The fourth and final strategy for enhancing the image of Americus and Sumter County is hallmarked by local law enforcement’s efforts to address the safety and public welfare of residents, businesses and visitors to our community. Convened by Americus Police Chief Mark Scott for the first Criminal Justice and Public Safety Forum in March 2017, over 30 strategic stake holders were present, including representatives from the following organizations: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms: U.S. Federal Attorneys Office; Georgia State Patrol; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Sumter County Sheriff’s Office; City of Americus Police Department; Sumter County District Attorney’s Office; Judges from the Southwestern Judicial Circuit, Sumter County Juvenile Court, State Court; Department of Community Supervision; and Sumter County Probation Department, among others. Committed to meeting on a quarterly basis, One Sumter has had the distinct privilege of serving as the facilitator for their ongoing efforts.
With regional partnerships as a focus of One Sumter’s economic development efforts, the foundation serves in a pivotal role for the 21-County regional leadership development initiative, Locate South GeorgiaLEADS (LSGL). As the entity responsible for coordinating the eight-month leadership experience, One Sumter is establishing partnerships across the region, and state, to tell the stories of South Georgia and leveraging the resources of the University of Georgia to instill critical leadership competencies to strengthen the leadership base of the region now and in the years to come.
A collaborative of Locate South Georgia, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, LSGL is the state’s largest regional leadership program representing some 21 Countyies across South Georgia. LSGL is designed to facilitate awareness of issues that are essential to the future success of the region by giving participants the necessary skills and training needed to effectively lead South Georgia in the 21st Century economy.
Graduating a class of 32 leaders in march of this year, the program is moving foward aggressively with another cohort of 34 business and civic leaders to engage in the leadership experience yet again, starting in August 2017. With a foundation of the 21 economic developers that make up Locate South Georgia, plus some 10 or so affiliates that make up the economic development collaborative – coupled with the inagural class of 32 and the next cohort of 34 – LSGL has already netted 100 individuals in just three years driving the economic message of South Georgia at every opportunity.
LSGL links regional site visits and issue awareness to relevant leadership development content within the framework of the Locate South GeorgiaLEADS priorities.
The purpose of Locate South GeorgiaLEADS is to develop informed, aware, and educated leaders to promote and grow South Georgia by:
- Increasing awareness of assets and resources;
- Creating a shared sense of regional pride and ownership in both action and solutions;
- Strengthening partnerships and alliances and
- Enhancing political influence and acuity to support the needs and opportunities of South Georgia.
