Rural Development Council meets for year in review and legislative update
Published 10:18 am Wednesday, April 23, 2025
TIFTON – The Rural Development Council convened on April 14 in Macon to review the accomplishments of the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation (CRPI) since its establishment in 2018.
Council members also received updates on current legislation, including HB495, which is set to transfer the Center from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
During the meeting, Center Director Dr. David Bridges informed the committee of his intentions to retire June 30. The council accepted his retirement, but requested that he stay with the council until a replacement can be identified and Bridges agreed to the request.
Commonly referred to as Georgia’s Rural Center, the CRPI partners with organizations across the state to foster healthy, vibrant rural communities. Over the past seven years, the Center has completed more than 70 projects that have positively impacted 73 counties. These initiatives have helped rural communities thrive, reaching all 159 of Georgia’s metro, suburban, and rural areas through regional and statewide efforts. The Center has published over 200 articles, stories, and news briefs to promote and advocate for rural Georgia. Notably, projects initiated by the Rural Center have generated more than $408 million in total investment, yielding a remarkable 132:1 return on an initial $3 million investment, the center said in a press release.
During the meeting, Jim Matney, president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, was elected as the new chairman of the Rural Development Council.
Council members appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp include Marjorie J. “Betts” Berry, Gabe Evans, Barbara Holmes, and Dr. Stuart E. Rayfield. Those appointed by then-Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan are Michelle Higdon, Jimmy Lewis, and Becca Turner, while Wayne Christian, Drew Echols, and Kent Sanford were appointed by then-Speaker of the House David Ralston.
For more information about the Rural Center’s ongoing efforts to revitalize rural Georgia, visit www.ruralga.org.
