11/21/2024
City of Adel joins UGA Community Development Program
The City of Adel has been selected as one of the newest participants in the University of Georgia’s Connected Resilient Communities (CRC) program. The city is joining the program along with Crisp County, Rabun County and Turn Back the Block, a nonprofit based in the Harrisburg neighborhood of Augusta.
The UGA CRC program, facilitated by the UGA Archway Partnership™, helps 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.
Participating in the CRC program not only provides Adel with access to the valuable resources of the University of Georgia but also connects the city 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.
Brittany Standifer is the CRC Community Engagement Manager. In this role, she is the liaison between CRC communities and UGA resources.
“We’re excited to welcome the City of Adel to this new cohort of Connected Resilient Communities,” said Standifer. “Through partnership with the University of Georgia, we hope this opportunity will empower the city to work collaboratively and utilize the resources and expertise of the university to prepare for the future.”
Community Engagement Director Brandie Dame serves as the Community Lead for the partnership between UGA and Adel. Dame and other members of the CRC steering committee, along with others involved in the program, met on November 15th for the Connected Resilient Community Summit in Adel to hear from experts at UGA about trends in workforce development, demographics and other data analysis. This community summit also featured previous projects from the program, helped to determine priorities, and brainstormed ideas and envision potential future projects.
As Georgia works to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene, the University of Georgia is committed to fulfilling its land-grant mission by leveraging its extensive resources to enhance lives and support communities throughout the state. The emerging partnership between Adel and UGA’s CRC program 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 Connected Resilient Communities program was born out of a desire to extend the reach of the Archway Partnership, a Public Service and Outreach unit created to enhance the University of Georgia’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and service while addressing self-identified community issues across the state.
There is also an online survey open to ALL Adel residents where they can provide input and help guide the direction of the program: https://forms.office.com/r/ULfKSxMVKL
