Terrell County Leaders Ready To Build New Relationships After VSU RDI

A four-member team from Terrell County — Cherysh Green-Caldwell, Dawson city manager; Cheryl Cannon, president and chief executive officer of the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Terrell County Development Authority; LaKia Spencer, director of assessment and accountability for Terrell County Schools; and Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Dawson Downtown Development Authority — recently attended the Valdosta State University Center for South Georgia Regional Impact Rural Development Institute, a three-day summit designed to help communities across Georgia develop an action plan for rural prosperity. They were mentored by MaryBeth Brownlee, One Valdosta-Lowndes director.

VALDOSTA — A four-member team from Terrell County recently attended the Valdosta State University Center for South Georgia Regional Impact Rural Development Institute, a three-day summit designed to help communities across Georgia develop an action plan for rural prosperity.

“RDI inspired me to collaborate, innovate, and motivate,” said Cherysh Green-Caldwell, Dawson city manager. “I am not only leaving with ideas as prompted by the dynamic presenters but also with those sparked by my fellow team members. It was wonderful to be surrounded by such thoughtful and dedicated community leaders who are aligned in our intentionality for the growth and development of our community.”

To prepare for the RDI, Terrell County’s participating economic development, city, county, and community leaders were tasked with using a readiness index to conduct a self-assessment of their recruitment, education, infrastructure, leadership, demographics, and quality of life.

During the summit, they analyzed the results of their self-assessment and worked with a mentor to identify their unique opportunities and challenges, connect with experts and other available resources, build a support network, and develop a roadmap for economic vitality.  

“Rural communities and their citizens are integral to Georgia’s economy, culture, and future,” said Darrell Moore, director of VSU’s Center for South Georgia Regional Impact. “Through the RDI, VSU is working to build capacity that encourages the growth and development of rural communities without sacrificing their distinctive rural character.”

Moore said this year’s RDI — VSU’s fourth — offered a program that emphasized experiential learning with a heavy dose of discussion, debate, and teamwork.

Highlights included content experts, professional developers, and consultants delivering interactive and engaging sessions on the elected official’s role in economic development, the current economic environment and future projections, tourism opportunities to generate wealth, leveraging state and federal resources, downtown development strategies, retail as a catalyst for economic growth, how to utilize artificial intelligence in a rural community, building the future workforce through pathways and partnerships, and more.

After each session the Terrell County leaders worked with their mentor to reflect on what they had just learned and then talk about how they could implement some of those ideas in their community.

“During our three days together, I frequently saw their community leadership so committed to success that they often didn’t stop their dialogue and discussion during the scheduled breaks, as they continued to work the problems — and opportunities — they see before them,” said MaryBeth Brownlee, One Valdosta-Lowndes director and Terrell County RDI mentor. “Undoubtedly, RDI set the stage for these discussions to continue locally and reverberate well beyond their RDI team.”

The Terrell County leaders left RDI with a prioritized list of projects and initiatives designed to build a better future for the people who live, work, play, and visit in their community.

“While we have outlined dynamic projects to be completed — such as enhancing our wonderful Mainstreet Theatre, creating a Georgia Mainstreet Program, and developing a Tourism Marketing Plan — I am most excited about building new relationships, healing old wounds, solidifying current partnerships, and creating a coalition of individuals who are dedicated to the prosperous future of our community,” Green-Caldwell said. “It takes the vision, talents, and love of not only staff and elected officials but also the residents to make any community a success.”

Through experiential learning initiatives at VSU, the Center for Regional Impact will use university faculty, staff, and students to help Terrell County implement one or more projects from their priority list in the coming months.

“Since the launch of the Rural Development Institute, 25 communities have participated in the program,” Moore noted. “We’ve seen measurable progress in many of the communities as they have implemented strategies learned through RDI. Each community has completed two to three follow-up projects with support from VSU, and several have developed long-term partnerships with us. Many communities are continuing to address local challenges by working with their RDI teams and tackling issues such as workforce development, downtown development, and marketing.” 

Based on feedback and comments from participants, presenters, and mentors, VSU’s RDI continues to have a tremendous impact on rural Georgians. As new communities sign up to participate each summer, the university is poised to remain a positive influence on rural growth and opportunity for many years to come. 

“I am so excited and optimistic about the future of Terrell County based on the leadership I saw at the table during VSU’s Rural Development Institute — and, more importantly, their shared passion and commitment to their home community,” Brownlee said. “Often in rural communities, it is that determination that can be the differentiator between growth and vibrancy, or stagnation and continued decline.

“The women who represented Terrell County during RDI are a group of talented professionals who are united in their desire to push their community forward. All recognize that there are known challenges to the growth they seek for Terrell County and the cities of Bronwood, Dawson, Parrott, and Sasser; however, I am confident they will be able to utilize the resources shared during RDI and the ongoing support from VSU and the Center for South Georgia Regional Impact to make great things happen for their community.”

VSU’s Rural Development Institute is an opportunity for the university to continue supporting the work of the Governor’s Rural Strike Team and provide a positive impact on Georgia’s rural communities.

On the Web:  
www.valdosta.edu/sgri

Participating Terrell County Leaders:
• Cherysh Green-Caldwell, Dawson city manager
• Cheryl Cannon, president and chief executive officer of the Terrell County Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Terrell County Development Authority
• LaKia Spencer, director of assessment and accountability for Terrell County Schools
• Stephanie Johnson, executive director of the Dawson Downtown Development Authority