River Valley Community Compatible Development Plan

A VISION FOR COMPATIBLE USE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES AROUND FORT MOORE, GEORGIA

Contact Information

River Valley Regional Commission

Jim Livingston, Executive Director

Email: jlivingston@rivervalleyrc.org

Ph: (706) 256-2910

Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

Scott Pippin, Public Service Associate

Email: jspippin@uga.edu

Ph: (706) 542-2736

Funding information: This project was prepared under contract with the River Valley Regional Commission, with financial support from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, Department of Defense and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

More information about the project and an interactive asset map may be found at www.rivervalleyccd.com. The plan was released in spring of 2023.

Fort Benning Renamed to FORT MOORE

In 2021, Congress established the Commission on Naming of Items of the Department of Defense (“Naming Commission”) to assign, modify, or remove names, symbols, and other assets that commemorate the Confederate States of America or anyone who served with the Confederate States of America. In September 2022, the eight-member Naming Commission recommended changing Fort Benning’s name to Fort Moore, and this recommendation was subsequently approved by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Nine Army installations were listed in this recommendation, including Fort Benning. The new names are “rooted in their local communities” and “honor American heroes whose valor, courage, and patriotism exemplify the very best of the US Military.”

Fort Benning’s name has been changed to Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Harold Moore, Jr. and Mrs. Julia Moore. Known popularly for his book, We Were Soldiers Once…And Young, Moore commanded the first large-scale battle of the Vietnam War, where his forces were significantly outnumbered and 79 soldiers were killed and 121 wounded. As families waited to hear news of their loved ones, Army policy at the time relayed news of death or injury by telegram. Julia Moore, living with her children at that time on Fort Benning, accompanied the taxi drivers delivering the telegrams to give her condolences. Her experience delivering casualty notifications caused her to advocate for reforms, and this led to the creation of the casualty notification teams that exist today. For these and many other reasons, the Moores are commemorated together to acknowledge how “families serve right alongside their service members.”

2023

Sources: The Naming Commission, Final Report to Congress (2022); DOD Begins Implementing Naming Commission Recommendations, US Department of Defense (Jan. 5, 2023).

Credits

River Valley Regional Commission

Jim Livingston, Executive Director

Allison Slocum, Historic Preservation Planner and Senior Planner

Patti Cullen, Consultant

The Nature Conservancy

Deron Davis, Conservation Project DirectorNorth America Region

Monica Thornton, Executive Director

Dan Ryan, Director of Conservation

Michael Hensley, Chattahoochee Fall Line Project Director

LuAnn Craighton, Chattahoochee Fall Line Outreach Director

Brant Slay, Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Manager

US Department of the Army, Fort Moore

Kirk Ticknor, Director, Directorate of Public Works

Brent Widener, Chief, Environmental Management Division - DPW

ACUB Advisory Board

US Department of the Army, Fort Moore, Brent Widener

The Nature Conservancy, Deron Davis

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Ted Will

Georgia Forestry Commission, Tim Lowrimore

US Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Services, Sharon Swagger

US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Don Imm

Georgia Forestry Commission

R.T. Lumpkin, Prescribed Fire Center Coordinator

Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Steering Committee

Chairman Charles Coffee

Commissioner Damon Hoyt

Laura Lee Bernstein

Josh Abercrombie

Kristy Brooks

Joe Addison

Mordie Askew

Marion County Steering Committee

Mayor Kevin Brown

Commissioner George Neal

Jay Wells

Claudine Morgan

Will Johnson

Debbie Ford

Jim Gilland

Ralph Blue

Russell County (AL) Steering Committee

Chairman Chance Corbett

Dennis Beason

Tracie Hadaway

Victor Cross

Commissioner Cattie Epps

Mayor Eddie Lowe

Lisa Sandt

Wallace Hunter

Paulette Colbert

Stewart County Steering Committee

Mac Moye

Mayor Jimmy Blount

Commissioner Joseph Williams

Chip Jones

Diane/Charles Lee

Randy Butts

Robert Lee

Mikayla Murphy

Ruthie Hamlin

Christina Garner

Talbot County Steering Committee

Pam & Frank Jordan

Dan Coffey

David Jordan

Tom Persons

Carol Ison

Sher’londa Walker

Debbie Buckner

Mary Stevens

Taylor County Steering Committee

Shonda Blair

Commissioner Tameka Harris

Mayor Barry Whitley

Lenda Taunton

Jarrod McCarthy

Mayor Butch Turner

Tom Queen

Vicki Wainwright

Milton Harris

Rex Robinson

Georgia Municipal Association/ Georgia Cities Foundation

University of Georgia Carl Vinson

Institute of Government

Scott Pippin, Public Service Associate

Saralyn Stafford, Assistant Director, Rural Development

Shana Jones, Assistant Director, Planning and Environmental Services

Danny Bivins, Senior Public Service Associate

Daniel Wyatt, Public Service Assistant

T. Clark Stancil, Landscape and Urban Designer

Kaitlin Messich, Public Service Associate

Leigh Elkins, Senior Public Service Associate

Kelsey Broich, Creative Design Specialist

Natalie Bock, Research Professional

Eleonora Machado, Creative Design Specialist

Karen DeVivo, Editor

Theresa A. Wright, Associate Director, Survey Research and Evaluation Support

Brian W. Simmons, Public Service Assistant

Erik Thompson, Research Professional

Darrell Robinson, Research Professional

W. Tyler Cagle, Research Professional

Anna Brodmerkel, Graduate Assistant

Garrison Taylor, Graduate Assistant

Franco Conocchiari-Scherer, Graduate Assistant

Scott Luis, Law Fellow

University of Georgia, College of Environment + Design

Jon Calabria, Associate Professor

University of Georgia, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources

Kyle Maurice Woosnam, Professor

University of Georgia, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

John Salazar, Professor

A VISION FOR COMPATIBLE USE

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES AROUND FORT MOORE, GEORGIA

ACRONYMS

ACUB Army Compatible Use Buffer

CFLCP Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership

CSU Columbus State University

CUP Compatible Use Plan

DCA Georgia Department of Community Affairs

DCIP Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program

DNR Georgia Department of Natural Resources

DOD Department of Defense

EV Electric Vehicle

FWS US Fish and Wildlife Service

GDOT Georgia Department of Transportation

GFC Georgia Forestry Commission

JLUS Joint Land Use Study

MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area

REPI Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration

RVCCD River Valley Compatible Community Development Plan

RVRC River Valley Regional Commission

TNC The Nature Conservancy

T-SPLOST Transportation Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax

UGA University of Georgia

USDA NRCS US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

WMA Wildlife Management Area

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

For more than two years, a team from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, in partnership with the River Valley Regional Commission, Fort Moore, and its Army Compatible Use Buffer partners, worked with six rural counties surrounding Fort Moore: Marion, Chattahoochee, Stewart, Taylor, Talbot, and Russell. The overarching goal of this effort was to develop plans and strategies to promote land uses compatible with the military mission, natural resource protection, and sustainable economic development in the region and that protect rural character and support quality of life. This plan is one of the outcomes of that effort.

Photo Credit: University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Promoting compatible use in the region must be driven by local residents embracing compatible development practices because it makes economic and quality of life sense for them to do so. In the military context, “compatible use” refers to land uses in areas outside of an installation, considering whether or not they support the mission’s operational and training environments, community growth and development in the surrounding area, and local resident quality of life. Conservation “buffer” areas, zoning, and other land use regulations are ways to further compatible use. This plan takes a novel approach and identifies proactive strategies that can be embraced by the community to promote economic and community prosperity while protecting the natural resources and rural character of the area. With the right incentives and with assistance, these communities are much more likely to develop in ways that promote compatible use and aid in sustaining Fort Moore’s mission and its positive economic impact for the region.

• Protecting areas surrounding Fort Moore through land conservation programs maintains the region’s rural character, something residents strongly value and want to preserve. The planning and engagement process identified the following key areas where the communities’ goals and desires connect with the compatible use needs of the Army and Fort Moore:

» Vibrant Downtowns Promote Compatible Use and Preserve Rural Character.

» Infrastructure Investments Are Needed to Promote Compatible Growth.

» Compatible Development Can Align with Rural Economic Development.

» A Regional Approach Leverages Opportunities for Drawing Visitors to the Landscape.

Preserving the small-town rural character of their communities and maintaining downtowns are top priorities for residents. Emphasizing historic downtown development accentuates the distinctive and marketable assets of these rural southern communities while aligning with Fort Moore’s interest in seeing concentrated development in downtown communities as well to further compatible use. Strategic infrastructure investments will further promote compatible growth. Additional efforts to connect land conservation to preserving rural quality of life and character of place should be considered.

Photo Credit: University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach

Takeawa ys

• On a survey of area residents conducted for this study, respondents indicated that the greatest strengths of the region are Fort Moore’s presence (74%) and the region’s natural features, including natural resources (63%) and outdoor recreation (68%). These findings strongly suggest that natural resource areas are treasured for how they contribute to the area’s rural character and quality of life. They also reveal that residents greatly value Fort Moore and understand and appreciate its importance as the region’s most significant economic driver. The survey results also support this project’s finding that efforts to leverage conservation areas as economic assets through outdoor tourism and recreation is a win-win approach that meets community goals in a way that aligns with Fort Moore’s compatible use goals.

• UGA research for this project indicates that the rural counties surrounding Columbus have the strong potential to tap into a vibrant regional tourism economy by showcasing their natural and cultural resources. This plan focuses on ways these communities can develop and thrive in a “conservation and outdoor recreation economy” by embracing their natural resource assets and thus allowing for strategic economic development that reflects compatible use. A regional approach that leverages opportunities to draw visitors to the region from Columbus, the state of Georgia, the Southeast, and even the US should be considered.

• The rural communities in the region receive many benefits from their proximity to Fort Moore and from the nearby conservation efforts. At the same time, potential challenges also exist for surrounding local governments

and school systems as property tax revenues may be decreased when properties are acquired or placed under conservation easements, with Marion and Talbot counties facing the greatest potential impact. For rural communities with high levels of poverty and tight local government budgets, every dollar counts. Rural communities also must be mindful that farmland, timberland, and conservation lands require far fewer community services and less infrastructure than residential and commercial developments. The natural resource assets in their communities therefore are highly valuable for not only how they contribute to quality of life but also for the money they save. These lands can and should be understood as fundamental building blocks for economic development in areas such as tourism and outdoor recreation.

• Addressing systemic poverty, promoting long-term economic prosperity, and enhancing local capacity for planning and infrastructure investments will be critical to ensuring that the rural communities within these areas thrive in ways compatible with the nation’s national security mission. Like many rural areas, the rural communities surrounding Fort Moore must tackle aging infrastructure and systemic poverty with limited resources, an aging population, and small and stretched numbers of staff. The conservation and outdoor recreation economy that is possible will thrive only if the area can provide clean water, safe roads, reliable broadband, and a healthy workforce. Therefore, as this plan was being developed, the UGA team also worked with these communities to acquire state and federal funding or set the stage for them to do so. Concrete next steps for implementation are included as part of this plan, and resources to support continued

engagement from the UGA team have been acquired as well. Outside investment in development and capacity building will be much needed in order for these communities to follow up on this plan or any other initiative to promote conservation and compatible use.

• A robust accounting of the economic benefits the conservation buffer areas surrounding the installation have provided and will increasingly provide is an important next step in helping these communities recognize the full value of these lands and expand on it for their long-term prosperity. An increasing number of conservation personnel live and/or work in the area and assist with land management. More broadly, many of these protected areas have been turned into state-run wildlife management areas (WMAs), which a 2013 statewide study found provide significant economic benefits to host communities. A 2013 statewide study found that $60 million in tax revenue was generated across the state, with an average of 28% of WMA-related spending occurring in the county where the WMA is located.1 Just to the south of this region, Tall Timbers has conducted a number of economic studies analyzing the impact of privately managed lands for the Red Hills Region of South Georgia and North Florida and for the areas around Albany, Georgia.2 A strong need exists to conduct similar studies on the economic benefits that public and privately managed lands have on the local economy in this study area. Such an analysis would help the greater community better understand the value of these lands, and it would create a baseline for evaluating the long-term impact of outdoor recreation and tourism in the area and provide ways to increase the economic impacts of conservation lands to yield even more benefits.

Technical Assistance Activities

Provided training and assistance to reconstitute the Marion County Development Authority, an important step forward in revitalizing the city of Buena Vista, the county’s central business district.

a the technical as s el pe

A novel aspect of this plan that sets it apart from other joint land use studies is the technical assistance provided to the communities by the project team during the planning process. This chart lists some of these activities and also includes proposed next steps on the next page.

Assisted the city of Buena Vista and downtown property owners with crafting designs to inform the application of $2 million from the recent voter-approved T-SPLOST package in downtown infrastructure.

Assisted Stewart County and the city of Lumpkin in developing downtown designs, which were used to apply for $2 million of funding through the Governor’s Office program Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. This grant was awarded in May 2023.

Developed connections between rising seniors at UGA’s College of Engineering to offer technical assistance through its Capstone Design Program in which senior engineering students complete directed design work and develop cost estimates to address community needs.

Organized three graduate-level planning and design classes from the UGA College of Environment and Design to support the design and development of recreational opportunities in the region.

Initiated discussions between UGA and Auburn University to form a collaborative partnership for ongoing planning, engineering, and design support for local community projects throughout this region.

Submitted a grant application to the US Economic Development Administration in partnership with the Lee-Russell Council of Governments, multiple local governments, and Uptown Columbus to support trail planning and design and regional marketing.

Prioritized specific external funding sources to support community infrastructure repairs and strategic upgrades. Potential funding sources are included in Appendix E.

Developed a list of priority infrastructure projects related to sustaining the military mission that are suitable for submission to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program.

Built relationships with UGA’s Defense Community Resilience Program to provide ongoing planning support and proposals for external funding.

Supported electric vehicle infrastructure deployment by facilitating contacts between communities, Flint EMC, Georgia Power, and others investing in EV infrastructure expansion.

Arranged for students in the Historic Preservation Program at the College of Environment and Design in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA to begin work in summer 2023 on developing a tourism trail to highlight General Lafayette’s visit to America, and within Marion County, from 1825. Flint Energies has pledged funds to print a brochure.

Included Marion County in the 2024 cohort of the Institute of Government’s PROPEL program, a two-year economic development program funded by the University of Georgia Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture.

Arranged for UGA’s State Botanical Garden of Georgia to design and implement a Connect to Protect garden in downtown Buena Vista at the site of a new mural.  The garden will feature native pollinator plants, and all materials and labor will be provided by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Photo Credit: University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach

The long-term viability of these efforts will also require the investment of time and resources to ensure that these communities have the capacity to maintain the rural and conservation character of this region and avoid incompatible development. These lasting investments include helping these cities and counties upgrade their basic infrastructure systems, like water and sewer, as well as maintaining the capacity of their human capital. Examples of the kind of long-term systemic investments that are needed follow.

Proposed Next Steps for Long-Term Systemic Investment

Develop infrastructure project proposals suitable for funding through the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program and other infrastructure funding opportunities, focusing on water and sewer upgrades.

Conduct an analysis in conjunction with Russell County on potential land use changes that could impact the Fryar Drop Zone, particularly any development requiring sewer line extensions in the area.

Conduct a feasibility analysis of sewer line extensions to Chattahoochee County and a study of related land use controls necessary to prevent incompatible development.

Undertake analysis and planning to ensure the transportation network can support community and military needs, including EV charging needs as the installation transitions its nontactical fleet to electric vehicles.

Build capacity among residents for community leadership and entrepreneurship through state and university leadership and capacity-building programs.

Develop regional partnerships to foster effective planning, asset management, code enforcement, and zoning administration.

Formulate more robust estimates of the economic and environmental service values provided by the conservation and recreation lands.

ion and re

Support dark sky efforts to

Connect river and stream ervation effo

communication be rural communities in part by briefings where installation staff bri n Army issues and needs, and commun Arm

leadership on community nee

The Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program (DCIP) provides grant funding to assist state and local governments, and not-for-profit, member-owned utilities in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. Proposals are typically due in late spring. Given the infrastructure needs in the region, DCIP funding is a prime opportunity for these communities. DCIP projects must be “construction-ready” and endorsed by the installation commander. Thus, a primary recommendation is that communities with infrastructure needs identify projects this summer so that the RVCCD team might be able to assist with finding resources to demonstrate that the projects are “construction ready.”

The implementation steps included are not a complete list. This plan also offers a series of conceptual designs for future development based on the needs and desires expressed by the residents and leaders in the partnering communities. While some of the short-term actions are clear, and many are already underway, the details of how the ideas and opportunities presented here are implemented must arise from local leaders. In addition, the assets and ideas identified in this plan should be incorporated into a shared community vision for the region. Long before the delivery of this final plan, community members and local leaders had embraced the idea that their communities are positioned to leverage their rural character, natural surroundings, and quality of life to revitalize the area. As the list of ongoing steps indicates, work has already begun, underscoring just how much community leaders want to see the region thrive.

The River Valley Regional Commission and the University of Georgia, along with the other project partners, are committed to continuing to work with these communities on implementation of this plan and the development of additional projects to further the shared resilience of Fort Moore and these communities. In particular, UGA’s Defense Community Resilience Program will remain engaged in this region, working to foster the shared resilience of the installation and the supporting defense communities. Through this planning effort, the DOD and the installation recognize compatible use issues and encroachment threats, its role in driving them, and the challenges they place on rural communities in this region. They are seeking new solutions to reduce these threats. This plan is the beginning of a long-term collaborative effort by the installation, the Army, and the DOD to work with these communities to address these challenges.

