Georgia City Solutions: Leaders Begin Workforce Development & Equity Initiatives

April 5, 2021

The Georgia City Solutions Board of Directors held a virtual meeting in February to review and discuss proposed GCS programs and funding needs to support the adopted strategic plan. The proposed programs total approximately $5 million over a three-year period and will address the overarching issue of intergenerational poverty. Partnerships are key to the success of these programs. GCS will partner with city officials who have an unrivaled platform to inspire and connect partners to mobilize them for the common cause of addressing issues in the following categories: Youth Leadership & Engagement, Workforce Development, Equity & Inclusion, Economic Mobility and Innovation.

“This is a work in progress and will be refined as feedback is received during the feasibility study phase of the funding strategy process as it moves forward this Spring,” said GCS Managing Director Kay Love.

Initial work has already begun in the areas of Municipal Workforce Development and Equity & Inclusion. In partnership with GMA, GCS has contracted with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) to conduct initial research in the form of a needs assessment to understand the municipal workforce needs and challenges.

“Equity & Inclusion is a topic that not only overlaps within the GCS areas of focus, but it crosses every department within GMA,” said Love. “Under the GCS umbrella, GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Director Freddie Broome is delivering customized diversity, equity and inclusion training for cities upon request in addition to developing new E&I curriculum to be deployed as completed.”

Preliminary planning has begun for the annual golf tournament to benefit GCS. GCS has partnered with the city of Sugar Hill to hold the tournament in October at the Sugar Hill Golf Club.

The next GCS Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for May where the board is expected to review an initial draft of the feasibility study.

This story originally appeared in the March/April 2021 edition of Georgia’s Cities magazine.

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