OneAthens Implementation Teams

Regional Economic Development

Create a regional economic development organization by July 2008 under the leadership of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

The focus of this initiative is to develop a regional economic development organization to proactively market the region to prospects interested in bringing new industry to the region as well as to encourage the retention and expansion of existing businesses. This initiative will reduce poverty by bringing more industry and jobs to the region, and will encourage a regional workforce development strategy.

Progress Report

Education and Workforce

The Education Implementation Team is recommending the development of a model school that seeks a comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of children and their families. Although the focus of this school would be academic achievement, the group also recognizes that academic achievement is also connected to the social well-being of the children and their families. The Education Implementation Team seeks collaboration with the Clarke County School System, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, University of Georgia, and other community partners to help make this school a reality.

Health

Create a community health foundation (with a Board including, but not limited to, healthcare providers) to coordinate funding and basic health services for those in poverty and near poverty by January 2008.

Affordable Housing

Develop an innovative housing strategy by July 2008 that preserves diverse communities and increases the supply of affordable housing across the continuum of housing needs, from homelessness to rental to homeownership, so that every resident is living in adequate, safe, and affordable housing by 2015.

Public Transportation

Increase dramatically the hours, frequency, and coverage of Athens Transit and develop a regional system by January 2009.

The focus of this initiative is to increase coverage and accessibility of public transportation in Athens and the surrounding region. This initiative will reduce poverty by providing people access to more jobs in the city and region. A regional bus system will also support the development of our regional economy.

Progress Report

Family Enrichment

Pilot a comprehensive family resource center at/near Fourth Street Elementary School to provide one-stop-access to supportive services and to facilitate family engagement by August 2008. Consider additional family resource centers as well.

Human and Economic Development

Support the Department of Human and Economic Development so that by July 2008 it becomes a driving force to reduce poverty by building the capacity of service providers and empowering individuals and neighborhoods to solve their problems; restructure HED to act beyond being a pass-through agency for federal funds.

Teen Pregnancy

Reduce the teen pregnancy rate 25% by December 2010, providing comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention programs at schools, in places of worship, and in neighborhoods.

Early Learning

Provide access to quality child care and other school-readiness programs for all children age 0-5 years by August 2010.

The focus of this initiative is to provide every child ages 0-5 years with access to a quality school-readiness program. This initiative will reduce poverty in the short run by providing quality early learning sites for children so that parents can work. The long-term impact on poverty will be to improve our schools by having students entering kindergarten at or above grade level.

Progress Report

OneAthens Foundation

The Co-conveners and Steering Committee will create OneAthens as the successor organization that will provide leadership from the community to ensure the implementation of these initiatives and other remaining PPA recommendations.

This initiative will help reduce poverty because it will provide an organization to oversee the accountability and implementation of the PPA recommendations.

Create a community foundation by January 2008.