Photo Credit: LuAnn Craighton, The Nature Conservancy

Regional Outdoor Recreational Opportunities

UGA researchers found that the rural counties surrounding Columbus have the strong potential to tap into a vibrant regional tourism economy by leveraging their significant natural and cultural resources. For example, in Stewart County, 383,174 people visited Providence Canyon and 107,323 visited Florence Marina in 2021. Outdoor recreation is popular in Georgia. In each of the last fi ve years, visitation numbers at Georgia State Parks have increased, up 36.72% from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, visitors to F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Florence Marina State Park, and Providence Canyon State Park — all parks in the Columbus/Fort Moore area — accounted for 9.4% of the total number of visitors to Georgia State Parks. In each of these parks, visitation numbers in 2021 were above 2019 numbers, before the pandemic struck. At F.D. Roosevelt State Park and Providence Canyon State Park, visitation has nearly doubled since 2017. Although F.D. Roosevelt State Park is not in this report’s six-county study area, the number of visitors to that nearby park is significant and could support additional tourism in the study area — especially given the presence of two state parks and four wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the five Georgia counties studied. Russell County, Alabama, also boasts a hunting and recreational area similar to Georgia’s WMAs that draws visitors. Many people understand the role of state parks

O utdoor s

and appreciate their value. They may not realize, however, that WMAs serve a similar role in providing public access to the outdoors. An important concept to emphasize is that state conservation areas create significant public recreational opportunities that did not exist when the land was formerly in private ownership. Most state conservation areas are now accessible for popular activities such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, bike riding, hiking, and camping. Conserving these areas both protects the natural habitats within them and opens them up for area residents and visitors to enjoy.

A 2013 Georgia DNR study found that visitors to Georgia’s WMAs supported more than 3,700 jobs statewide, generating labor income of $118 million. WMAs contribute an estimated $206 million to the state’s GDP and generate $60 million in tax revenue across the state each year.3 That spending occurs locally in two ways: “near home” where the resident lives, and in the county where the WMA is located. The report concluded that, “on average, 71% of spending occurs near home in the county of residence and 29% occurs in the county where the WMA is located.”4 Relatively fewer economic impact studies focus on WMAs than on state parks. More research is needed in this area, especially given the uptick in visitation in recent years.

GEORGIA STATE PARK and WMA ASSETS in PROJECT STUDY AREA

The Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area

Florence Marina State Park

Providence Canyon State Park

Change to: Hannahatchee Creek Wildlife Management Area

Sandhills Wildlife Management Area

Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area

Sprewell Bluff Wildlife Management Area

Uchee Creek Confluence

Marion and Talbot Counties

Stewart County

Stewart County

Stewart County

Taylor County

Talbot and Upson Counties

Meriwether, Talbot and Upson Counties

A regional asset map that includes arts and culture, recreational, historic, and economic assets is available at www.rivervalleyccd.com.

Russell County

Photo Credit: Bryn Pipes, The Nature Conservancy

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE

W COMPAT

WHAT IS “COMPATIBLE USE”?

o e” t te n t t

n e compatible with eac re with one anothe ble use” refers to nstallation, considering de oper th ope e m community grow o m w u ro c r m g n o pment in en e the a c e a a r , g ity life of li alit yo ali y o t ty lity it an a ons, when w ons, gi or o or urb jo j

“Compatible use” is a planning term that describes land uses that are compatible with each other and/ or do not interfere with one another. In the military context, “compatible use” refers to land uses in areas outside of an installation, considering whether or not they support the mission’s operational and training environments, community growth and development in the surrounding area, and local resident quality of life. Many of the nation’s military installations, when originally built, were located outside of major urban

addition, stood how the h o d howtthe od eas erate rate p e p sta t ation ha ti n t o asg w eas s asss o opment

rtunities and cha es, ern dern nry n at s se and the need for nd h th an DOD aining, exam e w g o a i gi a amplesDO D m issues as “encroachment, ch s “ s hm es ro is limit on installations to limit the to i a al o o ll mi mit t ately omi ommis m se ommppr o o p y ad

areas. In addition, it was not well-understood how the installation’s themselves would generate population growth. Over the years, as the nation has grown economically and in population, areas surrounding installations have also grown. This development has brought opportunities and challenges, just as modern weaponry has created more noise and the need for night training, just to give a few examples. DOD refers to these issues as “encroachment,” as they place pressure on installations to limit their activities and can ultimately compromise readiness.

The project’s goal is to develop plans and strategies to promote land uses compatible with the installation’s military mission, while protecting the area’s natural resources and encouraging sustainable economic development that preserves the region’s rural character and improves quality of life for area citizens. This plan focuses on leveraging the success of Fort Moore’s regional land conservation efforts, and it updates the Implementation chapter of the 2008 Fort Benning Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) by adding new strategies for achieving the installation’s compatible use goals and supporting neighboring rural communities.

The River Valley Compatible Community Development Plan (RVCCD) is the outcome of a two-year project designed to assist local governments surrounding Fort Moore (renamed from Fort Benning in 2023).

From the beginning, a central tenet of this project has been that promoting compatible use in the region must be driven by local residents embracing compatible development practices because it makes economic and quality of life sense for them to do so. The RVCCD planning and engagement process identified several key areas where the communities’ goals and desires connect with the compatible use needs of the Army and Fort Moore. This plan is designed, ultimately, to inspire communities to build upon their strengths to create places where people want to be — while leveraging the wider, natural landscape that surrounds them and serves as an important buffer area for Fort Moore.

A team from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, in partnership with the River Valley Regional Commission, worked with six rural counties that surround Fort Moore: Marion, Chattahoochee, Stewart, Taylor, Talbot, and Russell. These counties include some of the poorest and most underserved populations in the country,5 yet these communities are vital to the functioning and longterm resilience of Fort Moore. It is critical to the military mission that local residents and community leaders support the installation and its efforts to build long-term resilience. However, these communities need the capacity and the resources to do so while also meeting their own needs and addressing their own priorities.

Fort Moore recognizes the need for mutual support and to identify resources that can strengthen these communities so that they, in turn, can support the Army’s mission. This effort was initiated by Fort Moore

after a request from the Army Compatible Use Buffer Advisory Board to do the following:

• Develop county-level plans that focus on nonregulatory and incentive-based programs that facilitate land use practices, downtown planning, and infrastructure development that promote economic prosperity, preserve rural character and place, and further the military’s compatible use goals.

• Outline a regional approach to implement local plans, with concrete action items that leverage shared opportunities and resources across the region.

• Leverage regional private and public land conservation efforts to support rural economic development opportunities such as outdoor recreation, tourism, and the arts and artisans.

• Conduct and develop an implementation strategy that identifies both existing and new funding and resource opportunities for short- and long-term actions that strengthen surrounding rural communities, emphasizing ways in which the Army and the Department of Defense can better support these communities.

• Support Fort Moore’s efforts to reduce the risk of incompatible land uses near the installation and relieve internal and external pressures of environmental compliance.

Photo Credit: Fort Moore

Fort Moore is one of the country’s most important installations. As home to the Maneuver Center of Excellence, it combines the Army’s premier Infantry Training Center and the Armor School in one location, with five types of infantry training on post: mechanized, light, airborne, air assault, and ranger. Located adjacent to the city of Columbus, Fort Moore covers approximately 182,000 acres of river valley and rolling terrain in the southern sandhills region of Georgia.6

The unique habitat in the area and increasing development outside of the fence line create challenges for Fort Moore’s on-post training mission.7 Land within and near Fort Moore provides critical habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, the gopher tortoise, and several other endangered,

threatened, and candidate species. 8 Conservation and sustainability of natural systems inside and outside the installation boundary is strategically important to military readiness and sustaining the military mission by ensuring the installation can provide a realistic training environment within its perimeter. For almost 20 years, Fort Moore and the Department of Defense (DOD) have worked with a broad consortium of state and federal agencies and private-sector partners to encourage private and public land conservation efforts in the region that will support the military mission within the installation. Known as Fort Moore’s Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program, the effort has had concrete results for protecting endangered species, restoring critical habitat,

and preserving ecosystems of environmental, historical, and cultural importance.

The ACUB’s goal is to protect approximately 75,000 acres in the region to support compatible land use activities near the installation’s boundaries. To date, approximately 36,000 acres surrounding the installation have been protected as private landowners have voluntarily sold their land to conservation organizations (neither the Army nor DOD own any of this land) or have entered into conservation easements. This work has not only benefited the installation and the sustainability of its mission, but it has also played a crucial role in the state of Georgia’s overall effort to protect the gopher tortoise and keep it and other species from being listed under the Endangered Species

Photo Credit: Fort Moore

Act, which has profound impacts for promoting economic development across this region and the state as a whole.9 Species listings can also adversely impact military missions.

Ultimately, the ACUB program is designed to address what are known as “encroachment threats” on the installation’s ability to test, train, and conduct operations.10 Buffer projects benefit the military by allowing for the ability to conduct live-fire and maneuver training, reducing workarounds and lost training days, preserving night-vision capabilities, and mitigating noise and smoke conflicts.11 Buffer areas also reduce the negative impacts military activities have on civilians related to noise, smoke, and air traffic, and they support the installation’s responsibilities to comply with environmental regulations for clean water, endangered species protections, and other issues. ACUB programs allow the Army to collaborate with partners such as land conservation groups. Together, they work with willing landowners who volunteer to establish conservation easements or sell their property to the state or partnering nonprofit organizations to be conserved and protected in a strategic way to create an effective ACUB buffer. ACUB programs exist across the country, and they are part of a larger Department of Defense program known as the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.12

While protecting these areas through the Army Compatible Use Buffer program is vital to the sustainability of Fort Moore, conserving these lands creates both opportunities and challenges for surrounding rural communities. Properties acquired by the state or nonprofit entities

are no longer on the tax roll, and conservation easements on private property can also reduce the amount of tax revenue local governments and school systems are able to collect. A full analysis of the impact of conservation efforts in the ACUB landscape on local property taxes is found in Appendix B of this document. Key findings from this tax assessment analysis include the following:

• Since 2009, DOD provided funding for its partners to reimburse Marion and Talbot counties approximately $765,000 for taxes that otherwise would not have been paid on lands acquired for the ACUB program, thereby mitigating the potential total losses. Nonetheless, since 2015, land acquisition in support of the ACUB program has cost Marion and Talbot counties an estimated total of $827,000. Marion County has experienced the majority of that impact, with current estimated losses of $136,000 per year and a total of $541,000 in lost taxes since 2009. Talbot County’s estimated losses are $41,000 per year, for a total of $286,000 in impact.

• Looking forward, as additional lands are protected to meet the ACUB goal, Marion County may see as much as $234,000 per year in lost property tax revenues once the overall land protection target is met, slated for 2045. Talbot County may lose as much as $55,000 per year. In Taylor County, no lands have been acquired under the program to date. If future acquisitions do reach this far east, the impacts could be as much as $5,000 per year.

Conservation

spaces and buffer lands may

generate fewer tax dollars, but they also cost taxpayers far less to service and maintain than residential or commercial development.

Photo Credit: Fort Moore

• In Chattahoochee, Stewart, and Russell counties, the ACUB partners plan to acquire conservation easements rather than outright property purchases.a Depending on the processes used to value the impacts of a perpetual easement on a Conservation Use Valuation Assessment property, this could result in as much as $14,800 per year for Chattahoochee County, $14,300 per year for Russell County, and $11,000 per year for Stewart County. For rural communities with tight local government budgets, every dollar counts. This plan has two primary goals. First, it is a step toward mitigating the revenue impacts resulting from buffer land protections, which are critical to the largest economic driver in the region, Fort

Moore. Second, the plan aims to leverage these natural resources into long-term economic development assets. These efforts will help participating communities access the resources needed to advance compatible economic development and increase resilience. Over time, the ideas and steps outlined in this plan will work to alleviate some of the poverty-driven pressures on these communities that make long-term land use and development planning difficult, if not impossible.

Consequently, an initial and vital component of this process has been the ability of the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to work with communities to acquire state and federal funding or set the stage for them to do so. Many rural communities have difficulty applying for state and federal

funding programs because they lack adequate resources to meet program guidelines.13 A table of efforts to position communities in the study area for funding is included in the concluding sections of this document

The financial impacts of these buffer lands on these communities’ tax bases are a very real challenge that these counties and their residents face for the benefit of the greater region and the nation. However, when measuring these impacts, it is important to recognize some of the positive effects conserved undeveloped land has on communities. First and foremost, conserving these lands promotes these communities’ long-term visions for themselves. Preserving the small-town rural character of these communities is a top priority in almost every plan prepared for this region.

a The ACUB landscape is divided into two areas known as ACUB priority areas. Priority Area 1 includes Marion, Talbot, and Taylor counties, where the approach is fee simple acquisitions and conservation easements. Priority Area 2 includes Russell, Chattahoochee and Stewart counties, where the approach is focused on conservation easements.

Protecting the lands prevents the type of suburbanization that has undermined those aspects of so many other communities. The communities surrounding Fort Moore want to avoid anonymous sprawl and maintain their rural character.

Rural communities must also be mindful that unplanned and sprawling growth will actually cost them more money to service. Numerous studies have shown that farmland, timberland, and conservation lands require far fewer community services and less infrastructure than residential developments.14 Conservation areas cost taxpayers much less to service and maintain, particularly when compared to residential development. Research from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the American Farmland Trust indicates that timber and agricultural land actually subsidizes the cost of servicing much residential development. However, managing development and preventing sprawling growth requires resources that some rural communities do not possess. Outside support is needed to build capacity to enact long-term growth management and land use regulation.

Property owners can benefit from conservation areas as well. Because of the conservation significance of the region, since 2019, federal and state programs have provided approximately $753,750 in new cost-share funds paid directly to local private landowners in the area to help them implement conservation practices. This number does not include standard USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or Regional Conservation Partnership Program funds that many landowners access as well.15 An additional $570,000 has been identified

Repeatedly during focus groups and interviews, local residents said that rural character and a small-town sense of community matter greatly to them.

to support similar activities through 2025. In addition, several studies have concluded that permanently preserved open space significantly increases nearby property values.16 Value arises out of the certainty that conservation properties will not be developed and the viewshed will be permanently protected. Access to nearby open space and recreational opportunities also increases property values. Increased property values created by nearby conservation lands often leads to increases in overall tax revenue over the long term.17

Importantly, while some uses are restricted in conservation areas, many of these areas are open to the public for hunting, fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation. In addition to enhancing local opportunities for these activities, these lands are economic, recreational, and cultural assets for the surrounding communities, and the communities located within these landscapes are rich in history, culture, and quality of life because of their natural surroundings. Moreover, when the number of conservation personnel who live and/or work in an area to assist with land management increases, these individuals contribute to the tax base by purchasing property, fuel, supplies, and other goods, and by employing people in the community. A robust accounting of the economic benefits these conservation lands provide would be an important next step in helping these communities recognize the full value of these lands and expand on it for their long-term prosperity. Many of these protected areas have been turned into state-run wildlife management areas (WMA), which a 2013 statewide study found provide significant economic benefits to host communities.18 Updating that analysis for the post-COVID-19

economy and focusing on the public lands in this region would be a great resource for understanding the value of these lands.

One economic value the lands support is regional tourism. Research conducted by the University of Georgia as part of this project indicates that the rural counties surrounding Columbus have the strong opportunity to tap into a vibrant regional tourism economy by showcasing their natural and cultural resources. The Columbus region tourist economy annually produces more than $1.1 billion in total economic output.19 However, Columbus–Muscogee County captures more than 90% of that output. In addition, only about 1% of that total is direct spending at natural areas/parks. While there is clearly more spending associated with nature-based attractions, and a more robust assessment of the full economic value of the areas is needed, this still indicates that there are opportunities for economic growth in this sector. Significant opportunities exist for the rural communities in the region to generate economic benefits by connecting their local assets to Columbus’s growing success as a recreational destination. This plan, therefore, focuses on ways these communities can develop and thrive in a “conservation and outdoor recreation economy.” By embracing their natural resource assets, these communities can pursue strategic economic development that aligns with Fort Moore’s compatible use buffer.

Responses to a survey conducted as part of this project indicate that community members support efforts to sustain Fort Moore’s mission and that they are likely to appreciate and welcome how nature-based tourism offers opportunities to do that. Respondents perceive the greatest strengths of the River Valley Region to be the presence of Fort Moore (74%) and the region’s nature-based features, including

natural resources (63%) and outdoor recreation (68%). Respondents find natural resources to be extremely important (64%) to the region and express enthusiasm for numerous outdoor recreational activities, including boating, kayaking, or canoeing (89%); hiking (85%); and fishing (84%). One way to facilitate greater outdoor activity is to create walking and biking trails. Approximately 75% of the survey respondents think such trails would be useful when connecting communities across the region. Appendix D contains the full survey results.

Finally, while the rural communities in the region receive many benefits from their proximity to Fort Moore and from the conservation efforts surrounding their communities and the installation, the vast majority of benefits accrue to the larger Columbus region, the state of Georgia, and the nation as a whole through the economic impacts of Fort Moore and its significant role in national defense. The ACUB program is essential to the long-term viability of this installation and the continuation of its mission, but its long-term costs are very real challenges for the nearby rural communities, particularly Marion County. Consideration should be given to the idea that because the benefits of this conservation extend well beyond these communities, the costs should be shared more broadly as well. Put simply, from ensuring our soldiers have the training they need to prepare to defend our nation, to providing recreational areas for hunting, fishing, and hiking, to keeping the gopher tortoise off the endangered species list, we all benefit from the protection and conservation of these ACUB buffer lands. Increased state and national investment in alleviating the systemic poverty around the installation, promoting the long-term economic prosperity of these communities, and enhancing local capacities for planning and infrastructure investments will be critical to ensuring that the rural communities within these areas thrive in ways compatible with the nation’s national security mission.

From keeping the gopher tortoise off the endangered species list, to ensuring our soldiers have the training they need, to providing recreational areas for hunting, fishing, and hiking, we all benefit from the preservation of the buffer areas surrounding Fort Moore.

THE PROCESS AND METHODOLOGY

The River Valley Compatible Community Development Plan was created as a partial update to the 2008 Fort Benning Joint Land Use Study, which focused on the implementation of measures to promote land uses in proximity to the installation that help sustain the longterm capacity of the installation.

