The 2025 Georgia Chamber’s Rural Prosperity Summit
After the the impact of Hurricane Helene cancelled last year's event, the Georgia Chamber’s Rural Prosperity Summit was back for 2025 – taking place on October 1 at UGA's Tifton campus.
Georgia Power was the presenting sponsor, and South Region’s Regional Economic Development Manager, Scott Purvis, provided welcoming remarks.
“Our commitment to unlocking potential in rural areas is unwavering. We believe that investing in these communities is not just important but essential to the success of our entire state. Through innovative programs like CREATE, which empowers hometowns to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems, and Retail Ready, which helps communities strengthen their retail footprint and attract the right investments, we are driving meaningful change and growth across Georgia,” he shared.
The region’s ability to come together was emphasized not only from its response to Helene, but across all of the day’s topics - Strengthening Rural Resilience: Disaster Preparedness for Communities and Economies; Closing the Gaps: Addressing Rural Healthcare Challenges; and Foundations for Growth: Tackling the Rural Housing Shortage.
The Rural Summit offered these 3 main points to encourage development in rural Georgia's communities and industries:
- Building Table(s)
Consultants and businesses continue to rank Georgia as the best place for doing business in part due to the collaborative spirit statewide. “Economic development is a team sport, and Georgia has the best bench in the game,” Barbara Rivera Holmes, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor, said in her address. And in each session, the power of partnerships was a success for rural communities and Georgia’s future.
Travis Wimbus, Mayor of the city of Blakely, stressed that communities need “STPs,” same team people - stakeholders meeting regularly and aligning goals. STPs are valued for their experience and empowered because their views help shape the community’s vision.
The session on resilience encouraged building tables that you may not need today but in the future. Sharing lessons learned during Hurricane Helene, Georgia Chamber leaders discussed the value of “just in case tables” for emergency preparedness – whether that’s to be prepared for weather events or a significant project landing in your region – who can help your community prepare for the unprecedented events that could impact your region. Moreso, do they know to expect your call in those situations?
- Industry Partners Now Play a Larger Role in Talent Development and Retention
Industry and businesses are stepping up to care for their employees in rural Georgia.
During Helene restoration, that meant providing access to essential services like power, food, and water to employees and their families before encouraging them to volunteer where they could.
For example, Trane Residential Systems in Vidalia was in a unique position to care for their talent and community; as a manufacturer of HVAC systems, they knew that their team of engineers and builders would be eager to support where they could. Ensuring the well-being of the team enabled them to support their families and communities in a safe and effective manner.
Other large employers are taking a role in housing – supporting the construction and development of multifamily properties in Fitzgerald to accommodate industry expansion.
- Regionalism is Helping Small Communities Have a Bigger Impact
Scott Purvis often says about entrepreneurship, “Small does not define the value that small businesses have on our communities.” But after the Rural Prosperity Summit, maybe that should be expanded to say, “Small does not define the value that RURAL communities have on Georgia.”
Small and rural communities across Georgia are finding regionalism as one way to grow their industrial base.
Locate South Georgia was recognized for their collaborate approach to economic development. For 20 years, this 23-county partnership has worked together to bring 13 industrial parks to the South Georgia region and attract companies in their target industries – agribusiness, food processing, distribution and logistics, manufacturing, and bioscience.
And this growth is happening across rural regions of the state. The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s FY25 Fiscal Impact reported that 77% of new projects were located outside of Metro Atlanta, boosting rural areas.
Rural Georgia is collaborating and innovating. And anyone with eyes on rural knows that these impacts are anything but small.
In Conclusion
Rural towns across Georgia are supported by statewide partners who understand the essential role our towns play in the state’s economic prosperity. Our Regional Economic Development managers live and work in the regions they serve and are ready to help your community or business tap into these resources.
Grow your impact today by starting the conversation.
Community Spotlight: Tifton
Aug 21, 2025