Three Stephens County professionals graduate from Georgia Academy for Economic Development

Three Stephens County professionals recently graduated from the 2019 Region 2 Multi-Day Training Program through the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

Jason Scott, Mary Smith and Samantha Rickman were recognized at the October 29 graduation ceremony.

Class participants represented a number of professional and non-professional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers.

The Academy provided each of the graduates an opportunity to gain a unique understanding of the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels.

Kelly Lane is the Director of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. She says the participants discover the issues facing their community are the same as those facing other communities in their region and can then combine limited resources to address the issue.

The Academy’s multi-day program, taught one day a month over a four-month period, includes training in the basics of economic and community development, plus specialized segments on business recruitment and retention, tourism product development, downtown development, planning, and other essentials for community success.

The next Region 2 Georgia Academy for Economic Development will begin in August 2020.

For more information contact Kathy Papa at 706-362-7078.