This new and updated plan takes a novel approach to identifying strategies to promote these compatible uses. Traditionally, joint land use studies and compatible use studies have focused on zoning and other land use regulations to direct compatible growth plans. This effort intentionally avoids these kinds of regulatory approaches that restrict the use of private property. Instead, the RVCCD process worked with the communities to identify proactive and voluntary strategies to promote economic and community prosperity while protecting the natural resources and other environmental services provided by these lands and limiting incompatible development. In addition, project team members provided technical assistance in the

THE

form of grant-writing, stakeholder capacity building, and leadership development to several of the communities during the process to lay the groundwork for implementation after this plan is released. Each community engaged in the RVCCD process has a distinct character and individual assets, needs, and opportunities. At the same time, all the communities are part of a shared landscape in the River Valley Region and along the Fall Line. Because of these individual characteristics and shared qualities, the RVCCD Plan combines local and regional planning activities to develop a comprehensive blueprint that can catalyze opportunities for collaboration across communities but still recognizes local needs and opportunities.

RVCCD PLAN PROCESS CONSIS TED OF FOUR PHASES:

Phase I: Data collection, resource assessments, and initial stakeholder engagement

Phase II: Broad stakeholder engagement

Phase III: Plan design and drafting

1234

Phase IV: Plan adoption and deployment

Phase I involved data collection and analysis, along with targeted stakeholder engagement. The primary goals of this initial phase were to gain an understanding of the communities and the region and to begin to identify the opportunities, challenges, and resources present. In this first phase, the UGA team reviewed past plans, data sources, and other resources relevant to this effort. It also convened a local steering committee within each participating community made up of community leaders and other stakeholders. These steering committees informed the subsequent community engagement efforts and helped make those contacts within each community.

Conducted 20 additional input meetings with appx. 350 participants along with dozens of individual interviews

Engaged Steering Committees in each of the six counties

Online and in-person survey with appx. 250 responses

In Phase II, the UGA team gathered broader public input and initiated two technical analyses: a Regional Tourism Assessment and a Tax Impact Assessment.

The results of these efforts are discussed in greater detail below, and the full technical reports are included in Appendices A and B, respectively. Together, these technical reports seek to determine the financial impacts of the ACUB program on local government revenues and to evaluate the capacity of natural resource–based economic development, utilizing the conservation areas to offset those impacts.

The broader public input in Phase II comprised a series of targeted, structured interviews with community members with specialized knowledge concerning land development, economic development, land

conservation, and other matters related to ensuring compatible land uses are developed in the areas potentially impacting the installation’s operations. The UGA team also organized a series of larger input meetings with a variety of groups interested in this process and conducted a broad community survey. Details of the survey results can be found in Appendix D.

In total, during this process, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UGA team engaged with six steering committees, conducted 20 other community meetings with approximately 350 participants, and conducted

“...community mapping is not mapping for or of a community, it is mapping by the community of their values, assets and visions for the future.”

Maeve Lydon

Community Mapping: The Recovery (and Discovery) of our Common Ground (2003)

individual or small-group interviews with dozens of other community members. Based on the data collected and the community input, the UGA team conducted a resource inventory of the natural, social, cultural, and economic resources in the participating communities. Specifically, community asset mapping was a valuable part of this engagement process.20 Unlike community development processes that identify “problems” first, asset mapping allows communities to identify their strengths and build off of them. Mapping assets shows opportunities for connection, collaboration, and interventions.21 The project focus groups and survey data provided a basic understanding of the character and valued assets in the region, which were divided into the following categories: arts and culture, recreational assets, historical assets, and economic assets.

4 3

The UGA team then researched each category of assets for each county. Data were collected and documented in a table and then geocoded using ArcGIS to create points, which were converted into icons. Themed maps were then created to identify nodes and clusters of assets. The process took a total of six months: four months collecting data, two months to create GIS maps, and continued work to develop an online community asset inventory map. The online map, available at www.rivervalleyccd.com, is a resource for both the project and the communities involved. This map can help visitors and businesses identify assets they may not be aware of. Ultimately, the map can be used to support tourism and visitors to the area, inform rural economic development planning, shape a regional identity, inform future projects, and support grant applications.

During Phase III, the UGA team assimilated all of the data and input provided into a conceptual plan. The team discussed and vetted the various plan elements with the project partners and community leaders. Ultimately, this phase of the project resulted in the drafting and designing of this plan document and its accompanying resources.

In Phase IV, the team will present the plan to the community. This phase will involve communicating the contents of the plan and the results of this planning project back to those who participated in its development and to the broader community. This phase will also include working with the communities and stakeholders

to connect them with resources and opportunities to accomplish the short-term action items in the plan and begin work on the medium- and long-term projects. In short, the team will work with the communities and project partners to start implementing the plan elements as opportunities and resources become available.

While these phases of the project generally have followed in chronological order, some overlap has occurred. For example, communication about the plan has been ongoing since the inception of the RVCCD planning effort, and implementation of some components has occurred as funding and opportunities have arisen. Specific actions taken and activities completed to begin implementing this plan are described below in the final section of this report titled Ongoing Activities and Next Steps for Implementation.

Photo Credit: University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach

THE REGION

REGIONAL STUDY AREA: SIX COUNTIES

The study area for this project encompasses the six rural counties surrounding Fort Moore that have been impacted by the ACUB program or that may be in the future. The area includes Russell County in Alabama and five Georgia counties: Chattahoochee, Marion, Stewart, Taylor, and Talbot. These counties border the southern, eastern, and western boundaries of Fort Moore. Twelve cities are located within the study area. These six counties are critical to the longterm military mission of Fort Moore as they support military operations and the larger military community. Incompatible development in these communities not only threatens to alter the rural, small-town character that residents prize, but it also threatens the long-term sustainability of the military mission in the region. As the 2008 JLUS noted, Fort Moore’s presence has spurred regional expansion, drawing a large number of families and retirees to the area and sparking industry growth.22

Through this planning effort, the DOD and Fort Moore recognize these threats, the installation’s role in driving them, and the challenges they place on rural communities in this region, and they are seeking new solutions to reduce these threats. This plan is a first step in a long-term collaborative effort by the installation, the Army, and the DOD to work with these communities to address these threats and challenges.

Project Communities

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Project Area

Despite growth driven by urban development in Columbus and Phenix City and the expansion of Fort Moore, the rural communities in the River Valley Region face an array of challenges linked to long-term systemic poverty.

As described in greater detail below in the individual community profiles, every county in the study area ranks below the state average for household income, dramatically so.23 They all also exceed the state poverty rate of 14%,24 which itself exceeds the national rate of 11.6%. In particular, the poverty rates in Stewart and Taylor counties are about twice that at 26.4% and 28.7%, respectively. The scale of the challenges this entrenched poverty places on the communities is difficult to overstate and critically important to this plan.

Many of these communities struggle daily to provide basic services and meet the needs of their constituents, and they will need assistance in implementing strategies that address encroachment concerns. Administering land use protections and initiating development plans requires resources not readily available in these communities. Outside investment in development and capacity building will be required for these communities to follow up on this plan or any other initiative to promote conservation and compatible land uses. As a result of this planning process, additional assistance is being made available to support these communities and the River Valley Regional Commission through the University of Georgia, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and their network of partners. Continuing this support and expanding on it to build long-term capacity in these communities will be essential to ensuring compatible development.

Conservation Efforts and Priorities

This map was created by The Nature Conservancy for the Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership and represents the Local Implementation Team (LIT) Project Area. This map has been adapted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to highlight overlapping conservation priority areas and existing conservation lands over The River Valley Community Compatible Development Project area.

RIVER

**SP - State Park, NWR - National Wildlife Refuge, and WMA - Wildlife Management Area

REGIONAL OVERVIEW AND CONSERVATION CHARACTER

The River Valley Region includes the second-largest city in Georgia, one of the nation’s premier military installations, and some of the poorest and smallest rural counties in the Southeast. 25 Located along what is known in Georgia as “the Fall Line,” b the communities in the project study area are shaped by a beautiful and unique natural landscape threaded with rivers, streams, and wetlands.

The Chattahoochee River starts in northern Georgia and flows south along much of the border between Georgia and Alabama. It has been a rich and life-giving natural, economic, and cultural resource for native and settling peoples for more than 1,000 years. In many places along the Fall Line, the land rapidly loses elevation, resulting in rocky shoals and waterfalls along rivers. Historically, this made the region a common place for settlement. During pre-industrial times, the Fall Line presented a barrier to river travel where people would have to navigate around impediments. During industrialization, the shoals and waterfalls presented good opportunities for hydro-power for mills and electricity generation. Many indigenous communities settled here, with early evidence of the Mississippian culture. Later, MuscogeeCreek tribes resided in this area for centuries before the arrival of American and European settlers, until their forcible removal in the 1820s and 1830s. 26 The fi rst road linking the newly formed United States to its newly acquired Louisiana Territory passed through Marion County, crossing the Chattahoochee River on land that is now Fort Moore. This Old Federal Road was the primary means for post, the military, and other travelers

to reach New Orleans and other western territories until the coming of the railroad in the mid-1800s.27 The city of Columbus, Georgia, was founded shortly before Indian Removal and quickly became a regional hub due to its industrial capacity and role as a transportation crossroads. Its advantageous location once supported thriving mills that transformed cotton into textiles, and after the Civil War, it became a center for entertainment and river boat traffi c. 28

Like the river, the surrounding countryside also shaped and continues to shape the area. Native longleaf pine once dominated the landscape. The region now supports significant commercial forestry operations, relying primarily on loblolly and slash pine.29 The area once supported row crop farming in the 19th and early 20th centuries after the original longleaf pine forests were harvested. Rare gopher tortoises, endangered redcockaded woodpeckers, bobwhite quail, and white-tailed deer call the landscape home, along with unusual pitcher plants, wild orchids, and a myriad of moths and butterflies. Local conservation efforts support programs spanning the Southeast focused on restoring the biologically diverse longleaf pine ecosystem that once dominated the region.

What exactly is the “Fall Line?”

It’s all about geology and soils. The Fall Line is literally a fall — a drop in elevation from the rocky, more clay-based soils found to the north of the Fall Line, to a drier, sandier soil system to the south of the Fall Line.

The lands to the north of the Fall Line typically support more hardwooddominated forests and rocky steams, while south of the Fall Line, dry sandhills reminiscent of ancient dunes support a pine-dominated landscape with an incredibly diverse assemblage of plant and animal life. The Fall Line is where these natural worlds collide and merge together.

MICHAEL HENSLEY, The Nature Conservancy, Chattahoochee Fall Line Program Director

b As the New Georgia Encyclopedia explains:

The Fall Line is a geological boundary, about 20 miles wide, running northeast across Georgia from Columbus to Augusta. It is a gently sloping region that rapidly loses elevation from the north to the south, thereby creating a series of waterfalls. During the Mesozoic Era (251–65.5 million years ago), the Fall Line was the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean; today it separates Upper Coastal Plain sedimentary rocks to the south from Piedmont crystalline rocks to the north. The Fall Line’s geology is also notable for its impact on early transportation in Georgia and consequently on the state’s commercial and urban development. Source: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/fall-line.

The sustainability of Fort Moore’s military mission and the resilience of the civilian communities in this region depend on the continued existence of this biologically diverse landscape.

As noted above, almost 20 years of effort by Fort Moore, DOD, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, and private landowners has resulted in approximately 36,000 acres surrounding the installation being protected from incompatible development.

Golden Aster with Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Photo Credit: Bryn Pipes, The Nature Conservancy

Butterwort (Pinguicula primuliflora)

Photo Credit: Bryn Pipes, The Nature Conservancy

Sweet Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia rubra)

Photo Credit: Bryn Pipes, The Nature Conservancy

The following collaborative efforts have been critical to this conservation success:

Fort Moore’s Army Compatible Use Buffer Program

Approved by DOD’s REPI program in 2006, Fort Moore’s ACUB program is governed by an advisory board, whose members represent Fort Moore, The Nature Conservancy, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Georgia Forestry Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The purpose of Fort Moore’s ACUB program is to create land conservation partnerships between the Army and outside organizations to protect land from development that is incompatible with the military mission. To date, approximately 36,000 acres on the western Fall Line have been protected, a little more than halfway to the program’s overall goal of 75,000 acres. Of this amount, 30,000 acres are owned in fee and managed either by Georgia DNR or The Nature Conservancy. The 22,000-acre Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area is available for outdoor public recreation and is a direct result of the ACUB efforts. The ACUB fee-owned lands are managed under a Land Management Plan jointly developed by Fort Moore and The Nature Conservancy.30 In 2020, a stewardship endowment was created to support long-term management of these lands.

The Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership

Established in 2011, the Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Partnership (CFLCP) consists of partners working together to establish a conservation corridor that restores longleaf pine and is managed to conserve the natural heritage and quality of life of the Chattahoochee Fall Line Region.31 Spanning West Georgia and East Alabama, the partnership brings together private landowners, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, elected officials, and community leaders. The CFLCP’s vision is a sustainable landscape of native wildlife and plant communities that supports forestry, farming, hunting, outdoor recreation, and tourism, while providing a buffer of conservation lands around military training activities on Fort Moore.

the Georgia Sentinel Landscape

In a larger context, these conservation efforts are situated in and partner closely with the Georgia Sentinel Landscape, which was established in 2018 to coordinate a larger partnership involving several of the nation’s most important installations and ranges, including Fort Benning (Moore), Fort Stewart, and Townsend Bombing Range.32 In addition to being strategically important to our national defense, the Georgia Sentinel Landscape encompasses a high concentration of prime timber land and large swaths of longleaf pine forests. Supporting agricultural communities and sustaining working forests are ways the Georgia Sentinel Landscape works to promote uses compatible with the military mission.

Regional Parks and Wildlife Management Areas

GOPHER TORTOISE Gopherus polyphemus

REGIONAL STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Closely connected to the region’s exceptional natural resources and conservation efforts are the state parks and wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the six-county study area. Many people understand the role of state parks and appreciate their value. They may not realize, however, that WMAs serve a similar role in providing public access to the outdoors as well. An important concept to emphasize is that state conservation areas

create significant public recreational opportunities that did not exist when the land was formerly in private ownership. Most state conservation areas are now accessible for popular activities such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, bicycling, hiking, and camping. Conserving these areas both protects the natural habitats within them and opens them up for area residents and visitors to enjoy.

Photo Credit: Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia State Parks

GEORGIA

Marion and Talbot Counties

The Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area34

Five management tracts comprise this WMA:

1.Almo Tract – a 6,700-acre property that offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, and quail. Youth hunts, Hunt and Learn programs, primitive camp sites, and hiking are also available. No ATVs or horses are allowed.

2. Blackjack Crossing Area – a 1,600-acre property that offers archery-only hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, and small game. No ATVs or horses are allowed.

3. Fort Perry Tract – a 2,100-acre property that offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, dove, and quail. No ATVs or horses are allowed. Bicycles are allowed only for the purpose of providing hunter access.

4. Hilliard Plantation Tract – a 8,089-acre property that offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, quail, waterfowl, dove, and small game. No ATVs or horses are allowed. Bicycles are allowed only for the purpose of providing hunter access.

5. VPA Tracts – a set of properties totaling 3,134 acres that offer archery hunting opportunities for deer. Turkey and small game may be hunted with all legal weapons. No ATVs or horses are allowed.

The Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA was created through a partnership between the DNR, The Nature Conservancy, and the US Army at Fort Moore. These areas form a landscape of priority habitats that have enormous potential for ecological restoration, including expansion of a fire-managed longleaf pine ecosystem beneficial to the red-cockaded woodpecker, gopher tortoise, and other imperiled species.

Stewart County Florence Marina State Park35

Located at the northern end of 45,000-acre Lake Walter F. George (also called Lake Eufaula), this park is adjacent to a natural deep-water marina with an accessible fishing pier, boat slips, and boat ramp. Fully equipped cottages, small efficiency units, and a modern campground with RV campsites are available. Florence Marina is popular with nature enthusiasts and birders. The Kirbo Interpretive Center showcases area wildlife and plants, local history, and Native Americans, including artifacts from the prehistoric Paleo-Indian period through the early 20th century. Eight miles southeast is Providence Canyon State Park.

Stewart County Providence Canyon State Park36

Known as Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon,” this 1,003-acre site includes deep gullies and canyons popular with photographers and hikers. Accommodations and facilities include two picnic shelters, three pioneer campsites, and six backcountry campsites.

Stewart County

Hannahatchee Creek WMA

This 5,095-acre property is located near the town of Richland. This WMA offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, feral hog, and dove. Accommodations and facilities include a shooting range and primitive campsites.

Taylor County Sandhills Wildlife Management Area

West: This 2,498-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, and small game. Allowed activities include geocaching, hunting, and wildlife viewing, and primitive camping is permitted in designated areas.

These properties were acquired in 2007 for their high diversity of rare species, including southeastern kestrels (a type of falcon), Bachman’s sparrows, gopher tortoises, southern hognose snakes, gopher frogs, striped newts, federally endangered pondberry, sandhill golden-aster, Pickering’s morning-glory, and lax water-milfoil.37

Talbot and Upson Counties

Meriwether, Talbot, and Upson counties

Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area

This 7,200-acre property offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey, small game, and waterfowl. Accommodations and facilities include a shooting range, fishing area, boat ramp, canoe access, dock, lake, picnic tables, primitive campsites, and restrooms.

Sprewell Bluff Wildlife Management Area

West: This 5,206 acre property sits west of the Flint River and offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game.

East: This 1,263 acre property sits east of the Flint River and offers hunting opportunities for deer, turkey and small game. There is no camping allowed on the property.

ALABAMA

Russell CountyUchee Creek Confluence

This 4,735-acre property serves as a Special Opportunity Area, providing hunters with a higher quality hunt by reducing hunting pressure through a limited quota system.

The six counties in the RVCCD study area include several significant WMAs and state parks

As part of this project, UGA researchers found that the rural counties surrounding Columbus have the strong potential to tap into a vibrant regional tourism economy by leveraging their significant natural and cultural resources. In 2021, 383,174 people visited Providence Canyon, for example, and 107,323 visited Florence Marina. Outdoor recreation is highly popular. The following are key findings from the Regional Tourism Assessment, included as Appendix A of this report:

• In each of the last five years, visitation numbers at Georgia State Parks have increased, up 36.72% from 2017 to 2021.

