Athens, Ga. – Griffin-Spalding County is the University of Georgia’s newest Archway Partnership community, bringing to 12 the number of counties across Georgia to participate in the unique community development initiative.
“Griffin-Spalding County has progressive visionary leadership, a key ingredient to a successful Archway program,” said Mel Garber, director of Archway, a unit of the Office of Public Service and Outreach. “I commend community leaders for their unified effort.”
Founded in 2005, the Archway Partnership builds on UGA’s land-grant mission by taking a grassroots approach to address community and economic development needs, as identified by that community. Community leaders in Griffin-Spalding County have demonstrated a commitment to working together on community needs and the partnership with UGA will enhance those efforts, said Garber.
“The Archway Partnership represents the culmination of a community initiative undertaken as far back as 2008, to identify an efficient means of bringing our elected officials and their constituency groups together for the purpose of collaborative strategic planning, and the development of solutions to community challenges,” said Chuck Copeland, a Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce volunteer.
In the Archway Partnership, the community drives the priority-need process through an executive committee made up of local citizens and community leaders. An Archway professional, based in that community, identifies resources at UGA, as well as other institutions, that can be tapped to address those needs. Since the program began in 2005, more than 850 UGA students and 158 UGA faculty members, and 25 non-UGA faculty members have engaged in an Archway Partnership project.
As the Griffin-Spalding County Archway Partnership becomes established, residents will have opportunities to participate in listening sessions and town hall meetings during which the community’s most critical needs will be identified.
“I am pleased that Griffin-Spalding County will be the next Archway Partnership community,” said Jennifer Frum, vice president for public service and outreach. “We are excited about strengthening the ties between UGA and Griffin-Spalding and partnering with the community to help it grow and prosper.”
For additional information about the Archway Partnership, see www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu.
