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A2 | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 The Eatonton Alessenger www.msgrnews.com Rural Studies Institute to launch asset database Bailey Ballard bailey@msgrnews.com Georgia College’s Rural Studies Institute (RSI) recently hosted Georgia Tech’s Center for Sustain able Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) for a site tour of Baldwin County’s natural amenities and parks. The Rural Studies Institute was established in January 2020 to study rural communi ties and identify oppor tunities that support their advancement. RSI educates both students and the general public on issues that impact the future of rural communities. “A central part of RSI’s mission is to provide transformative learning experiences through short-term work oppor tunities and student internships. These expe riences allow students to apply their knowledge while contributing to community-based solu tions,” said RSI Executive Director Dr. Veronica Womack. This year, student interns representing Georgia College & State University, the University of Georgia, and Georgia Tech spent the summer building a database for RSI that focused on natural amenities in Middle Georgia rural communities. The database is a starting point for collecting and promoting the “unique” terrain and topography of the local region. It will also highlight hunting and farming oppor tunities to showcase local businesses, record public facilities and artistic programs, and other features in rural communities throughout Georgia. “We are aiming to use this database to assist regional placemaking and to facilitate commu nity-based approaches, including the use regional strategies to bring people to these rural communi ties,” Womack said. The three student interns working on the database were present at the Baldwin County site visit and represented RSI and SCoRE. The RSI intern was spon sored by the Partnership for Innovation summer internship program and another student for SCoRE was spon sored by the Mississippi Communities United for Prosperity. “Our initial site visit included Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan, Commissioner Emily Davis, and County Manager Carlos Tobar. The students previ ously worked with Mr. Tobar on the county focused project, so he and Commissioner Davis participated in the visit, along with the mayor,” said Womack. “This visit was the first of many meetings to come and I look forward to having more discussions with both county and city officials and the general public.” The database used Baldwin County as the core of several rural counties — including Hancock, Wilkinson, Washington, Jones, and Putnam — and identified the natural assets avail able in these rural Middle Georgia counties. Georgia has two distinct rural county regions within the state, including the Appalachian counties and the Black Belt region. The Appalachian counties are located in North Georgia and the Black Belt coun ties are in Middle and South Georgia. “These three interns participated in this high-impact learning experience to build a data base that will highlight the treasures of the Black Belt region. We wanted to highlight natural ameni ties,” said Womack. “We have been immensely blessed with our natural amenities. We have lakes, rivers, farms, wetlands, and a community built on a phenomenal resilience and heart.” The database will be an ongoing project, hosting interns throughout the year. Womack hopes to launch the database for public viewing by the end of September on the Rural Studies Institute website. Womack says future plans to have site visits in other counties are in the works and a more formal site visit will also be planned for Baldwin County in the future. “Counties have chal lenges but also enormous opportunities and assets,” said Womack. “We are trying to build 21st Century rural communi ties that are sustainable.” GATEWOOD HIGH SCHOC 0© @GatewoodSchool Elevating Minds, Igniting Futures - Where Excellence Meets Community at Gatewood Schools.” Our campus is nestled in a historic small town with a population of 6307. Founded in 1970, with 453 students, 67 faculty/staff, and 1382 alumni living in 26 states and 5 countries. A private K2-12th grade college-prep Christian School. Contact Libby Rainey for information: AdvancED 706-485-8231 xl300 lrainey@gatewoodschool.com 139 Phillips Dr. Eatonton Georgia OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE 1106 Market Street Parkside Commons $600 per month Lease required Nicely furnished office spaces available steps away from Publix, restaurants and shops with ample parking. Offices have room for up to four people. Lease includes utilities, use of meeting area and all facilities. Contact: A. Mark Smith 706-749-7205 amsmith@msgrnews.com VETERANS CONTINUED FROM » A1 options are available. “The facility is equipped to serve aging veterans who may not have previously had access to advanced ther apeutic services and younger veterans bearing both physical injuries and psychological trauma from the past two decades of warfare,” states the press release. According to Commis sioner of Veterans Service Dr. Trish Ross, it was the former GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Ernie Simons, who passed in 2018, that imagined this facility. Ross stated his “spirit” was woven into the foundation of the facility. His wife, Carol, and other family members were present at the cere mony in his honor. “He (Simons) carried with him an unshakable passion to serve his fellow veterans, especially those battling the invisible. It was Ernie’s dream that one day we would have a place like this,” said Ross. “A place where mental and behavioral health challenges could be met with compassion and dignity, a place where veterans could heal and, when possible, return home to their families and reintegrate into their communities with strength and with hope. This facility is the embod iment of his vision, his heart, and his lifelong dedication to those who have served.” Georgia War Veterans Home staff, The Georgia Department of Veterans Services, Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp cut the ceremonial ribbon. Local county, city, and school officials joined in the ceremonial cutting as RUSSELL W. WALL | ATTORNEY AT LAW .Greensboro, 122 BAILEY BALLARD/Staff Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service Dr. Trish Ross and GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Russell Feagin offered tours of the facility. BAILEY BALLARD/Staff Former GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Ernie Simons' wife, Carol, sat with her family in the audience in honor of her husband's dream. esteemed guests in the audience to officially open the facility. “This center represents our sheer responsibility to support those who serve today, tomorrow, and for generations to come,” said Kemp. “As we cut this ribbon today, let us reaffirm our commitment to our veterans and their families, without whom we could not enjoy the freedoms we do or live in the greatest state in the nation.” Following the ribbon cutting, Ross and GDVS Director of Health and Memorials Russell Feagin offered tours of the facility. 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