City of Dallas Joins University of Georgia Program

The newest participants in the University of Georgia’s Connected Resilient Communities (CRC) program were announced recently at Archway Day in Moultrie as the UGA Archway Partnership™ celebrated 20 years of serving Georgia’s rural communities. The cities of Dallas and Blakely and Elbert County are joining the program as part of the 2025 cohort.

The CRC program, facilitated by the award-winning Archway Partnership, helps communities tap into the resources and expertise at UGA to address local issues and become more attractive to economic development. CRC communities receive the designation after partnering with UGA faculty and students with subject matter expertise to complete three locally selected projects designed to increase community resiliency. Now in its fourth year, the CRC program helps communities thrive and provides students real-world experience in the state of Georgia.

UGA Archway faculty member Brittany Standifer is the CRC community engagement manager, serving as the liaison between CRC communities and UGA resources.

“We’re excited to welcome the city of Dallas to this new cohort of Connected Resilient Communities,” said Standifer. “Through partnership with the University of Georgia, we hope this opportunity will empower the community to work collaboratively and utilize the resources and expertise of the university to prepare for the future.”

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost launched the CRC program in late 2021, with support from the Office of the Vice President for Public Service and Outreach. It has grown thanks to a generous gift from the UGA Foundation.

The CRC program was born as an opportunity to increase access to the resources of the Archway Partnership, a Public Service and Outreach unit. This unit enhances UGA’s land-grant mission of teaching, research and service while addressing self-identified community issues across the state.

“We are excited to be part of the CRC initiative in Dallas,” said Shannon Gordon, Main Street manager of the city of Dallas. “This partnership offers us the chance to tap into UGA’s resources and expertise, enabling us to address critical issues facing our community. We look forward to working alongside UGA to shape a resilient future that reflects the unique needs and aspirations of Dallas.”

The city of Adel, Crisp and Rabun counties, and the Richmond County nonprofit program “Turn Back the Block” joined the CRC program last fall. Thomson-McDuffie County was the pilot community for the CRC program, earning its designation in 2021.