VALDOSTA, GA – Michelle Nunn, former CEO of the Points of Light Foundation and candidate for U.S. Senate, traveled to Valdosta and Columbus to discuss how public-private partnerships that bring private organizations, businesses, community stakeholders and government together can increase accountability and get better results than top-down government programs alone.

Wednesday in Columbus, Nunn toured WhiteWater Columbus, the world’s largest urban whitewater rafting course. Its development was driven by Uptown Columbus, Inc., a public-private partnership that facilitates and coordinates Downtown and Uptown Columbus revitalization efforts between government and business. Because of the partnership’s success, the area is set to add more than 700 jobs and $42 million annually to the local economy.

“I think it’s incumbent on us to find the most efficient way for government to provide services,” said Nunn. “I firmly believe that private entities, businesses and local communities working in collaboration with government can do more and get better results than government alone.”

Early Thursday in Valdosta, Nunn toured Second Harvest of South Georgia, the second largest food bank in Georgia. To serve their 30 county area, Second Harvest has partnered with numerous businesses and organizations to serve over 400 agencies and distribute over 14.2 million pounds of food a year to those in need.

As CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, Nunn championed the use of public-private partnerships. At Points of Light, Nunn oversaw the creation of the Community Blueprint, a unique program that partners local communities and private organizations to help ease the transition of veterans from military to civilian life.