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Wilkes County leaders, public brainstorm for Co-Op ideas
Launched by Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Rural Development Council in March, the Communities of Opportunity (Co-Op) Initiative is a collaborative, locally driven communitydevelopment strategy focused on enhancing the economic vitality of rural Georgia communities. Under the Co-Op plan, Washington-Wilkes is set to be a model for what a locally driven rural economic development strategy could do to overcome major issues in the community. The state chose Region 7 to launch the initiative because of the great need for economic development in the area. In addition to Wilkes County, Region 7 covers Burke, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Taliaferro, Warren, and Washington Counties. DCA Director Mike Beatty, in a visit here in June, said that Washington Wilkes representatives have agreed to obligate the local bodies to work with the state on two or three strategies designed to improve the community in different ways. The agreement also directs every state agency to work with the DCA on the projects, Beatty said. The Co-Op program is a longterm approach to problem solving, taking two years to implement, and eight to10 years to complete some projects. The Co-Op will be administered by the Georgia Department of Community of Affairs in partnership with a number of public and private partners. DCA, the Georgia Rural Development Council and UGAFanning Institute will work closely with the counties on the initiative. The initiative will also leverage state and Federal resources for communities that are committed to excellence, Beatty said, with "enhanced eligibility" for grant money. The program may be implemented more quickly in Wilkes County because of existing efforts by groups like the Family Connection, the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Athens Tech and others. The rewards for taking an active part in the Communities of Opportunity Initiative, Beatty said, were three incentives: first, interagency technical assistance from teams of experts; and second, a $5,000 matching grant to facilitate the program here. The third initiative is the most substantial: Wilkes County would get "enhanced eligibility" for state and Federal grants.
In this week's sessions, Wilkes leaders and community members followed up on last year's research and the results of planning meetings earlier this year to narrow down the focus to three issues on which they will ask the state for help.
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