The Greater Columbus Georgia Region today took an important step in defining its future with the public launch of the Regional Prosperity Initiative. The Initiative is a comprehensive and holistic community and economic development strategic planning process, which is being supported by the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Development Authority of Columbus, the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Georgia Power, TSYS and the W.C Bradley Company. 

The purpose of this initiative is to help the region realign and refocus our collective community and economic development efforts. With the help of public, private and non-profit leaders in the region, we are evaluating the need to undertake this project to catalogue our current regional initiatives, assess their effectiveness, and align them in a comprehensive and strategic plan. 

The initiative is being guided by a diverse Steering Committee comprised of business, civic and other community leaders with interests in community, economic, leadership, and workforce development as well as education and Fort Benning. The Steering Committee will be led by three co-chairs: 

- Audrey Tillman, Executive President and General Counsel with Aflac Corporation; 

- Jimmy, Yancey, retired Chairman of Synovus; and 

- Jacki Lowe, retired West Region Vice President of Georgia Power.  

The process will provide ample input from businesses, elected officials, Fort Benning, residents, and visitors in the Greater Columbus Georgia Region. The approximately 10-month process will involve several phases: 

- Phase 1: Competitive Assessment 

- Phase 2: Target Business Analysis and Market Review 

- Phase 3: Regional Prosperity Initiative 

- Phase 4: Implementation Plan 

At the conclusion of the Kickoff Meeting, members of the Market Street team will remain in Greater Columbus through Tuesday for a familiarization tour of the community. They will return for approximately three days in June for public input that will help inform the first project deliverable – the Competitive Assessment. 

Jimmy Yancey, who is the long-time Chair of the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee, notes, “The Greater Columbus Georgia Region has transformed itself over the last 30 years from an economy based on largely on the textile industry to one that includes a robust information technology sector, agrowing automotive industry, a dynamic tourism component, a notable healthcare sector and a diverse manufacturing base. This initiative will help the region make its next transformation and will identify the opportunities that will ensure that our people and region thrive.” 

An online survey is open to all residents, business owners, workers, and other stakeholders and can be found at www.regionalprosperityinitiative.org. The survey is open through Friday, June 12th.