Washington County Leaders Believe Teamwork, VSU RDI Partnership Will Drive Future Economic, Community Development

A four-member team from Washington County recently attended the Valdosta State University Center for South Georgia Regional Impact Rural Development Institute, a three-day summit designed to help communities across Georgia develop an action plan for rural prosperity. Participating team members are Jayson Johnston, executive director of the Development Authority of Washington County; Valerie Brown, City of Davisboro mayor; Larry Ivey, Davisboro City Council member; and ShaQuetta Brown, Davisboro city manager. They are pictured with Mary Beth Brownlee, director of One Valdosta-Lowndes and Washington County mentor.

VALDOSTA — A four-member team from Washington County recently attended the Valdosta State University Center for South Georgia Regional Impact Rural Development Institute, a three-day summit designed to help communities across Georgia develop an action plan for rural prosperity.

“Rural communities and their citizens are integral to Georgia’s economy, culture, and future,” said Darrell Moore, director of VSU’s Center for South Georgia Regional Impact. “Through the RDI, VSU is working to build capacity that encourages the growth and development of rural communities without sacrificing their distinctive rural character.”

To prepare for the RDI, Washington County’s participating economic development, city, county, and community leaders were tasked with using a readiness index to conduct a self-assessment of their recruitment, education, infrastructure, leadership, demographics, and quality of life.

During the summit, they analyzed the results of their self-assessment and worked with a mentor to identify their unique opportunities and challenges, connect with experts and other available resources, build a support network, and develop a roadmap for economic vitality.  

Moore said this year’s RDI, VSU’s third, offered a program that emphasized experiential learning with a heavy dose of discussion, debate, and teamwork.

Highlights included content experts, professional developers, and consultants delivering interactive and engaging sessions on the elected official’s role in economic development, the current economic environment and future projections, building the future workforce through pathways and partnerships, the impact of artificial intelligence, downtown redevelopment strategies, retail as a catalyst for economic growth, tourism opportunities to generate wealth, and more.

After each session the Washington County leaders “worked with a mentor to reflect on what they had just learned and then talk about how they could take some of those ideas back and implement them in their communities,” Moore said.

Summit mentors represented various organizations — Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, One Valdosta-Lowndes, Georgia Power Company, Hodge Consulting Services, and the Georgia Municipal Association.

Featured summit speakers came from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; the Georgia Department of Economic Development; the Georgia Department of Community Affairs; the Georgia Municipal Association; Association County Commissioners of Georgia; the University of Washington iSchool; West AlabamaWorks of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; the Downtown Development Authority of Bainbridge; Retail Strategies; Hodge Consulting Services LLC; the Office of Governor Brian P. Kemp; and the Wetumpka, Alabama, Chamber of Commerce.

Washington County leaders left the RDI with a prioritized list of projects and initiatives designed to build a better future for the people who live, work, play, and visit in their communities.

Through experiential learning initiatives at VSU, the Center for South Georgia Regional Impact will use university faculty, staff, and students to help Washington County implement at least one of these projects in the coming months.

Valerie Brown, mayor of the City of Davisboro, said she and her RDI teammates are excited to start working on some new ideas to help their Washington County communities grow and develop in the years ahead. With a little teamwork, she said they will be able to make a positive impact on the citizens they serve every day and the visitors and businesses they hope to attract in the future.

Based on feedback and comments from participants, presenters, and mentors, VSU’s RDI continues to be a tremendous success.

“I am excited about the future of my team from Washington County and the City of Davisboro,” said Mary Beth Brownlee, director of One Valdosta-Lowndes and Washington County mentor. “Their passion and energy for what ‘could be’ for their rural community is the base foundation for success. Their heart for their residents and the growth that is coming to their area was both palpable and sincere. One of the most encouraging things I heard from the Davisboro team was their commitment to making sure their community has a seat at the table. Often, in rural communities, that’s what it takes — fierce advocacy and vision. They have that in spades.

“I truly believe RDI is the best program targeted at rural communities that I have had the fortune and opportunity to be a part of during my career. RDI arms them with tools and resources often not made available to rural communities — particularly the truly small places — with speakers, data, and future trends that can help them get in the economic development game in a more meaningful way. RDI also offers participants the time and space to network and get to know their peer communities around the state. The teams leave armed with a robust action plan for economic opportunity that they can then tackle collaboratively once they get home. It’s a truly unique and special program. VSU and the Center for South Georgia Regional Impact are to be commended for putting a program like this in place.”

VSU’s Rural Development Institute is an opportunity for the university to continue supporting the work of the Governor’s Rural Strike Team and provide a positive impact on Georgia’s rural communities.

On the Web:  
www.valdosta.edu/sgri
 
Participating Washington County Leaders:
• Jayson Johnston, executive director of the Development Authority of Washington County
• Valerie Brown, City of Davisboro mayor
• Larry Ivey, Davisboro City Council member
• ShaQuetta Brown, Davisboro city manager