A new era is beginning for Georgia’s Rural Center for Innovation and Prosperity. The center has fully transitioned from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Department of Agriculture and has hired Charles “Charlie” Fiveash as its new executive director. Fiveash was recommended by Georgia’s Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper and received unanimous approval from the Georgia Rural Development Council.
Since its inception in 2018, Georgia’s Rural Center projects have resulted in more than $408 million in investments in rural Georgia.
“We are incredibly excited that Georgia’s Rural Center is now housed at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and we look forward to leveraging existing resources through GDA and Georgia Grown to build upon and expand the great work the Rural Center is already doing,” said Harper. “We’re equally excited to welcome Charlie Fiveash, who brings nearly 35 years of experience, to the Rural Center team, and I look forward to working closely with Charlie to make investments and build prosperity in Rural Georgia.”
Fiveash is a native of Brunswick, GA, and most recently served as the Executive Director of Partnership Habersham in Habersham County. He has over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate development, economic development, and workforce development. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, earned a Master’s in Logistics & Supply Chain Management from Georgia College & State University, and currently serves on the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join the team at the Department of Agriculture and Georgia’s Rural Center and look forward to continuing the efforts being made to positively impact the rural communities in our state,” said Fiveash. “With the support of the Georgia Rural Development Council, I hope to identify Georgia’s rural sectors and communities with the most pressing needs and foster partnerships that create meaningful progress.”
Legislation that established Georgia’s Rural Center in 2018, House Bill 951, granted the center statewide authority to work with communities and the private sector to promote general welfare, encourage business, and achieve prosperity through innovation and investment in rural communities throughout Georgia. House Bill 495 moved the center’s operations from the University System of Georgia to the Department of Agriculture.
Since its inception in 2018, the work of Georgia’s Rural Center has touched all 159 of Georgia’s metro, suburban, and rural communities through regional and statewide projects, and directly impacted 73 counties through projects needed in rural communities to help them prosper and thrive.
