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Crisp County has been selected as one of the newest participants in the University of Georgia’s Connected Resilient Communities (CRC) program. Over the past two years, Crisp County has engaged with UGA on several community development initiatives and participation in the CRC program will continue this work. The county is joining the CRC program along with the city of Adel, Turn Back the Block, a nonprofit neighborhood organization in Augusta, and Rabun County.

The UGA CRC program, facilitated by the UGA Archway Partnership™, helps Georgia communities tap into the resources and expertise at UGA to address local issues and become more attractive to economic development. CRC communities partner with experts from UGA to complete three projects, over 12-18 months, designed to increase resiliency. Communities receive silver and gold medals after projects one and two, respectively, and a platinum medal after project three, signifying they have earned the CRC designation through extraordinary planning, collaboration and partnership with UGA to build a prosperous future.

Crisp County’s selection for the CRC program not only provides access to the valuable resources at UGA but also connects the county to a network of CRC communities and alumni throughout the state. This collaboration enhances resilience-building efforts among these communities. Since its launch in 2021, the CRC program has engaged with 13 communities, empowering them to adapt and develop economically.

Previously, Crisp County participated in the PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program from the UGA Institute of Government and the UGA Fanning Institute for Leadership Development’s Innovations in Community Leadership Initiative. These programs helped Crisp County build capacity in leadership and economic development and has prepared the community for the CRC program.

Brittany Standifer is the CRC community engagement manager for the Archway Partnership. In this role, she is the liaison between CRC communities and UGA resources.

“We’re excited to welcome Crisp County to this new cohort of Connected Resilient Communities,” said Standifer. “Through partnership with the University of Georgia, we hope this opportunity will empower the community to work collaboratively and utilize the resources and expertise of the university to prepare for the future.”

Cordele-Crisp County Chamber of Commerce Chair Tim Powers serves as the Community Lead for the partnership between UGA and Crisp County. Powers and other members of the Crisp County steering committee, along with others involved in the program, will be meeting on Oct. 30 for the Connected Resilient Community Summit in Cordele to hear from experts at UGA about trends in workforce development, demographics and other data analysis. The event will also feature previous projects from the program, help to determine priorities, brainstorm ideas and envision potential future projects.

As Georgia works to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene, the University of Georgia is committed to fulfilling its land-grant mission by leveraging resources to enhance lives and support communities throughout the state. The partnership between Crisp County and UGA represents a step toward fostering resilience and connection in the aftermath of this challenge.

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost launched the CRC program in late 2021, with support from the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. The program has grown thanks to a generous gift from the UGA Foundation.

The CRC program was designed to extend the reach of the Archway Partnership, a Public Service and Outreach unit created to build partnership with communities across the state to address long-standing and critical community and economic development needs.

There is also an online survey open to ALL Crisp County residents where they can provide input and help guide the direction of the program: https://forms.office.com/r/csgTFyuT0b