• In 2021, visitors to F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Florence Marina State Park, and Providence Canyon State Park accounted for 9.4% of the total number of visitors to Georgia State Parks.

• In each of the three state parks, visitation numbers in 2021 surpassed 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• At F.D. Roosevelt State Park and Providence Canyon State Park, visitation has nearly doubled since 2017.

• These and other public lands provide public access to the many creeks, streams, and rivers that cross the region and provide popular recreational opportunities.

In addition, a 2013 Georgia DNR study found that visitors to Georgia’s WMAs supported more than 3,700 jobs statewide, generating labor income of $118 million annually. WMAs contribute an estimated $206 million to the state’s GDP each year, and they generate a total of $60 million in tax revenue across the state.38 That spending occurs locally in two ways: “near home” where the resident lives, and in the county where the WMA is located. The report concluded that, “on average, 71% of spending occurs near home in the county of residence and 29% occurs in the county where the WMA is located.”39

While these statewide economic impact figures for WMAs are significant and informative for impacts in the River Valley Region, a more regionally focused analysis would be extremely useful. Such a study could also take into account the economic impact of privately managed lands used for hunting and other recreational pastimes. Just to the south of this region, Tall Timbers has conducted a number of economic studies for the Red Hills Region of South Georgia and North Florida and for the areas around Albany, Georgia.40 In 2018, a Red Hills analysis found that the economic impact of quaillands in the region exceed $194 million a year, including almost $84 million in labor income from 1,725 jobs. A similar analysis of the River Valley Region could cover a much broader array of activities; it would provide a much more nuanced picture of the value of these conserved lands to the local economy currently, and it could help guide how to increase that value in the future.

Photo Credit: Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia State Parks

Several other important parks and historic areas are also in nearby counties:

Harris County

F.D. Roosevelt State Park

Muscogee County

Standing Boy Creek State Park

Webster County

Lanahassee Creek WMA

KEY FACTS: SUMMARY

COMMUNITY PROFILES AND ASSETS

Profiles of the communities making up the six-county study area for this project follow in alphabetical order. An interactive map of community assets across the six counties is available on the project website at www.rivervalleyccd.com . Assets in the region are organized into four categories: arts and culture, recreational assets, historical assets, and economic assets. In addition, a map of each county highlighting assets is included in the profiles that follow.

Community Asset Mapping

Community asset inventories are the first step in sustainable rural tourism and economic development. Conventional economic development planning may increase commercial development, leading to a change in the sense of place. In contrast, sustainable rural tourism and economic development celebrate a region’s strengths without changing its character. This goal can only be achieved by first identifying a region’s assets, community strengths, and resources. Given the spatial nature of tourism planning and economic development, community assets mapping is a great way to visualize opportunities, explore connections, and leverage current assets for economic growth.41 This type of inventory can identify features previously not well-known, such as points of interest, businesses, recreational sites and services, cultural or historic sites, and information centers.42 The inventory identifies both nodes, or clusters of assets, and gaps in current tourism offerings. An inventory created with help from community members can identify a community’s values, inform a regional identity, and establish a sense of place.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Community Assets

Arts Centers, Galleries, ARTS ASSETS

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

PASAQUAN

CHATTAHOOCHEE FALL LINE

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation

Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

HIGH PINE LODGE ,

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores

Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Cultural Resources

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

TOTAL POPULATION:

7,498

RACE:

61% WHITE

29% BLACK

5% 2+ RACES

5% OTHER RACE

1% ASIAN AMERICAN

AREA: 366

SQ. MILES

Marion County CITY OF BUENA VISTA

Marion County is a rural county centered on the city of Buena Vista. County residents seek to uphold and enhance its vibrant economy, its rural quality of life, and a sense of community pride, exhibited by individuals and families who are happy to live and work here.

$23,694 PER CAPITA INCOME 16% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL 3.4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Infographic Sources: Population and Area - US Census Profile . Decennial Census 2020, ESRI, ACS. (data.census.gov/profile)

Per Capita Income in the past 12 months, 2017–2021 – US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 5-Year Estimates. These surveys are updated every year. Race, Households Below Poverty Level, and Unemployment – US Census Bureau, ESRI ACS. Decennial Census.

Marion County was named for General Francis Marion, who fought in the Revolutionary War and was known as the “Swamp Fox” for his crafty exploits, and Buena Vista hosts an award-winning distillery – the Swamp Fox Distilling Company – named in his honor. Buena Vista is also the hometown of legendary baseball player Josh Gibson, featured in the Negro League Hall of Fame. Wildlife management areas, including the Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA, which was created in large part by ACUB conservation efforts, provide access to outstanding longleaf pine forests, hunting, and fishing in the county. Marion County is home to Pasaquan, a 7-acre compound near Buena Vista, the county seat. It was created by an eccentric folk artist named Eddie Owens Martin, who called himself St. EOM. Today, Pasaquan is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered among the most important visionary art environments in the United States. The site has been completely restored through a partnership between Columbus State University and the Kohler Foundation.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Photo Credit: Explore Georgia

ARTS ASSETS

Arts Centers, Galleries,

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

SANDHILLS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation

Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores

Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

,

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

Cultural Resources

County Boundaries Rivers

FLINT RIVER

SILVER DOLLAR RACEWAY

TAYLOR COUNTY BOONDOCKS

KEY FACTS

Taylor County CITY OF BUTLER

Taylor County was created from Macon, Marion, and Talbot counties in 1852 and named for Zachary Taylor. Taylor‘s victory in the Mexican War Battle of Buena Vista boosted him toward the presidency of the United States.

$22,733 PER CAPITA INCOME 28% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL 4.5% UNEMPLOYMENT

Butler, the county seat, is named for another figure in that conflict, General William Orlando Butler. In addition to Butler and the town of Reynolds, Taylor County includes the unincorporated communities of Mauk, Howard, Rupert, and Potterville. The Sandhills Wildlife Management Area offers opportunities for hunting, geocaching, and wildlife viewing on 2,498 acres. Taylor County is home to two motor-sports venues: a quartermile drag-racing track, Silver Dollar Raceway, and the Taylor County Boondocks Mudtrack for trucks, ATVs, and side-by-sides. The Taylor Peach Orchard features over 3,600 acres of sweet Georgia peaches.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM

RIVERBEND PARK

ARTS ASSETS

Arts Centers, Galleries,

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER ,

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Cultural Resources

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

TOTAL POPULATION: 9,595*

AREA: 248.7 SQ. MILES

Chattahoochee County CITY OF CUSSETA

$25,196 PER CAPITA INCOME 19% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL 4% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Cusseta–Chattahoochee County is a unique community rich in bountiful natural resources and friendly citizens. It is a family-centered, primarily residential community offering the lifestyle of a small rural county with all the necessities of life, such as adequate housing, infrastructure, and social and public services.

Cusseta–Chattahoochee County is one of several consolidated city/county governments in the region. Since 1918, the Fort Benning Military Reservation — now Fort Moore — has occupied the majority of Chattahoochee County. Chattahoochee County was created on February 13, 1854, from portions of Muscogee and Marion counties. It is named for the Chattahoochee River, which forms its western boundary. The county seat was named Cusseta to commemorate the historic Creek Indian town of that name that long existed nearby. Among the sites of interest are the National Infantry Museum, River Bend Park, and the Cusseta Industrial High School, a Rosenwald School.

Infographic Sources: Population and Area - US Census Profile . Decennial Census 2020, ESRI, ACS. (data.census.gov/profile)

Per Capita Income in the past 12 months, 2017–2021 – US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 5-Year Estimates. These surveys are updated every year. Race, Households Below Poverty Level, and Unemployment – US Census Bureau, ESRI ACS. Decennial Census.

*2020 Census – includes residents within the boundaries of Fort Moore and non-Fort Moore residents

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

OMAHA BREWING COMPANY

FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK

HANNAHATCHEE CREEK

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

RICHLAND RUM

ARTS ASSETS

Arts Centers, Galleries,

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

HILLS N HOLLERS

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores

Industry Lodging

Other Economic Assets

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

PROVIDENCE CANYON STATE PARK ,

Conservation Areas Trails

Restaurants

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

Fort Moore

Cultural Resources

Water Sports and Fishing

City Boundaries

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

Stewart County CITY OF LUMPKIN

$19,763 PER CAPITA INCOME 26% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL

UNEMPLOYMENT

The Stewart County area was inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years in the pre-Columbian period. It is home to several signifi cant archaeological sites from the Mississippian people, including the Roods Landing Site and the Singer Moye Mounds, though these sites are not open to the public.

Beginning in the 1960s, several towns and communities in Stewart County began to redevelop their historic districts and main streets, establishing themselves as leaders in heritage tourism in Georgia. Historic districts in Stewart County include commercial districts in Lumpkin, Omaha, and Louvale as well as the historic African-American community of Green Grove. Other visit-worthy sites include the Richland Rum distillery, Omaha Brewing, and the 1,003-acre Providence Canyon State Park. The park contains Providence Canyon, sometimes called Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon” and considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Photo Credit: Dreamstime @Sean Pavane

MUSEUM OF WONDER

TROY UNIVERSITY

PHENIX CITY RIVERWALK

ARTS ASSETS

Arts Centers, Galleries,

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores

Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

CHATTAHOOCHEE CREEK

INDIAN HISTORICAL CENTER

UCHEE CREEK CONFLUENCE

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Cultural Resources ,

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

TOTAL POPULATION:

59,183

Russell County PHENIX CITY

Russell County shares history, landscapes, and ties with Fort Moore and the fi ve Georgia counties included in this project. Phenix City, the county seat, is located directly across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus and is connected by two bridges to its sister city.

$24,871 PER CAPITA INCOME 21% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL 3.6% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Infographic Sources: Population and Area - US Census Profile . Decennial Census 2020, ESRI, ACS. (data.census.gov/profile)

Per Capita Income in the past 12 months, 2017–2021 – US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 5-Year Estimates. These surveys are updated every year. Race, Households Below Poverty Level, and Unemployment – US Census Bureau, ESRI ACS. Decennial Census.

The Fort Mitchell unincorporated area plays host to Fort Moore’s Fryar Drop Zone, used in paratrooper training, and is connected to the post’s west gate by another bridge providing direct access for military families living in that area. Historic Fort Mitchell is one of the original frontier forts established to provide defense during the Creek Indian wars along the historic Old Federal Road, along with Fort Perry, which is located in Marion County (Georgia). Fort Mitchell is a National Historic Landmark and features a reconstruction of this 1813 fort. A Chattahoochee Creek Indian Historical Center has been established adjacent to Fort Mitchell and offers information on this center of the Creek Nation, along with their removal on the Trail of Tears, commemorated by the Eternal Flame monument. Fort Mitchell is also the home of the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery, established in 1987 for the interment of US veterans.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

STRAUSLEVERT MEMORIAL HALL

HISTORIC ZION EPISCOPAL CHURCH

HISTORIC ZION CHURCH BLUES FESTIVAL

Arts Centers, Galleries, ARTS ASSETS

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation

Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

BIG LAZER CREEK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

CHATTAHOOCHEE FALL LINE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores

Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

SPREWELL BLUFF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA ,

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Cultural Resources

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

TOTAL POPULATION:

5,733

RACE:

43% WHITE

54% BLACK

3% 2+ RACES

AREA: 391.4 SQ. MILES

Talbot County CITY OF TALBOTTON

T

Infographic Sources: Population and Area - US Census Profile . Decennial Census 2020, ESRI, ACS. (data.census.gov/profile)

Per Capita Income in the past 12 months, 2017–2021 – US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 5-Year Estimates. These surveys are updated every year. Race, Households Below Poverty Level, and Unemployment – US Census Bureau, ESRI ACS. Decennial Census.

Talbot County straddles the Fall Line of the eastern United States, and the northern areas of the county are hillier than the southern areas.

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The Fall Line Freeway runs across the southern portion of the county, following Georgia State Route 96 from Geneva to Junction City. The far northern portion of the county is part of the Pine Mountain Range, with elevations exceeding 1,000 feet on the highest peaks. Talbot County is known as a sportsman’s paradise. Deer and wild turkeys are abundant. The Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area, the Chattahoochee Fall Line Wildlife Management Area, and a portion of the Sprewell Bluff Wildlife Management Area offer great fishing and hunting. Prominent residents include Lazarus Straus who immigrated to Talbotton in 1853 and opened his first store there. Later, he and his brother would move to New York, where they would become the sole owners of the Macy’s Department Store chain. Talbotton was also the site of the first session of the Georgia Supreme Court on January 26, 1846. The Romanesque-style courthouse on the historic town square in Talbotton was built in 1892 and was the scene of the infamous Ryder murder trial in 1896.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

20 MILES OF BIKE TRAILS

ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL WALKING TRAILS AND WALKWAYS

TWILIGHT POND

CAMPBELL KING HORSE BOWL

DOG PARKS

PAINTBALL PARKS

DISC GOLF

Arts Centers, Galleries, ARTS ASSETS

Performance Centers, Museums and Other

Crafts and Other Artisan

Breweries, Wineries and Distilleries

Food Artisans

Arts Festivals and Events

Murals

Music Related Assets and Events

RECREATION ASSETS

Parks and Other Recreation Assets

ATV Trails and Parks

Camping Areas

Conservation Areas

Sports Fields, Hunting Areas

GOLF COURSE ,

ECONOMIC ASSETS

Grocery Stores Industry

Lodging

Other Economic Assets

Restaurants

HISTORIC ASSETS

Historic Buildings

Historic Districts

History Museums

Historic Sites and Cultural Resource Structures

Historic Districts

Cultural Resources

Trails

Water Sports and Fishing

Fort Moore

City Boundaries

County Boundaries Rivers

KEY FACTS

TOTAL POPULATION:

26,305 SUPPORTED POPULATION:

127,555

AREA: 285

SQ. MILES

Key Facts and Economic Impact FORT MOORE

The Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore deliver trained and combat-ready soldiers and leaders, and develop and integrate the doctrine and capabilities of the Maneuver Force, all while providing a first-class quality of life for those assigned to or employed by Fort Moore and their families. The Fort Moore Garrison supports mission readiness and execution; enables the well-being of soldiers, civilians, retirees, and their family members; improves infrastructure; and conserves the environment through the equitable, effective, and efficient management of 54 installation services.

$36,955 PER CAPITA INCOME 28% OF HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL 4.5% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Infographic Sources: Population and Area - US Census Profile . Decennial Census 2020, ESRI, ACS. (data.census.gov/profile)

Per Capita Income in the past 12 months, 2017–2021 – US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 5-Year Estimates. These surveys are updated every year. Race, Households Below Poverty Level, and Unemployment – US Census Bureau, ESRI ACS. Decennial Census.

Fort Moore’s impact on the region is profound. The post covers 182,000 contiguous acres in Georgia and Alabama, and it is integrally connected to the Columbus area. The post’s annual economic impact to the region is estimated at $4.75 billion, and it supports more than 200,000 military personnel, civilians, retirees, and reserve personnel. Notably, since Fort Moore’s last joint land use planning effort in 2008, the post has grown in population as it is now home to the US Army Armor School. Seventy percent of Fort Moore’s population resides off post, with 6,303 military children attending public schools and 2,248 attending DOD schools.43

Fort Moore collaborates with many local communities on comprehensive sustainability and engages in a variety of community partnerships in an effort to benefit both the installation and the surrounding region. Sustained long-term growth changes land use, which can threaten the use of installation training lands and possibly impact the quality of life in this region. Fort Moore also engages with the community in a variety of ways, with events such as Oktoberfest, Independence Celebration, the Chesty Puller Challenge Half-Marathon, and the Fort Moore Reverse Sprint Triathlon being highly popular. The installation is home to a number of recreational assets as well, including several fish ponds, recreation areas, and a bike trail system that is open to the public 44

Photo credit: Fort Moore

MAJOR THEMES COMMUNITIES

The RVCCD planning and engagement process revealed several key areas where the communities’ goals and desires connect with the compatible use needs of the Army and Fort Moore. This plan identifi es opportunities to promote economic development that aligns with the shared needs and goals. Four major themes emerged from the efforts:

COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT

REGIONAL APPROACH

Infrastructure investments are needed to promote compatible growth.

A regional approach leverages opportunities for drawing visitors to the landscape.

Vibrant Downtowns Promote Compatible Use and Preserve Rural Character.

Small is not only beautiful; in the modern global era, it can be the key to economic development.45 Over the past 25 years in the United States, small businesses have generated two of every three jobs.46 Taking small, doable steps to revitalize communities has an impact, too. While big projects or announcements make a splash, dedicated stepby-step investment to revitalize “Main Street” can create more bang for the buck and provide more lasting and resilient economic stability. Marion County and other communities in this region know first-hand how the closure of a major employer impacts the entire community.

Unlike large corporations that cater to national and international markets, small, locally owned businesses serve the local community. The profits and other benefits of their success stay local and are reinvested through hiring more people and growing the local tax base. Their customers are generally residents, visitors, and other local companies, though online platforms like Amazon and Etsy have given much wider reach to local artisans and craftspeople. Support for small, locally owned businesses is an essential component of a sustainable rural economy. Efforts to attract large corporate investment often involve costly tax breaks and expensive infrastructure enhancements that may only serve a single user. In contrast, economic development to support local businesses involves investing in the community. The kinds of investments in community infrastructure that small businesses need, such as water,

sewer, and broadband, also support an improved quality of life for residents and create economic opportunity. This type of economic development involves creating the attractive and vibrant downtowns that have supported small businesses for generations. This approach to economic development is often more resilient and effective than finding that “one big thing.”47

Put simply, creating places where people want to be is essential to place-based 21st-century economic development. In fact, highlighting a place’s distinctive characteristics is essential to creating a competitive advantage.48 With remote work and direct global shipping becoming commonplace, people can live almost anywhere — and they want places that feel authentic. Building strong downtowns that embrace a community’s distinct character is a critical way to invest in the kind of vibrant places where people want to be. Thus, creating vibrant places “is about lots of little things working synergistically together in a plan that makes sense.”49 Walkable main streets, thriving small businesses, and revitalized historic buildings are highly desired spaces. Sprawl, strings of faceless commercial development, and empty industrial parks are not.

