AMERICUS – The inaugural class of Locate South GeorgiaLEADS presented by Electric Cities of Georgia will kick off next week on Thursday, August 18, at Southern Woods in Sylvester-Worth County.

With 33 participants representing 21 counties across South Georgia, Locate South GeorgiaLEADS (LSGL) is an eight-month leadership experience that will develop individual leadership skills while engaging participants in discussions of regional importance around economic development, identify and influence, workforce development, and community growth that are both unique and relevant to South Georgia.

A partnership with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia, LSGL is the result of an 18-month strategic planning process looking at challenges, priorities and gaps in leadership across the region. As the largest regional leadership program in the State, South Georgia is raising the bar for leadership, economic development and civic engagement for existing leaders.

Locate South Georgia Chairman Darrell Moore, President/CEO of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority, shares the value he hopes to see in LSGL, “Our Locate South Georgia group is grateful to have been selected to participate in the LEADS Program by the Georgia Chamber and Fanning. The resources and support they have provided helped us develop an unsurpassed, comprehensive leadership program. The impact on the individuals participating in the program, and their South Georgia communities, will be transformational.”

Director of the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, Matt Bishop commends Locate South Georgia’s innovation and investment in South Georgia and its leadership. “Locate South Georgia’s commitment to bringing together leaders from throughout South Georgia to address common concerns and opportunities represents a positive shift in how they think about leadership development. We are excited to be Locate South Georgia’s partner in designing and implementing this unique regional leadership program.”

LSGL links regional site visits and issue awareness to relevant leadership development content within the framework of the Locate South GeorgiaLEADS priorities. Emphasizing regional priorities throughout the program, each session directly links leadership skills training to issues of critical importance to South Georgia:

• Regional Identity & Influence Includes creating a regional brand and identity for South Georgia that is recognized internally as well as externally, enhancing both perception and influence of the region across the State.
• Workforce Development Includes the strategic alignment of public and private sectors—business, industry, and educational partners—to address key workforce development needs and challenges; and to increase the economic viability of South Georgia.
• Collective Visioning & Planning Includes developing leaders who understand the changing South Georgia economy and culture; and recognize why it is essential to both think and act within a global context, working collaboratively to ensure the region’s success.

Sponsors of the inaugural program include: Electric Cities of Georgia, Mitchell EMC, Georgia Power Company, Georgia CEO, ASH Foundation of Douglas-Coffee County, One Sumter Economic Development, Inc., and Leadership Worth, Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about Locate South Georgia, please visit their website at http://www.georgiaresourcecenter.com/LocateSouthGeorgia/2/communities.html.