Learnings
- Athens' economy is not diverse enough, and this limits jobs and drives down wage rates.
- The economy is too dependent on UGA and the two regional medical centers.
- There are inadequate strategies in place to encourage retention and expansion of existing businesses.
- There are inadequate strategies to attract industries that will enhance the social, environmental and economic quality of life in Athens.
- Regional economic development efforts are inconsistent.
- Many jobs pay wages that do not meet the local cost of living.
- Livable wage estimates are determined by local factors such as the cost of housing, child care, transportation, health care, etc. In Athens, local estimates of a livable wage range from $10.50/hr with benefits to $14/hr without benefits.
- There is a lack of coordination and funding for strategies that prepare students and adults for the workforce.
- Students and adults do not have enough access to training in business skills, financial literacy and entrepreneurialism.
- Lack of hope prevents students and adults from acting on career dreams.
Recurring Themes and Challenges
- The notion that there exists a welfare system that "pays people not to work" is a myth. Welfare reform has required that low income families with dependent children must be transitioning to employment in order to receive benefits.
- The total number of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families cases in Clarke County has decreased by 40% over the past two years.
- High levels of poverty are a burden to those who live in poverty and work to undermine the economy of the entire community.
- Our institutions and systems have failed to develop collaborative strategies that adequately address the challenges of poverty.
- There is a culture of poverty in Athens that passes from generation to generation.
- There is little innovation in developing new programs, opportunities and collaborations to break the cycle of poverty.
- A good education is one of the major factors in helping to overcome poverty.
- An incomplete education -- lack of high school diploma, GED, literacy in English, workforce skills, etc. -- is a serious challenge to decreasing poverty in Athens.
- Persons who drop out of school have few job options in Athens-Clarke County.
- Athens has an unskilled workforce that is a barrier to economic development.
- There is a lack of effective coordination and collaboration among faith-based organizations, non-profits, schools, universities and government agencies.
- There are serious problems getting information to the public about existing assistance programs.
- There is a lack of specialized support for immigrant populations.
- There are gaps in services.
- Effective strategies to address racism and class issues are lacking.
- In Athens-Clarke County the consequences of poverty fall mostly on African Americans and, increasingly, on our growing Latino population.
- There is a hesitancy, by all races, to have honest dialogue about the impact of race and class as they relate to poverty.
- There are disincentives built into various systems that make it difficult to break the poverty cycle.