The good news for small towns is that focusing on revitalizing downtown not only creates a more livable and attractive community that can support invaluable local businesses and other economic development,

The unique characteristics of place may be the only truly defensible source of competitive advantage in a world where people can choose to live or work almost anywhere.

Edward McMahon, Urban Land Institute and author, A Proven Economic Strategy

but it also reduces the cost-of-service impact on the local government. Sprawling infrastructure is expensive to service. 50 Concentrated development is far more fiscally prudent. A University of Georgia study has shown that reducing the size of a development decreases the cost of service for the local government.51

In addition, residential-only development, particularly sprawling single-family neighborhoods, are expensive to service, and they generally cost more in services than they produce in local taxes. Meanwhile, the open space outside of downtown — farms, timberland, and conservation lands — requires far less infrastructure and fewer community services.52 Residential land uses cost more to service than they return, while commercial and agricultural uses, including timber, return more than they cost. The net gain is almost always more for the area to be conserved than for it to be developed into housing units. Simply put, open conservation spaces may generate less tax revenue, but they also cost taxpayers far less.53 Therefore, strategies to grow the tax base that rely on land development for residential use are not likely to be successful.

To improve a rural community’s fiscal condition, planning should emphasize conserving timber and farmlands along with promoting commercial development in conjunction with thoughtful residential development. In addition, new development needs to be directed toward areas that minimize the long-term costs of

maintaining and servicing that development (not just the cost of installing it); in most cases, this means directing development to the traditional, downtown core. In these areas, community services and infrastructure such as roads, water, and sewers already exist. The goal should be to maximize development in areas that already have infrastructure and to minimize extensions. This strategy will minimize long-term costs.

Fortunately, many of the communities in the study area have traditional downtowns and adjacent neighborhoods that reflect the kind of concentrated development that makes smart, fiscal sense. Repeatedly during focus groups and interviews, residents emphasized that the rural character and smalltown sense of community and place mattered greatly to them. Investing in these areas builds upon a historic legacy of rural, downtown life that the people who live there highly value. And, done thoughtfully, this type of investment can attract younger populations and talented entrepreneurs to the community.

In addition to being good for communities, concentrated development in the traditional, small-town footprint also furthers Fort Moore’s compatible use goals. The following sections of this report focus on doable, practical steps each of the communities can take to revitalize their downtowns, directing development in a way that reduces the fiscal burden on local government while also creating a stronger sense of place.

This graphic illustrates the cost of community services per dollar gained from each type of land-use. Residential land uses cost more to service than they return, while commercial and agricultural uses, including timber, return more than they cost. The net gain is almost always more for the area to be conserved than for it to be developed into housing units. Simply put, open conservation spaces may generate less tax revenue, but they also cost taxpayers far less. Therefore, strategies to grow the tax base that rely on land development for residential use are not likely to be successful.

Source: Graphic adapted from the American Farmland Trust and the USDANatural Resources Conservation Service

2Infrastructure Investments Are Needed to Promote Compatible Development.

Roads, water, sewer, broadband, and electricity undergird the economy and the fabric of modern life. For many rural communities, however, upgrading and maintaining these assets is beyond their fiscal capacity.54 They also often need assistance with basic capital planning, managing assets, adhering to implementation plans, and applying for federal and state funding opportunities. The 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included funding for infrastructure investment not seen in generations. Without planning and support, the rural communities in this study area could miss out on important opportunities to access this funding for infrastructure projects. At the same time, development patterns affect the livability of our communities, and local decisions about infrastructure siting and investment often drive where development does or does not occur.55 Poor infrastructure planning is a leading driver of urban, suburban, and rural sprawl. Haphazard, low-development density that spirals through a landscape fragments habitat, decreases community cohesion, and increases infrastructure and community services costs.56 Meanwhile, in the very areas where we want to see development — the downtown core — infrastructure is aging and not functioning well, creating real barriers to supporting a thriving downtown.

This section identifies the major areas of infrastructure investment critical to rural economic development in the Fort Moore region.

Meeting compatible use goals requires concerted investment in infrastructure that supports concentrated development in the downtown core.

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Strong water and wastewater infrastructure is critical to commerce and rural quality of life.57 Residents of Marion County and the city of Buena Vista understand this better than anyone as they have faced a series of issues related to its water and sewer systems. As recently as 2022, for example, residents found themselves without water for hours — and sometimes days — because of leaks in the system.58 An elementary school had to send students home early due to a boil-water advisory. Fortunately, funding has been secured to begin to address some of the community’s challenges. In 2021, the city determined that water drawn from its existing well for its drinking water treatment plant contained amounts of radium exceeding allowable limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency.59 In 2022, the River Valley Regional Commission secured almost $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funding to drill a new well and upgrade equipment. The city is working to address its sewer infrastructure as well. In 2021, Buena Vista received a $2.5 million loan and a $6 million grant to help finance a replacement sewage treatment plant. These and future investments in water and wastewater infrastructure are critical to the city’s ability to serve its residents as well as attract visitors and businesses to its downtown. Thus, meeting compatible use goals requires more than traditional regulatory approaches: it requires concerted investment in infrastructure that supports concentrated development in the downtown core.

Transportation and Roads

In Georgia, traveling by car or truck on county roads is the primary way people and goods move throughout the community. Rural roads also play an important role in the broader state and national transportation systems. They are essential for transporting agricultural, mining, and forestry commodities. And, they often connect commercial and tractortrailer trucks to state and federal road networks. Rural areas face a number of challenges, however, in keeping their roads safe and in good condition.62 While urban areas have more traffic and road networkrelated costs, they also are located in areas with stronger tax bases to fund needed improvements.

The RVCCD planning and engagement process highlighted how critical improving transportation safety and connectivity is to the region. For example, the city of Lumpkin has a strong need for downtown pedestrian safety in the heart of the community. In recent years, increased numbers of tractor-trailer trucks have been driving through downtown on GA27.An elderly couple lost their lives downtown after being hit by a tractor-trailer. The Lumpkin Downtown Streetscape Plan, outlined in more detail later in this document, includes designs focused on encouraging safer vehicular speeds, creating accessible pedestrian walkways and destinations, and improving downtown commercial streets through more efficient on-street parking.

The city of Buena Vista is similarly focused on improving its downtown core by starting with transportation. Following the approval of a regional

As cities like Buena Vista, Lumpkin, and others plan major downtown renovations, they will need to leverage all available funding tools to support water and sewer system repairs and upgrades to support additional development. Infrastructure capacity is an essential element for economic development around a historic downtown core. Encouraging denser development in these areas through increased infrastructure capacity will lessen pressure for development in areas prioritized for conservation and limit long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.

$665 million T-SPLOST proposal, Buena Vista is poised to invest over $2 million in local proceeds to improve infrastructure around the courthouse square. The designs developed for Buena Vista reflect the community’s vision of an active and attractive downtown streetscape, with new sidewalks and street trees, relocated utility lines, and other elements that welcome visitors downtown. Indeed, all the designs created for the study-area communities reflect the core goals of making downtowns more attractive and pleasant, while providing better parking and a safer environment for pedestrians. Investment in downtown transportation infrastructure such as streetscaping, beautification, and pedestrian safety is one key to drawing development to the downtown core, stimulating economic development in a way that promotes uses compatible with Fort Moore.

Broadband

In our modern internet-enabled era, fast and reliable broadband has become essential to business, education, health care, agriculture, and overall quality of life. Broadband is particularly important for small businesses that rely on online platforms for sales or social media for advertising and promotion. It is also critical to support remote workers, who now have the freedom to locate in smaller, more rural areas. In addition, school children need an internet connection at home to receive assignments or attend school remotely. Unfortunately, high-speed internet is inaccessible to many in the RVCCD project area. This is yet another factor that encourages out-migration and hinders small business growth. Communities in the study area recognized the importance of broadband access, with the Cusseta-Chattahoochee Comprehensive Plan identifying internet improvements as the community’s number one need.60

Recognizing the importance of making broadband available to all Georgians, in 2018 the Georgia General Assembly passed the Achieving

Connectivity Everywhere (ACE) Act. Among other things, the act created the Georgia Broadband Initiative,c which calls for the promotion and deployment of broadband services throughout the state to unserved areas, with a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. A groundbreaking map created by the UGA Carl Institute of Government shows the extent of current broadband service and informs the strategic deployment of resources to expand access.61

Buena Vista is currently the only city in the region with access to high-speed internet, and Marion County has received the state’s Broadband Ready designation. These steps open the way for greater development in these areas. Other communities in the region are also working to enhance broadband access. As more state and federal resources become available, UGA and the RVCCD team will be available to help these communities access those opportunities to promote a compatible style of economic development in this region.

c More information about the Georgia Broadband Initiative is available at: https://broadband.georgia.gov/

https://opb.georgia.gov/capital-projects-fund

This map portrays broadband statistics for the State of Georgia. Statistics are available by census block, county and legislative boundary. The Impacted Blocks indicate where the served status of addresses/locations has been impacted by data made available after map publication. The Capital Project Fund (CPF) locations represent Round I of awarded CPF grants. More information about this program can be found at the OPB Capital Projects Fund website:

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The exponential growth of e-mobility in Georgia reflects a transformation for our economy, environment, and citizens not seen in generations. Georgia currently leads the nation with anticipated electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing jobs, becoming the heart of what the Wall Street Journal describes as America’s new “battery belt.”63 Now, the state is leading efforts to build out a charging network to meet demand. Rural communities across the state see providing EV charging as way to be part of this statewide connectivity — and, crucially, as a way to bring economic development to their communities.64

Installing charging stations could quite literally put the communities in this region on the map, as EV drivers often rely on maps such as ChargeHub, PlugShare, and OpenChargeMap to find places to charge. Meanwhile, having EV charging in these rural areas will also further support Fort Moore’s resiliency goals, as it is currently transitioning its nontactical fleet to EVs. As personnel from Fort Moore travel across the landscape, finding places to charge outside of the installation will be critical. For these reasons, the design renderings for the RVCCD communities incorporate EV charging into the cities’ downtown planning.

The RVCCD planning team has also assisted local leaders and staff with finding resources to support public EV charging, setting the stage for engagement with local electric membership corporations (EMCs) like Flint Energies and the state’s largest electric utility, Georgia Power. Again, investing in infrastructure that brings visitors downtown is a primary way to further compatible use goals, and EV charging is yet another opportunity to find a “win-win” approach that supports local economic development and Fort Moore’s mission.

DEFENSE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROGRAM: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

The Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot (DCIP) program provides grant funding to assist state and local governments and not-for-profit, member-owned utilities in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. For this DOD grant program, “community infrastructure” includes projects related to transportation; schools; hospitals; police, fire, or emergency response, or other community support facilities; and utility projects, which include water, wastewater, telecommunications, and electric and natural gas facilities. The program has the following eligibility requirements:

• Projects must be on land located off of a military installation or on property under the jurisdiction of a secretary of a military department that is subject to a real estate agreement allowing the project or facility to be located on military property (including a lease or easement).

• Projects must support a military installation.

• The infrastructure must be owned by a state, local government, or a not-for-profit, member-owned utility service.

• Projects must be endorsed by the installation commander representing the installation benefitting from the proposed project.

• Ground-disturbing work must not yet have commenced.

• Projects must be construction-ready.

Given the infrastructure needs in the RVCCD area, a strong opportunity exists for communities to apply for and receive DCIP funding.

Compatible Development Can Align with Rural Economic Development.

The River Valley Region is unique with distinct communities, culture, and natural resources. The region’s social and environmental attributes have fueled economic boom times in the past. Outside of Columbus, the cities of Talbotton, Buena Vista, and Lumpkin, for example, boast beautiful historic courthouse squares. Other smaller towns like Omaha and Tazewell once had thriving communities, too. People came for the natural resources the land provided; they came for the river, and they came for the special communities located there. Times have changed, but these attributes remain valuable and can serve as the basis for future prosperity. Opportunities exist for creating new jobs, economic development, and tax revenue in a way that preserves and leverages the area’s rural character based around three pillars:

•Outdoor Recreation

•Tourism

•Arts and Artisans

Columbus is already capitalizing on a vibrant and growing outdoor recreation and tourism industry based around the river, bike trails, and other opportunities. The city is increasingly involving the arts, artisans, food, and music in its plans. Many in the RVCCD region see the opportunity to build on Columbus’s growing reputation as an outdoor recreation destination by developing more ways to engage hunters that come to the region, capitalize on history and cultural tourism,

promote local artists and musicians, and market local craftspeople such as woodworkers, brewers, and distillers.

The economic feasibility study conducted by UGA researchers for this project found that tourism is a significant contributor of wealth and jobs that can also foster compatible land uses for the areas around Fort Moore while also celebrating the rich cultural and natural history of the region. The region’s natural resources already support local rural economies and quality of life, but the opportunity exists to leverage these resources further. Outdoor recreation is one of Georgia’s strongest economic forces, driving $27.3 billion in consumer spending and $12.4 billion in value-added greenspaces annually and producing 238,000 directly-related jobs.

During each of the last five years, visitation at Georgia State Parks has increased — up 36.72% from 2017 to 2021. A 2021 survey found that the majority of Georgia residents (53%) participated in relaxing, indulging, health, and indulging-related travel activities during their recreation and leisure trips, with nature activities (50.7%) and touring (45.6%) following closely behind. Meanwhile, tourism in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area (MSA) produces more than $1.1 billion in total economic output annually. Muscogee County captures 90% of that output, despite the large numbers of visitors that travel to destinations such as Providence Canyon and Pasaquan in these rural counties.

Photo Credits: Corepics Vof | Dreamstime

Research conducted by the UGA team as part of this project found that the rural counties surrounding Columbus have the strong potential to tap into the tourism economy by showcasing their natural and cultural resources, increasing that nature-based tourism percentage for the area (see Appendix A for the full report). With collaboration and planning, the region could further capitalize on Columbus’s reputation as a hub for tourism, increasing prosperity for the entire region.

Ongoing leadership development and support is crucial for robust rural economic development. From dedicated public servants to local business owners, a number of passionate and committed people are already contributing their time and skills to bring economic vibrancy to their communities. As part of this process, local leaders in Marion County were motivated to reinitiate their county development authority in order to have a designated body that can further the goals and vision emerging from this planning effort. With help from the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the reconstituted Marion County Development Authority was able to quickly access support to revise its incorporation documents and receive the required training. This kind of direct assistance is part of the long-lasting commitment the RVCCD partners are making in this region with the support of the RVRC, UGA, DOD, and Fort Moore.

A Regional Approach Leverages Opportunities for Drawing Visitors to the Landscape.

The unique and valuable landscape surrounding the rural communities in this study is a shared resource — one that, if viewed collectively, reflects their foundational rural character and offers a potential economic development opportunity for increased tourism and outdoor recreation in the area. All of the communities in the study area have natural resources and small-town character that, when packaged together, could become a destination route for visitors. The potential and need for regional collaboration are described more fully later in the “Regional Vision” section.

The Georgia Council for the Arts awarded over $4,000 to the Stewart County Historical Commission to paint a mural in Lumpkin, Georgia. Annie Moye organized a fundraiser to support matching funds, and the final mural was painted by Christopher Johnson, an Andrew College art professor who has painted multiple murals in the region.

COMMUNITY VISIONS

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR 21STCENTURY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As noted earlier, highlighting a place’s unique characteristics is essential to place-based 21-century economic development. Historic downtowns across the rural South offer great opportunities to capitalize on this growing development trend. Steeped in local culture and history, they are increasingly destinations for young families deterred by congestion and home prices in more urban areas, those who want a slower pace of life, and visitors looking to experience something unique, authentic, and local.

Downtown redevelopment that fosters local creativity and businesses is the best way to promote growth and prosperity for Georgia’s rural areas. Planning for future economic growth centered on these historic downtowns encourages these communities to build on their best and most distinctive assets. Additionally, this type of growth values the landscape and natural resources crucial to this region.

Emphasizing historic downtown development accentuates the distinctive and marketable assets of these rural Southern communities. This type of growth also allows these communities to preserve the character and qualities that make them special and worthy of saving in the first place. Safeguarding local spirit was the first concern of the steering committees and most residents who engaged in this process. Many other models of economic development focus

on attracting large employers whose presence forever changes the local landscape and creates a new urban or suburban-style community, which would dramatically change the area’s rural character.

Fortunately, the desire expressed by residents throughout the public engagement portions of this project aligns with Fort Moore’s interest in seeing concentrated development. This approach to development preserves the landscape, natural resources, and other environmental features that are critical to sustaining operations at Fort Moore. As part of this process, the RVCCD planning team worked with leaders in the rural downtowns to identify opportunities to make these areas more attractive to residents and visitors.

The following sections highlight some of these opportunities in downtowns across the River Valley Region. For some of these designs, such as those in Buena Vista and Lumpkin, initial funding has already been secured for implementation. While these designs focus on the visible and seemingly superficial elements of the downtowns, the implementation strategies that accompany them recognize the importance of tying these renovations to the expansion or redevelopment of core infrastructure, such as water, sewer, and broadband. A great deal of work remains to be done to ensure these communities can support the type of growth they need.

Vision for the City of Buena Vista and Marion County

VISION FOR THE CITY OF

Buena Vista and Marion County

The municipal leadership in Buena Vista chose to focus on two main items: (1) restoring and preserving their downtown square, streetscape, and park infrastructure, and (2) highlighting the community value of the Marion County Courthouse as a centerpiece of revitalization efforts. These priorities put into action the community’s vision for a lively, entertaining community hub that offers expanded shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreation options. These amenities are aimed at making Buena Vista and Marion County a better place to live for its existing residents and more attractive to visitors to boost the local tourism economy. The designs and plans that follow outline concepts to revitalize the downtown.

A variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities exist within the historic downtown square, with event space at Moon Family Theater and one-of-a-kind experiences at Swamp Fox Distilling Company. Additionally, the city contains multiple civic spaces. Working with Downtown Renaissance Fellow Franco Conocchiari-Scherer and design professionals from the RVCCD team, community leaders outlined local priorities, including improving streetscaping, developing a more accessible community park, and assisting downtown business owners with façade renovations. More details about these concepts are available in the report published for the Renaissance Fellowship, which can be found at this link: issuu.com/rsvpstudio/docs/buenavista2022

Downtown streets currently emphasize vehicular travel. Opportunities therefore exist to improve safety by expanding sidewalks, adding safe pedestrian crossings, and making other accessibility improvements to help establish a more walkable and attractive downtown. The desire to concentrate development close to the city center could be addressed by creating a more central community park. Many commercial properties around the courthouse square would benefit from beautification and

updating, which could boost tourism and encourage economic growth.

As Buena Vista looks ahead to grow the local economy, local leaders have not forgotten to look down. A community’s streets and sidewalks help make the first impression of the community for visitors and residents. Buena Vista is known for being the commercial center of Marion County and the meeting point of multiple state highway routes. Commercial trucks and through-traffic continually pass through the heart of downtown. While creating a source of business, this traffic volume also comes with challenges, including heavy truck traffi c, dangerous speeding, unsafe pedestrian crossings, and unorganized parking opportunities. Citizens see these conditions as issues that must be addressed to grow downtown, support local businesses, and create the active local destination desired by residents. The following designs focus on encouraging safer vehicular speeds, creating accessible pedestrian walkways and destinations, and improving downtown commercial streets through more efficient on-street parking.

The plan for downtown Buena Vista extends attractive streetscaping elements throughout the area. Expanded sidewalks throughout

the historic square area improve pedestrian safety and could encourage additional outdoor seating and other uses. Large-canopy street trees shown throughout the plan bring muchneeded shade and enhance the appearance of the area. Formalized on-street parking throughout the square ensures easy accessibility for business patrons.

Proposed Streetscape Plan

Flint Energies funded this mural in Buena Vista, Georgia, painted by Christopher Johnson.

BUENA VISTA

PROPOSED STREETSCAPE PLAN: The improvements to McDuffie Street create a more pedestrian-friendly experience in downtown Buena Vista. The streetscape plan shows a new sidewalk encircling the courthouse square, bump-outs with large-canopy street trees, formalized on-street angled parking, EV charging spaces, RV parking, new crosswalks, and expanded sidewalks. Together, these improvements make exploring downtown safer and more inviting for pedestrians.

MCDUFFIE STREET

EXISTING: McDuffie Street in downtown Buena Vista features a wide paved area with limited street trees and shade.

PROPOSED: The improvements to McDuffie Street create a more pedestrianfriendly experience in downtown Buena Vista. This concept shows the road resurfaced with fresh crosswalk striping and new parking lines. The new angled parking spaces include EV chargers to promote regional tourism. Landscaped bump-outs adjacent to angled parking spaces slow traffic and offer space for new street trees like willow oaks or laurel oaks that would provide shade to the road and sidewalk. On the east side of the street, wider sidewalks allow room for businesses to have outdoor tables and more street trees in tree grates. An expanded central median planted with native grasses also calms traffic and allows for safe crossing at the busy 6th Avenue intersection.

MARION DRUG BUILDING

EXISTING: The façade of the historic Marion Drug Building features a lot of worn paint and mismatched colors. A safety door on the second-floor hints at what was once a balcony.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows an updated and more cohesive color scheme that echoes the iconic Marion Drug Coca-Cola sign on the side of the building. A balcony has been reinstalled to take full advantage of second-floor rental potential. Expanded outdoor seating space under the balcony and street trees makes the site more comfortable for patrons as well.

Streets and sidewalks help make the first impression of the community for visitors and residents.

EXAMPLE: PARK DEVELOPMENT

JOSH GIBSON COMMUNITY PARK

Buena Vista leaders requested design assistance to plan a more accessible community park. The proposed park design detailed here was inspired by the idea of the Southern front porch, a place that brings neighbors together in the heart of the community. The bold colors and geometric forms found at nearby Pasaquan informed the look of elements within the park, including paving patterns, play structures, and other site elements. This proposed community park, named in honor of baseball legend and Buena Vista native Josh Gibson, could include a dedicated space for physical activity within convenient walking distance of downtown. Park elements, such as a splash pad, playground, basketball court, and walking trails, could bring much-needed recreation options to the community.

PROGRAMMING ELEMENTS

The park proposed by city leaders includes a variety of programming elements:

• Splash pad where children can play and cool off in the summer

• Play area with opportunities for intergenerational play

• Putting green, which can double as lawn/greenspace when not in use

• Basketball court for recreation and as a public art and community-building opportunity

• Pavilions to provide shaded gathering spots

• Walking trail that connects to the existing sidewalk network

• Stage for community events

• Restrooms for park users and those visiting downtown

The proposed community park is named in honor of baseball legend and Buena Vista native Josh Gibson.

Streets and sidewalks help make the first impression of the community for visitors and residents.

Existing

EXISTING: This image shows the property proposed for a new community park. The many mature trees in place provide shade, and the relatively flat topography is ideal for many planned amenities.

PROPOSED: This design concept shows the vacant lot transformed into an active community destination. New on-street parking and sidewalks along 7th Avenue ensure access to the park. Elements shown include a restroom facility, splash pad, playground area, and flexible putting green.

Proposed

Vision for the Cities of Butler and Reynolds and for Taylor County

VISION FOR THE CITIES OF

Butler and Reynolds and for Taylor County

The cities of Butler and Reynolds are already investing in their historic downtowns as centers of development and community life in Taylor County. These downtowns boast improved infrastructure, enhanced streetscapes, downtown murals, and other amenities that make them attractive hubs of local activity. They feature restaurants, shops, offices, and other small businesses of the type that make rural communities thriving and vibrant. To promote these efforts and help Butler, Reynolds, and Taylor County build on their success, the following additional proposed improvements are designed to enhance their existing downtown character.

The cities of Butler and Reynolds are already investing in their historic downtowns as centers of development and community life in Taylor County.

Transforming underutilized striped paving into landscaped beds and bump-outs can impact downtown.

BUTLER STREETSCAPE PLAN

Butler’s downtown square sits at the convergence of several highways. These intersections create a confusing traffic pattern with significantly oversized paving. This conceptual plan shows potential improvements to the streetscape in downtown Butler. This design shows the impact of transforming underutilized striped paving into landscaped beds and bump-outs. Sidewalks are also shown expanded where feasible, with oversized paving reduced and parking reorganized along Ivy Street for a more pedestrian-friendly corridor.

Existing, Butler Courtyard

Proposed, Butler Courtyard

Existing, Main Street

Proposed, Main Street

Existing, Ivy Street

Proposed, Ivy Street

BUTLER COURTYARD

EXISTING: This vacant space between two restaurants in downtown Butler could be programmed to enhance these local businesses.

PROPOSED: This concept shows the same space transformed into an attractive dining courtyard with string lights, Chinese elm trees, and an inviting new mural.

MAIN STREET

EXISTING: This photo shows existing conditions of Main Street in downtown Butler, including an attractive new mural.

PROPOSED: Incorporating large bump-outs at corners reduces pedestrian crossing distances, removes unnecessary paving, and creates spaces for attractive large-canopy street trees. These trees frame the beautiful new mural downtown and add much-needed shade to the area. A proposed EV charging station at the corner could give drivers passing through a chance to recharge while enjoying downtown restaurants and shopping.

IVY STREET

EXISTING: This photo shows existing conditions at Ivy Street on the eastern side of the courthouse square in downtown Butler.

PROPOSED: This design concept shows new sidewalks and bump-outs along Ivy Street in downtown Butler. Features like large sidewalks, formalized on-street parking, and landscaped bump-outs with large trees could easily be incorporated within the large paved right-of-way. These features make exploring downtown on foot safer and more enjoyable and invite motorists driving through the area to stop and enjoy downtown businesses and restaurants. This design includes a convenient corner EV charging station at the new downtown mural.

REYNOLDS STREETSCAPE PLAN

Downtown Reynolds is located at the intersection of two large highways. Several unused paved areas along these corridors and secondary streets could be converted to bump-outs to make traveling through downtown on foot safer and more enjoyable. This concept plan adds both large-canopy and smaller ornamental street trees to screen parking areas and create welcoming cover and shade.

Efforts are underway to extend the Flint River Water Trail (fl intriverwatertrail.com) from Spalding County down to Lake Seminole, which includes Talbot and Taylor counties.

Existing

Improving the experience of visiting downtown.

REYNOLDS FAÇADES

EXISTING: In downtown Reynolds, this existing façade and streetscape features underused buildings, stunted street trees, and a lack of shade.

PROPOSED: Adding large-canopy street trees, an EV charging station, and patio seating could improve the experience of visiting downtown. The repainted façades shown include new upper-story windows and refurbished storefronts.

Proposed

EV WELCOME CENTERS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR REVITALIZATION AND TOURISM

Georgia is leading the nation with anticipated EV manufacturing jobs and is at the forefront of efforts to build out the charging network. Providing EV charging is one way rural communities are seeking to bring travelers to their communities. For this region, creating welcome centers with EV charging stations in each community would be a way to not only provide charging but also encourage those passing through to learn about the community, buy local products, use a clean restroom, and stroll through downtown.

The proposed welcome centers in this plan exemplify this concept. Throughout the region, a number of abandoned gas stations sit unused, likely because of perceived environmental contamination. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s brownfields program provides funding support to assess and redevelop brownfield sites. In recent years, the agency has been encouraging, through funding priorities, the redevelopment of these sites into EV charging stations. Thus, communities have the opportunity to retain the nostalgic charm of old gas stations while also projecting a 21st-century sensibility and bringing EV drivers downtown. This plan embraces this trend by envisioning abandoned gas stations throughout the study region transformed into welcome centers, with EV and e-bike charging stations.

Improving the experience of visiting downtown.

WELCOME CENTER

EXISTING: This prominent corner in the heart of Reynolds is currently a vacant expanse of concrete. The sidewalks surrounding the site are relatively new, with a new crossing bump-out. As a former gas station, this site could be eligible for brownfield certification and funding opportunities.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows a potential shipping container welcome center with EV charging and e-bike rental. Green space is added within the site, along with street trees for shade.

CH A RGING ST ATIO N

EXISTING: The attractive headquarters of Flint Energies occupies a prominent location along GA-540 in downtown Reynolds

PROPOSED: The Flint Energies headquarters could be an appropriate location for two prominent EV charging spots in the front parking area.

Vision for CussetaChattahoochee County

VISION FOR THE COUNTY

Cusseta-Chattahoochee

Cusseta–Chattahoochee County is a unified city-county government located directly south of Fort Moore, and it is the community most closely associated with Fort Moore. Approximately 80% of its land area is within the Fort Moore boundary, and 80% of the residents recorded by the US Census live on the installation. The area’s history is closely tied to the installation, and much of the housing in the area, primarily mobile homes, was developed as off-post residences for Army personnel. Cusseta, at the center of the community, features excellent

community parks, highly ranked schools, and a large regional park facility at River Bend Park on the Chattahoochee River. However, Cusseta lacks a traditional downtown or any central commercial areas like those found in the surrounding rural communities. In addition, Cusseta sits at the intersection of US Highway 27 and US 280, placing it along a major transportation corridor. Highway 280 is the only major road that goes through Fort Moore, which means that a large volume of north–south traffic passes through this area.

Being located at the crossroads of two major highways gives Cusseta–Chattahoochee County a number of advantages that support compatible development. Development proposals here differ from those for the other communities in the River Valley Region and focus on linking Cusseta–Chattahoochee County to adjacent communities, including Fort Moore, by connecting it to the regional trail network, expanding housing options, and encouraging a style of highway development that promotes compatible use.

CREATING A HIGHWAY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

The section “Community Connections: Corridor Development Best Practices” outlined on page 117 of this document proposes some general principles to minimize the negative impacts of development, particularly suburban highway development. Creating a guidance document that encourages and incentivizes

best practices in compatible development would be of particular value to Cusseta–Chattahoochee County. With its position on a major thoroughfare and its lack of a downtown center, Cusseta–Chattahoochee County is under increased pressure to develop along the highway. However, the practices

discussed in chapter 6 can help minimize the negative impacts of that style of development and capture many of the benefits of traditional downtown development described throughout this document.

ACQUIRING FUNDING FOR A WASTEWATER FEASIBILITY STUDY

High-quality, affordable housing is a challenge in rural communities, and this is particularly true in Cusseta–Chattahoochee County. The majority of residences in this community are mobile homes, many of which are quite old. Additional housing types are needed, but

such an expansion is hindered by the lack of centralized wastewater treatment. Existing development is served by aging septic systems, which contribute to environmental challenges and make the existing housing stock less desirable. If Cusseta–Chattahoochee

County could acquire the resources needed to professionally evaluate its wastewater treatment options, it could take advantage of ongoing infrastructure funding opportunities to address this challenge.

WELCOME CENTER

EXISTING: This photo shows the existing conditions at the former Bay gas station across from the courthouse in Cusseta. The iconic sign still stands at the corner, creating a recognizable local landmark.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows the former service station repurposed as a welcome center. The welcome center features EV and e-bike charging stations and a station for e-bike rentals. The rendering shows the curb cut reduced, shortening the pedestrian crossing distance at the entrance to the parking area. Crosswalks are also shown, with the proposed rail-trail in the foreground.

Existing

The welcome center features EV and e-bike charging stations and a station for e-bike rentals.

Proposed

RAILSTOTRAILS

Existing

EXISTING: This abandoned rail line runs through the heart of downtown Cusseta in Chattahoochee County.

Proposed

PROPOSED: This former rail line connects many communities in the region and could become a regional rail-trail. This concept also includes attractive, low-maintenance Natchez crape myrtle street trees and an ADA-accessible curb ramp.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

CUSSETA RAILSTOTRAILS

This concept map shows the proposed rail-trail project (dotted yellow line) that would link downtown Cusseta with a potential agricultural center and multifamily development. A future regional trail expansion is shown in orange at the top.

Vision for the Cities of Lumpkin and Richland and for Stewart County

VISION FOR THE CITIES OF

Stewart County is one of the most visited places in the state, and it is home to perhaps the most recognizable location in West Georgia: Providence Canyon.

Lumpkin and Richland and for Stewart County

Stewart County is one of the most visited places in the state, and it is home to perhaps the most recognizable location in West Georgia: Providence Canyon. Annually, the canyon attracts an estimated 300,000+ visitors, who post countless photos of it on every social media platform. However, Stewart County has so much more to offer. While steadily busy and beloved by those who visit, Florence Marina is an underappreciated state park also in Stewart County. The county features two historic downtowns: Lumpkin, the county seat, and Richland, home of the acclaimed Richland Rum distillery. It also boasts Omaha Brewing, a local brewery and entertainment hotspot located in the unincorporated town of Omaha. It is in the process of expanding to include a winery. Flowing Well Park is a county-maintained recreation area that draws visitors from around the state despite its very minimal facilities and infrastructure. Locals and visitors swear by the quality of its artesian spring, and many travel great distances to collect its water.

The county steering committee emphasized the need to bring more attention to these underrecognized assets. The development plans proposed for Stewart County reflect this vision by seeking to capitalize on the visitors who are already coming to this area and the potential tourism economy they represent.

Bump-outs encourage drivers to slow down.

PROPOSED STREETSCAPE PLAN

This plan view shows the impact of incorporating landscaped bump-outs into streets in downtown Lumpkin. This plan adds 31 new medium- to large-canopy street trees and eight small-canopy ornamental trees around the courthouse square. Landscaped bump-outs like those shown help protect parked vehicles and pedestrians from vehicular traffic. Bump-outs also encourage drivers traveling through town to slow down. Just east of the Lumpkin Police Department, this concept shows a currently vacant publicly-owned property transformed into a corner park. The park could include elements like a splash pad, playground area, and basketball court.

LUMPKIN STREETSCAPE

EXISTING: This image shows existing conditions along MLK Jr. Drive just east of the Stewart County Courthouse.

PROPOSED: This image shows improvements, including fresh paving, landscaped bump-outs with ADA curb ramps, and a mix of small ornamental and large-canopy street trees.

WELCOME CENTER

EXISTING: This former gas station in downtown Lumpkin sits on a prominent corner lot. Currently, the building needs repainting, and the gas pump is no longer used. This area features limited shade and lacks crosswalks across Main Street.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows the former service station repurposed as a welcome center. The gas pump has been refurbished, and charging stations for EVs and e-bikes have been added, along with an e-bike rental station. A fresh paint job and murals of nearby Providence Canyon brighten up the existing building. Street trees bring shade to the sidewalks, and planted bump-outs help shorten the crossing distance across Main Street.

CORNER PARK

EXISTING: This vacant lot at the corner of Broad Street and Elm Street sits a block away from the courthouse square in downtown Lumpkin. This space currently serves as overflow parking for police vehicles. The highly visible, flat expanse of lawn could provide opportunities for recreation.

PROPOSED: This concept rendering shows the vacant lot transformed into a downtown park. Amenities include a splash pad, restrooms, a playground, picnic tables, and a basketball court. The foreground shows crosswalks and new sidewalks to encourage pedestrian access to the park. This corner was home to a blacksmith in the early 20th century, inspiring the name Blacksmith Park.

RICHLAND STREETSCAPE

This axonometric design shows improvements to the downtown Richland streetscape proposed by DCA.

This plan view shows the intersection of Wall Street and Broad Street in downtown Richland. Developed by DCA designers, this concept adds landscaped bump-outs and crosswalks to this intersection.

Created by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), this plan shows streetscaping improvements to downtown Richland.

This design concept helps illustrate improvements to the Richland streetscape, including large-canopy street trees, crosswalks with attractive pavers, and landscaped bump-outs.

WELCOME CENTER

RICHLAND WELCOME CENTER, EXISTING:

This site at the corner of Wall Street and Nicholson Street is currently home to a beautiful, though dilapidated, midcentury building. Formerly home to an auto mechanic shop, the site features far more paved area than necessary for other uses, and the curb cuts are excessive.

