Today, the Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI) officially launched "Columbus Ahead," a comprehensive regional strategy designed to guide the community’s growth from 2026 through 2030. Building on the foundations of the previous Columbus 2025 plan, this updated five-year plan is the result of extensive input from community stakeholders, including business leaders, non-profits, government, educational institutions and citizens.

The "Columbus Ahead" strategy centers on three core focus areas: Jobs, Talent, and Place. RPI is accountable for achieving these goals by acting as a catalyst, convenor, educator, and advocate for the region. RPI partnered with Ernst and Young Economic Development Advisory Services who conducted research, stakeholder engagement, and a competitive analysis during a 12-month process to build the plan. 

“Economic opportunity is the foundation for achieving all our other ambitions for Columbus,” said Tabetha Getz, Executive Director of RPI. “While we have seen momentum building recently, this strategy provides the clear, measurable roadmap we need to become a leading economic area in Georgia.”

The strategy outlines nine specific, measurable goals to be achieved by 2030:

Jobs: Vibrant Economy

• Economic Growth: Rank in the top half of Georgia metros for job growth.

• Workforce Growth: Rank among the top five Georgia metros for prime-age workforce growth.

• Entrepreneurship: Strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by improving access to capital, with a target of $10M+ raised by local startups.

• Tourism: Attract 15 million visitors to the region.

Talent: Prosperous People

• Postsecondary Education: Rank among the top five Georgia metros for growth of residents with postsecondary education.

• Student Readiness: Improve student chronic absenteeism and grade-level readiness by 20%.

Place: Thriving Community

• Public Safety: Reduce crime rates to below the national average, including a 50% reduction in violent crime.

• Connectivity: Enhance connectivity by developing the most extensive trail network in Georgia, completing a total of 61+ miles.

• Civic Engagement: Enhance civic pride and community engagement.

Successful implementation of "Columbus Ahead" will rely on collaboration between RPI and implementation partner organizations. This collaborative effort is designed to ensure that the work of "moving the needle" on these regional metrics happens across the community at large. Several key organizations are committed to leading specific goal areas: Choose Columbus, Columbus GA Chamber of Commerce, MidTown, Inc., StartUP Columbus, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, Uptown Columbus, and VisitColumbus. These organizations will convene the community around strategies and initiatives aligned with the Columbus Ahead goals, engaging education, government, business, nonprofits and locals in the process. 

For more information on the strategy and how to get involved, please visit columbusahead.com.