Franklin, Haralson and Lamar join PROPEL
Three additional Georgia counties have joined the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s award-winning rural development program. The newest group of PROPEL communities includes Franklin, Haralson and Lamar counties.
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, and students, key stakeholders identify and execute a long-term vision for the community’s economic future. The program launched in 2021.
Steering committee members from the new participating counties recently attended a kick-off workshop at the University of Georgia to lay the groundwork for their communities’ involvement in the PROPEL program.
At the workshop, UGA faculty and staff gave an overview of the two-year PROPEL process and presented training on data exploration and public engagement. Representatives from other participating counties shared their successes in a panel discussion, and the teams from the new counties discussed their next steps.
Steering committee members from Franklin, Haralson and Lamar counties reviewed local economic data at the PROPEL kickoff workshop. (Photo by Sara Ingram)
“PROPEL brings UGA’s resources and expertise to rural Georgia communities as they address issues related to community and economic development,” said Greg Wilson, the UGA Institute of Government faculty member who leads the program. “We look forward to working closely with our partners in Franklin, Haralson and Lamar counties as they set plans to achieve their goals over the next two years.”
The three new participating counties are spread across the state, but all three steering committees pointed to opportunities presented by local leadership changes and the desire to encourage and manage growth.
Franklin County, located in Northeast Georgia, has five municipalities and 22 miles of Interstate 85. Its committee noted that many entities in the county have individual strategic plans and want to coordinate their efforts through PROPEL’s framework.
Tonya Powers speaks during a breakout session at the PROPEL kickoff workshop. (Photo by Sara Ingram)
“PROPEL could not have come at a better time for our community,” said Tonya Powers, Franklin County Industrial Building Authority executive director. “We believe each entity in the community desires to move in the same direction and that we’re speaking the same language, and we’re looking forward to bringing each plan together and creating one roadmap to move forward.”
Tara Chapman, president and CEO of the Greater Haralson Chamber of Commerce, said her county government recently purchased property that was once slated to become a landfill and plans to market the interstate-fronted acreage as an industrial park. The Northwest Georgia county borders Alabama.
“We know the growth is coming, and we want to be prepared for it in the most positive way. It’s exciting, because we are at a crossroads,” Chapman said.
Lamar County representatives came to the kick-off meeting with many ideas they would like to work on in their West Georgia community, such as long-term plans for workforce development and more local businesses. Barnesville, the county seat, is home to Gordon State College, and Mayor Kelly Hughes said she would like to see more local college students visit downtown.
“We want to create experiences that draw people to Barnesville. I’d like to focus on some downtown revitalization that would be beneficial to families and college students,” Hughes said.
Keith Turman, left, and the institute’s Greg Wilson listen as Jonathan Jackson, Tim Powers and Keri Orvin share their communities’ experiences in PROPEL as part of a panel discussion. (Photo by Sara Ingram)
The three counties make up the fourth group of PROPEL communities. The first group (Appling, Grady, Pulaski, and Washington counties, plus the Lower Chattahoochee Joint Development Authority, which includes Clay, Quitman, Randolph, and Stewart counties), started in 2022 and completed the program in 2024. A second round of counties—Baldwin, Ben Hill and Burke—completed the program this year. The third group (Crisp, Emanuel and Marion counties) is halfway through the two-year program.
PROPEL was awarded top honors in the Place category at the 2023 University Economic Development Association Awards of Excellence. Learn more about PROPEL online.