RICHLAND WELCOME CENTER, PROPOSED:

This rendering shows the building renovated as a welcome center with outdoor tables, EV charging stations, and e-bike rentals. The mural shown features artwork by local folk artist Floria Yancey. Curb cuts are minimized, with expanded beauty strips and Natchez crape myrtle trees for shade.

The mural shown below features artwork by local folk artist Floria Yancey.

DOWNTOWN FAÇADES

RICHLAND DCA FAÇADE RENDERING: This rendering created by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shows the façades on the north side of Broad Street near the intersection with Wall Street in downtown Richland. Improvements such as fresh paint, restored storefronts, and new awnings help transform these storefronts.

RICHLAND SOUTH BROAD STREET FAÇADES, EXISTING: This image shows the existing conditions of a prominent building located in downtown Richland, likely built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. It currently houses three separate storefronts. The façade is painted in multiple colors, the wood trim is in disrepair, and the largest storefront could use an update.

RICHLAND SOUTH BROAD STREET FAÇADES, PROPOSED: This image shows proposed alterations to this downtown Richland façade, including removing the paint on the upper half, restoring the wooden trim, and updating the storefronts. The rendering shows possible uses for the storefronts, including a boutique hotel, a bakery catering to both hotel patrons and the community, and a seed and feed store. The hotel signage shown is period-appropriate windowpainting, with additional signs painted on the brick above. This design includes an EV charging station in the heart of downtown Richland to better serve visitors to the nearby distillery and other regional destinations.

RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL

EXISTING: This former high school building has been vacant for many years. The property currently hosts a community garden on the opposite side of the building shown. The unique masonry is still in good shape and presents a great opportunity for renovation as a community center.

PROPOSED CLEANED UP: This rendering shows the existing building cleaned up, with restored windows and walkways.

PROPOSED MARKET: This concept shows a farmer’s market, which could showcase some of the items grown in the community garden on site.

PROPOSED WEDDING: In this rendering, the community center hosts an outdoor wedding reception. The front lawn is flat, providing an excellent space for events or even a temporary dance floor.

FLOWING WELL RECREATIONAL PARK

EXISTING: At Flowing Well Recreational Park in Stewart County, the artesian well site contains a picnic table, a trash can, and a potholed gravel parking area.

ARTESIAN WELLEXISTING: Currently, the artesian well is a plain concrete block surrounded by some grasses. The water that flows from the well pools at the base before evaporating or infiltrating back into the soil.

PROPOSED: This concept shows the gravel parking area retopped and edged with granite blocks. This design also shows the addition of a bench swing and a shade tree near the picnic table.

ARTESIAN WELLPROPOSED: This concept shows the well refurbished with a river rock veneer and pebbles lining the water collection area. This design shows runoff draining into a swale with river rocks to keep the gravel drive from getting muddy.

PROPOSED, OPTION II: This concept shows another option with a single-occupancy restroom, a few decorative shrubs, and cosmetic updates to the well.

PROVIDENCE CANYON STATE PARK

BIKE ENTRANCE, EXISTING AND PROPOSED: Creating a dedicated bike entry to Providence Canyon State Park could welcome regional visitors and ease congestion at the park’s existing parking area.

PROVIDENCE CANYON EV CHARGING

PROVIDENCE CANYON STATE PARK, EXISTING: This photo shows the existing conditions of the parking lot at Providence Canyon State Park. There are a few small signs, and the parking lines are faded.

PROVIDENCE CANYON STATE PARK, PROPOSED: This rendering includes a designated electric vehicle charging spot, e-bike rentals, and signage with directions for biking to nearby Florence Marina State Park.

FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK PLAYGROUND

EXISTING: This photo shows the existing play area at Florence Marina State Park. Next to the playground is a large, open expanse of lawn.

PROPOSED: This concept includes a nature-inspired splash pad with native boulders for seating, regionally appropriate trees, and shade structures.

PARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER

FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER, EXISTING: This photo shows the existing conditions of the Florence Marina Interpretive Center and parking lot at Florence Marina State Park. Visitors have worn away the grass near the steps, exposing the soil.

FLORENCE MARINA STATE PARK INTERPRETIVE CENTER, PROPOSED: This rendering shows proposed changes, including repaired turf, railings on the stairs, and an electric vehicle charging station.

CONNECTING THE PARKS

GEORGIA HIGHWAY 39/ CANYON ROAD, EXISTING: This photo shows the existing road between Providence Canyon and Florence Marina State Park. The roadside is eroded, and the rumble strip along the edges is inconsistent.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows a proposed two-way bike lane connecting the two parks. This concept includes dome reflectors to increase visibility and alert drivers if they get too close to the bike lane.

OMAHA BREWING COMPANY

EXISTING: Omaha Brewing Company is located conveniently near both Providence Canyon State Park and Florence Marina State Park. As part of a multi-use trail connectivity network, the parking area at Omaha Brewing could include an e-bike charging station. Visitors could rent e-bikes to explore the area, reducing parking pressure at the state parks and encouraging exploration of the region.

OMAHA BREWING, PROPOSED: This rendering shows a proposed e-bike charging station and a playful branded interactive alligator bicyclist cut-out. This concept also includes an electric vehicle charging station.

Vision for Phenix City and Russell County

VISION FOR PHENIX CITY

and for Russell County

In addition to being located in a different state, Russell County and Phenix City, Alabama, are unique when compared to other communities engaged in this project. With almost 60,000 residents, Phenix City–Russell County is several times larger in population than any other community involved in this project, though it is still far from being “urban.” Unlike some of its more rural neighbors, this area is growing. Instead of searching for a vision for how the community can spark economic development, development is already happening in Russell County and Phenix City. Nonetheless, the area faces the challenge of how to direct and manage that development so that it supports the long-term resilience and sustainability of the community and its largest employer, Fort Moore. Despite differences, the development strategy that emerged from the input and discussions with this community follows the models conceived by the other communities: focus on downtown, promote outdoor recreation, and build on local arts and culture to promote quality of life and foster tourism. The projects proposed seek to bring people into downtown by enhancing existing attractions, developing new ones, fostering new development, and building on existing partnerships like the one with Troy University.

This plan for 5th Avenue in Phenix City shows attractive streetscaping extended down the corridor from the downtown parking garage. This concept formalizes on-street parking, extends continuous sidewalks down 5th Avenue, marks potential locations for street trees, and highlights potential redevelopment sites.

Straightening 15th Street creates the potential for a multistory mixed-use development or housing for Troy University students.

POTENTIAL MIXED-USE INFILL DEVELOPMENT

TROY UNIVERSITY ARTS BUILDING

DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE

5TH AVENUE

EXISTING: This image shows existing conditions along 5th Avenue from the parking area of the Russell County Courthouse. This view shows large expanses of pavement, limited shade, and vacant buildings.

PROPOSED: Creating bump-outs and planting beds in existing parking areas could make downtown Phenix City more attractive and accessible for pedestrians. The bump-outs shown reduce pedestrian crossing distances and make exploring the area on foot safer. This image shows formalized on-street parking and sidewalks extended along 5th Avenue, connecting the growing area around the 14th Street pedestrian bridge with points north. The rendering shows the addition of a multistory, mixed-use infill development. A development like this could bring housing or other Troy University programming to the area.

Existing

TRAIL MAP

Proposed

This conceptual plan view shows the extension of the existing trails in Phenix City. From the Phenix City Amphitheater, this concept shows trails extended southward to the future replacement of Oglethorpe Bridge. Incorporating bike lanes on the future bridge would further connect the Phenix City and Columbus trail networks. Near the intersection with the bridge, an expanse of attractive publicly-owned property offers the opportunity for a public park and infill development complex. This concept also shows a bike lane extended northward along Broad Street to connect future development along the corridor with the heart of Phenix City.

OGLETHORPE BRIDGE

EXISTING: Oglethorpe Bridge connects southern Columbus with Phenix City. This bridge is slated for replacement over the next few years.

PROPOSED: Incorporating a protected multiuse trail along the new bridge could create an important new link between the Columbus and Phenix City trail networks.

TRAIL EXTENSION

EXISTING: This photo shows the exit ramp onto Broad Street Extension from Highway 280. This image illustrates conditions just across the Oglethorpe Bridge over the Chattahoochee, crossing into Alabama. There is currently no safe way for bicycles or pedestrians to cross the river in this area.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows a proposed multi-use trail extension along Broad Street. From this point, the trail could run alongside Highway 280, linking Columbus and Phenix City with a new alternative transportation route.

BROAD STREET TRAIL

EXISTING: This photo shows Broad Street Extension, just off Highway 280, heading toward downtown Phenix City. In an area without sidewalks, the informal footpath visible on the right indicates where pedestrians have been forced to walk along this corridor.

PROPOSED: This rendering shows the proposed multi-use trail continuing along Broad Street Extension toward downtown Phenix City.

Improving the experience of visiting downtown.

THE SUMMIT

EXISTING: Owned by the city, this vacant site located between Broad Street and Brickyard Road features expansive views of Columbus and the Chattahoochee River to the east.

PROPOSED: The roughly 22 acres of city-owned property between 6th Street and Highway 280 could include a mix of redevelopment and public parks. This concept shows an attractive new infill development on site to take advantage of sweeping views to the east. This compact development could bring new housing options and activity to proposed trails nearby.

Vision for the City of Talbotton and Talbot County

TALBOTTON PLAN VIEW: This conceptual plan shows improvements like landscaped bump-outs and new crosswalks to enhance accessibility in downtown Talbotton. Incorporating bump-outs where feasible could create new areas for street trees, reduce crossing distances, and make exploring the area on foot safer and more enjoyable.

VISION FOR THE CITY OF

The Historic Zion Episcopal Church is a cultural gem that can be a centerpiece of a larger development strategy that highlights the cultural, artistic, and musical history of this community.

Talbotton and Talbot County

Talbot County and the city of Talbotton were once an agricultural center for the region. The years after the Trail of Tears saw rapid economic growth based on cotton production, peaches, and livestock. Talbot County grew to be one of the wealthiest counties in the state before the arrival of the boll weevil in the 1920s. This history has left the community with a bounty of historic homes and buildings. What remains of its downtown square offers tremendous promise. The Historic Zion Episcopal Church, which is featured in the Regional Vision chapter (page 149) of this document, is a cultural gem that can be a centerpiece of a larger development strategy that highlights the cultural, artistic, and musical history of this community. The projects proposed for this community focus on developing the downtown square as the key to reinvigorating energy around these elements and drawing much-deserved attention back to Talbot County.

CITY HALL

TALBOTTON CITY HALL, EXISTING: This photo shows existing conditions at Talbotton City Hall. This historic civic building needs maintenance attention.

PROPOSED: This proposed concept includes elements that highlight the historic charm of Talbotton City Hall, including arched windows, French doors, and more. This concept replaces small-canopy ornamental trees with largercanopy street trees for shade. A convenient EV charging station could encourage more regional visitors to stop and explore the downtown area.

WELCOME CENTER

TALBOTTON WELCOME

CENTER, EXISTING: This vacant service station near downtown Talbotton could be repurposed for community needs.

PROPOSED: This design shows a welcome center in an underutilized former gas station near downtown Talbotton. Elements like the EV charging stations and electric bike rental shown are intended to link Talbotton with the surrounding region and encourage visitors to explore the area.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT BEST PRACTICES

As development moves forward across the River Valley Region, local leaders should prioritize growth in the traditional downtown areas. Focusing on revitalizing downtowns could allow the communities surrounding Columbus to grow in a sustainable way. Concentrating growth in areas with existing infrastructure preserves the natural abundance of the region, expanding regional prosperity without sacrificing the critical mission of Fort Moore. Leveraging rural landscapes surrounding traditional downtown areas for recreation and agriculture — from kayaking and canoeing to biking, birding, backpacking, farming, hunting, and fishing — could also help grow local economies and preserve the unique cultural landscape of this corner of the South.

While some areas of the River Valley are now attracting development along major highways, strip corridor development directly competes with economic activity and growth in downtowns across the region. Irresponsible corridor development in the form of chaotic sprawl poses a direct risk to the mission of Fort Moore. This type of growth irrevocably alters the natural environment, destroys important habitat for critical plant and animal species, unsustainably extends infrastructure costs and service areas of

local governments, and destroys the sacred cultural landscapes that make the River Valley an inviting destination for regional tourism and recreation. While uncontrolled growth along corridor areas should be discouraged, such development is nearly certain to occur in communities across the region. The examples that follow illustrate potential interventions and easily implementable best practices to lessen the negative impacts of corridor development. Examples of proper night lighting, green stormwater infrastructure, connectivity between parking areas, and other best practices show how low-impact development could be incorporated as needed in areas with intense corridor development pressure.

The Highway 280 corridor in Cusseta–Chattahoochee County is developing rapidly. As an important link connecting growing Columbus and Fort Moore with surrounding communities, the Highway 280 corridor will continue to have high growth potential for the foreseeable future. Because of growth pressure along the corridor and potentially adverse impacts on the local environment, quality of life, and operations at Fort Moore, local leaders should prioritize planning for responsible, functional, and sustainable growth.

Light pollution generally refers to sky glow, the effect where the sky appears bright at night and stars are obscured. Many outdoor areas are very brightly lit at night, even when not being used. The result can be excess energy use and expenditure as well as the interruption of the activities of wildlife like migrating birds. Many nocturnal species avoid well-lit areas at night, which reduces the size of their viable habitat. Dark sky areas have also been shown to attract tourists interested in stargazing and to enhance the experience of those engaged in other recreation activities.65 Light pollution can also impact military training by interrupting night-vision exercises, something important so close to Fort Moore.

Many rural communities are choosing to reduce outdoor lighting at night. For example, New Hampshire encourages municipalities to reduce light pollution to help preserve “rural character” with clear, dark night skies. High star visibility is a tourist draw in many places, including Marfa, Texas.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DARK SKYFRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT

• Fully shielded outdoor lighting that only projects light downward can help mitigate light pollution and save energy. Many companies offer “dark sky” outdoor light fixtures. Look for lights that focus light only downward or have a shield over the top. The International Dark-Sky Association offers a “seal of approval” program, certifying fixtures that do not pollute the night sky with unwanted glare.

• Warm-colored lights (yellow, orange) are less intrusive to wildlife than cool-colored (white, blue) lights.

• If billboards are installed, they should be unlit or lit only from above with shielded fixtures. Digital billboards are not recommended.

• Businesses with outdoor lighting or signage should turn lights off when closed.

These lights in Old Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta are a good example of shielded, downcast outdoor lighting.

CURB CUTS AND SITE CONNECTIVITY

Curb cuts and entrances from the Highway 280 corridor should be minimized, and connectivity between parcels should be prioritized. Minimizing curb cuts creates safer conditions for both drivers and pedestrians, reducing the need to re-enter the main road. Many developments also include connection points for future projects to ensure connectivity.

BUFFERS

Buffers between the road and parking areas are necessary to create sufficient turning radii for vehicles entering and leaving businesses from the highway. Buffers also provide an opportunity for incorporating shade trees, decorative plantings, and signage. The buffer along Highway 280 is roughly 50 feet in front of existing businesses. A minimum 50-foot planted buffer is recommended for new construction. Buffers also provide an opportunity for on-site storm water management.

This development is a good example of connected parking lots. There is even a secondary road to eliminate the need to re-enter the highway. Image: Google Earth

Plants in a variety of shapes and heights create interest in this buffer planting. Image: Tamarack Landscaping

STORMWATER

The Georgia Storm Water Managemen t Manual offers comprehensive standards for any new development with 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface area or that disturbs the soil of one or more acres.66 Site design should reduce the amount of sur face runoff and preserve existing natural drainage and treatment systems. For example, existing streams should be protected rather than rerouted

Bioswales are often used to convey storm water. Bioswales slow the water and reduce its impact by allowing it to infiltrate into the ground before entering a drain. Typical swales, also called drainage ditches, are usually sur faced with tur f or rock. Bioswales are planted with species found in or near wetlands that can tolerate both wet and drier conditions. In addition to slowing water, reducing erosion, and filtering out contaminants to keep streams healthy, these plants can also add a point of visual interest.

Even a simple bioswale such as this one in an apartment parking lot can make a big difference in the runoff on a site. Image: University of Georgia, Public Service and Outreach

The pierced curb allows runoff to flow into this bioswale, which also acts as a tree well. Image: Portland, Oregon

TREES

Trees planted in clumps rather than evenly spaced along the road add interest, create habitat, and provide better shade. Var ying species and size can help make groupings more visually interesting. In parking lots, tree wells with shade trees are recommended roughly ever y 10 spaces. Adding trees around the perimeter of parking lots is also recommended where possible.

RECO MM ENDED S PE C IE S

• Laurel Oak, Quercus laurifolia for shade in parking lots

• Black Gum, Nyssa sylvatica for shade or autumn color

• Longleaf Pine, Pinus palustris for buffer plantings

• Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora for buffer plantings

• Loblolly Pine, Pinus taeda for buffer plantings

SIGNAGE

Unified signage can help extend the perception of a commercial area. Continuing the use of the same signage used in downtown Cusseta to the surrounding highway corridor could help visually link these areas.

The existing signage in Cusseta does a great job of announcing the beginning of downtown.

Cluster plantings of trees can often be found on golf courses. Image: King University

Image: Carl Vinson Institute of Government Spectrum Studio

REGIONAL VISION

CONNECTING PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

While the RVCCD planning effort was intended to assist the small rural communities in the River Valley Region, it quickly became clear that this effort needed a larger perspective to be successful. Fort Moore covers a huge area, with impacts across the landscape. The nature of the conservation efforts through the ACUB program highlight how the installation’s influence transcends local political boundaries. At the same time, this unique and valuable landscape is also a shared resource that the participating communities could utilize for their long-term economic prosperity. Addressing the impacts of these land acquisitions meant looking beyond individual communities and thinking about how the cities and counties could work together around shared goals to enhance their collective prospects.

