The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 PROPEL Rural Scholars program.
The Institute of Government launched the award-winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program in 2021 with funding from the U.S. Department of Agricultureand additional support from the UGA Foundation. The program guides rural communities through a multi-step process to develop and implement a plan to advance their economies. It helps communities build resiliency and capacity for long-term economic success. PROPEL was awarded top honors in the Place category at the 2023 University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Awards of Excellence.
UGA undergraduate students have the opportunity to engage in work through PROPEL through the two-semester PROPEL Rural Scholars program, an experiential learning opportunity that equips future leaders with knowledge and experience that will empower them to take roles in economic development, community development and civic leadership.
The current team of PROPEL Rural Scholars is comprised of 15 UGA undergraduate students. The scholars spent last fall learning about Georgia’s trends in population, economic and community development, small businesses and community engagement. They visited the south Georgia city of Baxley, an inaugural PROPEL community, where they met residents and toured local businesses to learn more about the impact of the PROPEL program there.
This spring, the scholars are working alongside UGA Public Service and Outreach mentors and community leaders in four PROPEL communities on projects ranging from tourism promotion to data collection.
Margaret Hart is a political science and international affairs major who is also pursuing an MPA as a Double Dawg. She is one of four scholars collecting public input from Ben Hill County business community members and property owners to gauge interest in downtown revitalization…
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