engagement and vision setting. Coaches from the UGA Institute of Government and Archway Partnership will work closely to keep the communities on track. Faculty from other UGA Public Service and Outreach units, the J.W. Fanning Institute of Leadership and the Small Business Development Center, are available to provide expertise in small business, leadership development and community engagement.
USDA grant will help communities boost economic development with PROPEL
November 3, 2021
A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow UGA Public Service and Outreach units to equip rural Georgia communities with the tools, resources and knowledge to chart a strategy for economic recovery and long-term resiliency.