Because the project’s focus was on the rural communities in the six-county study area, Columbus was not directly involved in this planning effort. The city is an essential part of any regional discussion, however, as it dominates the River Valley Region. Columbus is the third-biggest city in Georgia and a mid-sized city by national standards. With a population of more than 200,000 and a local gross domestic product of $16.5 billion, the lion’s share of people, jobs, and economic activity in this area are based in Columbus. Despite its relative size and importance, Columbus thrives

not alone but as part of the regional context, and it is necessarily linked to its neighbors, depending on them for labor, infrastructure connections, environmental services, and other support.

“Hub and spoke” is a mental model used to describe a wide variety of situations in which a central element is linked to multiple smaller nodes that contribute to it and/or draw from it in some way. This hub-and-spoke concept is increasingly being used to describe models for rural development in a variety of contexts.

A key function of any hub is to connect people, places, and organizations in ways that promote rural development. While a “hub” is defined as “the central or main part of something where there is most activity,” understanding its “spokes,” or outward linkages in the local and regional economy, is equally important for understanding their wider roles in rural development. The hub-and-spoke concept is applicable to many activities related to the diverse social, cultural, health and well-being, economic, technological, and environmental needs of rural places.67

Columbus as a hub for the River Valley Region

In terms of economic development, Columbus is an obvious hub to which the surrounding rural communities contribute and from which they can draw for their collective and shared benefi t.

During the public input portion of this project, communities repeatedly expressed the desire to preserve their rural character and leverage their natural resources; thus, viewing Columbus as a hub for a regional tourism initiative is an opportunity to advance local economic development. As part of this study, UGA researchers analyzed the tourism and outdoor recreation economies in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Appendix A contains this analysis. Columbus currently annually generates approximately $1.1 billion in tourism-based economic activity.68 Despite the numerous attractions and amenities in the surrounding landscape and nearby towns, very little of that makes it way out to the rural communities. Over 90% of that economic activity is contained in Columbus; approximately 5% goes to Harris County; and the RVCCD counties account for between 1.4% and 0.1% each.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of visitors are passing through this rural landscape every year, either to get to Columbus or Fort Moore, or to visit the numerous state parks, WMAs, and other attractions within the study area. In addition, thousands of hunters and anglers also travel to this region seasonally, and many thousand more visitors pass through on their way to nearby attractions such as Plains, Georgia, Callaway Gardens, Warm Springs, or Selma, Alabama. Currently, the region’s rural areas offer only a limited number of lodging, dining, and shopping establishments. These travelers represent an economic opportunity for the rural communities in this region, and developing more options for these visitors to shop, eat, stay overnight, or otherwise spend money in these communities can help spur future economic growth.

Understanding and inventorying existing assets is a critical first step in promoting rural tourism and economic development.69 Therefore, the UGA team compiled a list of the identifiable attractions across the RVCCD region, many of which are highlighted in the Community Profiles section earlier in this document. An interactive regional asset map is available on the project website at www.rivervalleyccd.com.

Developing and Leveraging a Regional Place Brand Strategy

I dentit y

The River Valley has a distinct regional identity that could be leveraged to create a place brand strategy to encourage tourism and economic development. The region offers a variety of authentic experiences, including outdoor recreation, local foods, craft beer and whiskey, art, music, and events. The city of Columbus and Fort Moore already draw people to this region. Through investing in a regional place brand strategy, however, the entire region could benefit from increased investment, tourism, and brand exposure.

Place branding is the idea that a place, a town, a city, or a region can be branded, much like a product, service, or business. “Successful place branding can put a neighborhood, city, or region firmly on the map, connect people and promote collaboration, boost residents’ and businesses’ sense of belonging and pride in an area, and guide the next phase in the place’s development.”70 A consistent theme heard throughout this process was the need to “tell the story” of the region’s rural character and natural resources. This plan recommends that the communities consider developing a regional place brand strategy as an important first step.

The River Valley consists of small destinations neighboring Columbus that, if they collaborated, could jointly market their tourism products, resources, and destinations.

The identity of the region can be used as a starting point to brand a region and differentiate it from others. In the regional branding process, the region becomes a product or brand and offers a “basket” of regional products and services. Regional branding is aimed at creating a more distinctive image or reputation, which helps to increase regional competitiveness. 71

With Columbus as the economic and retail hub for the region, the surrounding communities can benefit from a regional brand strategy by attracting tourists, industry, and new residents to the areas outside of Columbus and around Fort Moore. Ecotourism, agritourism, quaint small towns, public art, and cultural assets can be leveraged to draw investment to the more rural and underserved areas. Multiple local efforts related to branding and tourism have already been prepared for specific communities:

Creating a regional brand strategy can have many benefi ts:

• Increase the region’s exposure and brand recognition in the Southeast and nationally.

• Attract talent, businesses, jobs, visitors, and new residents.

• Create a consistent look and message among the region’s local governments and affiliated partners who work as a team.

• Increase community pride by having a marketable regional brand look and identity that residents want to buy and wear.

• Create a brand associated with the region’s assets, such as natural resources, recreation, arts and culture, shared history, or other attributes.

• Promote the region’s quality of life and personality.

• Promote the region’s downtowns and other local destinations.

• The Marion County Tourism Resource Team Report prepared by the Georgia Department of Economic Development

• Leveraging Public Investment in the Arts prepared by the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Georgia Municipal Association

• Taylor County Tourism Development Resource Team Report prepared by the Georgia Department of Economic Development

The participation of all stakeholders, including residents, is extremely important in branding a place. 72 Successful place branding efforts typically involve residents through a robust engagement process, with outcomes that encourage participants to identify favorably with a place and to become brand ambassadors rather than critics. Successful brand implementation requires a long-term strategy and the support of local individuals, organizations, businesses, and the government.

The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government recommends the following process to uncover place identities and create place branding strategies in regions, counties, and municipalities throughout Georgia. While private branding and marketing agencies may use different approaches, this process has been designed specifically for the public sector and encourages strong public input and stakeholder engagement. This process typically takes one to two years to complete.

By taking a regional approach to branding, the River Valley can package its regional assets, destinations, and offerings into a single marketing effort to attract and compete for target audiences.

O n e

Phase One: Uncovering a Regional Identity

During Phase One of the community branding process, a diverse group of local government officials and residents from the region come together in an inclusive process. Developing a participatory process between residents and their local governments is essential to building a strong place brand strategy.73 Ideally, a steering committee that represents various groups from the region would be established to oversee the branding process. If possible, the steering committee would include people with diverse backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and areas of expertise. Trained facilitators would lead focus groups and interviews, and an online perception survey would be administered to gain insight into the region’s assets, public perceptions, history, culture, future vision, and sense of place.

Phase One: Sample Questions

• Did you grow up in the River Valley Region? If so, what has kept you here?

• Did you move to the River Valley Region? What attracted you to the region? Where did you move from?

• What is the River Valley Region known for?

• What makes the River Valley Region unique?

• Why would someone visit the River Valley Region?

• What kind of personality does the River Valley Region have?

• Please list your favorite local events in the region.

• Who should the River Valley Region aim to attract?

• Are there any stories or memories about the River Valley Region you want to share?

Key Factors for Success

A regional approach to branding can be challenging. People tend to strongly identify with their local community as opposed to a region, and they have longstanding connections with their town or place. Despite these hurdles, regional branding can be beneficial to rural communities when a nearby hub exists. For the River Valley Region, Columbus and Fort Moore are clear hubs of economic activity.

In addition, regional brands work best when they are integrated into larger marketing efforts, such as state-level initiatives like Explore Georgia, Visit Florida, or Discover South Carolina.74 Each of these statewide initiatives drives visitors to distinct branded regions to disperse travelers and encourage potential visitors to explore areas off the beaten path. For the River Valley Region to be successful as a regional brand, it should partner with statewide marketing and tourism organizations.

Other steps that would help the branding team gather information in Phase One include asset identification and mapping; a market analysis; identifying target markets; housing studies; ESRI Tapestry Segmentation, which provides an overview of demographic and behavioral characteristics; and an understanding of local arts, culture, events, and traditions. Combined with public input, these sources help the branding team identify the region’s high-value brand position and develop a brand strategy that will differentiate the River Valley Region to attract target audiences.

Example of branding (photo credit: facebook.com/wandernorthga)

Photo Credit: Wander North Georgia

The following additional factors are important for the long-term success of a regional brand:

• Gaining local government support is critical to the success of a regional brand strategy. Regional brands work best when all city and county governments support the effort and agree to adopt a regional identity, sometimes in addition to their own individual city or county brands.

• Buy-in and support of regional and local organizations is also critical. All tourism-related organizations (including those engaged in destination marketing and agritourism) should be included in the regional branding effort. In the River Valley Region, Fort Moore, conservation groups, the arts community, outdoor recreation groups, and local destinations should also be included in the region’s brand development and implementation.

• A steering committee made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds representing the region should work together to lead brand development and guide the overall process.

• A neutral party, such as the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, can help facilitate public input and brand design.

• Public input and buy-in and public engagement are important to gain insight into the region’s identity and values and to create a democratic process through which local people have a voice in their own brand.

• Using storytelling and enlisting local people and stakeholders to share the stories of the River Valley Region are crucial to creating an authentic brand identity.

• A consistent, authentic, and marketable brand message and look should highlight the region’s assets with emotional appeal.

• High-quality design assets such as logos, supportive graphics, photography, video, and a brand style guide can be accessed by partner communities and used for promoting the region and individual communities.

• The region should appoint an entity or organization to lead the regional branding and marketing strategy and serve as a brand manager.

• A long-term sustainable regional brand implementation strategy must be capable of evolving and reacting to market changes.

• A group of committed “brand champions” who have the staying power to continually drive brand development are important to long-term branding success.

A regional brand strategy will help drive travel and tourism to smaller communities and businesses within the River Valley Region.

For a regional strategy to be successful, local governments and key stakeholders must unite under a long-term goal while including residents throughout the branding process. In the end, there must be something that draws people off the beaten path — whether it be unique experiences, the great outdoors, arts and culture, or historical sites — something must entice travelers to come to experience the River Valley Region for themselves. The region has so much to offer, and much work has already been done. A long-term and inclusive brand strategy is a critical tool to enhance economic development in a way that best leverages the region’s rural and natural assets.

Phase Two: Creating a Cohesive Brand Look

T w o

Drawing from the region’s natural beauty and culture, the branding team will create a cohesive brand look and identity that is authentic and marketable. Good design requires effort and time. Because it is a process of discovery, the design phase includes creative trial and error, back-and-forth discussion, and ongoing revision as ideas marinate and mature. Effort and time result in a far more effective and successful brand. This design phase includes creating a package of graphics and design assets that the region can use for marketing. Logo design, photography, color, font selection, and a style guidebook help the region’s leaders implement regional branding with a consistent look and message. Artwork that includes regional icons, such as the gopher tortoise or longleaf pine, will later be used to unify the region’s identity through things like promotional materials, websites, trail signage, and more.

T hre e

Phase Three: Brand Implementation

Working with local leaders and the branding steering committee, the branding team will outline a list of priorities for brand implementation. This priority list might include things the committee wants to implement first, such as branded gateway and trail signage, and action steps it wants to take, such as developing a regional marketing strategy or strengthening partnerships, for example. Accomplishing these priorities depends on available funding. Typically, websites and social media are among the first items on the priority list to be rebranded as they are often the most cost-effective. The branding team will help key stakeholders develop a long-term brand implementation strategy that positions the River Valley Region for economic growth while boosting its brand recognition and reputation regionally and nationally. This regional brand implementation strategy will help unite disparate activities into a unified plan among the counties. Ultimately, the goal of a regional brand is to help drive economic development and tourism to all communities.

During this phase, various marketing campaigns are developed. The branding team creates designs showing how the brand might be used on merchandise, apparel, advertisements, and other media to provide visual references for the region’s key stakeholders. In addition, ideas about how to incorporate the region’s new brand into the physical environment through public art and murals, interactive QR codes at key locations, self-guided podcast tours, and more may be imagined and illustrated through renderings and sketches. Finally, the branding team will ensure that the marketing campaigns show activities and merchandise that appeal to the local population and target audiences.

Regional Trail

Regional Outdoor Recreation

Regional Trail Connections

An Outdoor Industry Association report concludes that outdoor recreation accounts for 6.1 million direct American jobs, drives $646 billion in direct consumer spending each year, and creates $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue and $39.7 billion in state and local tax revenue. 75

Building on the success of whitewater paddling sports in promoting tourism and economic development downtown, Columbus has invested heavily in developing bicycling and multi-use trails to diversify the outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. The Columbus Dragonfly Trails System currently comprises 34 miles of trails across the city that promote recreation, transportation, and interaction. In addition, Fort Moore currently hosts more than 20 miles of publicly accessible trails. Following the hub-and-spoke model discussed above, adjacent communities are already seeing the value of extending

this system through Harris County, north of Columbus, and Russell County to the west. Other efforts in Chattahoochee County were just starting up as the RVCCD project began. Public input during the RVCCD planning process indicated strong support for taking a regional approach to this trail network to attract more attention and resources to it. A large regional trail network is far more attractive to visitors than an assortment of separate, unconnected trails. As the trail system gets built out, communities in the region can adopt a joint marketing and outreach plan to create a shared identity.

The RVCCD planning team identifi ed this growing effort as a prime mechanism to support compatible land use patterns in the region. The expansion of the trail network serves two important functions: (1) providing important corridors for protected habitat, and (2) making the lands conserved part of a growing local industry, thereby adding to their value. Growing the outdoor recreation economy in the region creates an economic incentive for communities to invest in conservation and draws a clear connection between the natural resources in the landscape and the future economic and social prosperity of the region.

Outdoors

Trail Name Partners Description

Ft. Mitchell Trail

• Phenix Cit y

• Russell Count y

• Dragonfly Trails of Columbus

• Lee-Russell Council of Governments

• Fort Moore

• Alabama Power

General Lafayette’s Trail

• Town of Hurtsboro

• Phenix Cit y

• Russell Count y

• Lee-Russell Council of Governments

• Dragonfly Trails of Columbus

• Marion County, Georgia

• Fort Moore

Hurtsboro Trail

• Town of Hurtsboro

• Cit y of Phenix Cit y

• Russell County

• Lee-Russell Council of Governments

• Alabama Department of Archives and History

• River Regions Trails

• Dragonfly Trails of Columbus

• Fort Moore

Phenix City to Opelika Trail & Greater Opelika Auburn Trail

100-Mile Trail

• General local support has been expressed; no commitments yet made

Extending from the southern end of the Phenix City Riverwalk south to the Ft. Mitchell Historic Site

• Chattahoochee Count y

• Marion Count y

• Stewart Count y (conceptually)

• Sumter Count y (conceptually)

Carter Butts Trail

• Stewart County

• Many local and regional partners

Conceptual extension of the Ft. Mitchell Trail generally following the path of the Marquis de Lafayette’s travels through Georgia and Alabama

Trail will go from Marion County, across Fort Moore and across the Chattahoochee River, then connect to the Ft. Mitchell Historic Site and to the Hurtsboro Trail

Extension of the General Lafayette and Ft. Mitchell Trails west through Russell County

Conceptual design shows trail linking with regional trail projects planned to both Selma and Montgomer y

Connection from the Phenix Cit y Riverwalk to the Johnny Ray Trail, which is under development, and eventually to link to trails being designed to serve the Auburn-Opelika area

An approximately 100-mile loop trail connecting Fort Moore with the Dragonfly Trails network to Chattahoochee, Stewart, and Marion counties

Formalize and expand the bike route of the Carter Butts Memorial Trail utilized for the Fair on the Square Ride in Stewart Count y (https://carterbuttsbiketrail.com/fair-on-the-square-bicycle-ride/ p// /qy/) to connect the cit y of Lumpkin, Providence Canyon State Park, Florence Marina, the town of Omaha, and Flowing Well Park in a single trail loop

Length

Current Status

Establishing preliminary alignment utilizing existing rights-of-way and utility easements

Conditional approval for funding for engineering services

Next Steps

Engineering and design

Trail highly likely to be constructed

Conceptual alignments currently being prepared

Fort Moore preparing to start engineering and design of its portion of the trail, including the bridge over the Chattahoochee

Historical research on the route being conducted in Marion Count y

Trail planning committee has been organized

Preliminary alignment currently being studied; ideally would utilize abandoned rail line from Montgomery to Ft. Mitchell

Funding being sought for the creation of a trail master plan

Preliminary conversations begun; no firm plans made

100 miles +/-Chattahoochee Count y has submitted application to GDOT for Technical Assistance grant for cities under 5,000 pop. for engineering and design of 13-mile section of trail from Harmony Church to the Marion County line

47 miles An established bike route

Establish a planning committee to begin formal planning process

Exploring availability of local rail lines and the feasibility of rail banking concepts

Identif ying discrete trail sections that can serve as an anchor for regional trail development

Create signage and route markings; formalize and publicize the route

Explore opportunities for enhancements and upgrades

LISTED ON MAP (PAGE 130)

ADDITIONAL TRAIL NETWORKS

Dragonfly Trails of Columbus was founded by a group of local trail advocates, Friends of the Dragonfly, who partnered with the PATH Foundation to create a city-wide, 65-mile master trail plan for the city of Columbus. Dragonfly Trails, Inc. was formed in 2017, and it entered into a public-private partnership with the city of Columbus to implement the masterplan. Private, grant, and public funding (through a Transportation Special-Purpose LocalOption Sales Tax, or T-SPLOST) have been used to design, engineer, and build trails according to brand standards. Dragonfly Trails, Inc. is a nonprofit with dedicated staff to implement the masterplan, fundraise, and market Dragonfly Trails.

Trails Under Construction: 10th Street Connector, 1.5-mile trail near completion will connect Uptown to Midtown Columbus

Trails in Design Phase: Midtown Connector (Dinglewood Trail, Lakebottom Trail, Cherokee Trail), River Road Connector

Trails Funded: 5th Avenue Connector, Phase 1 of the Bull Creek Trail

Man O’ War Trail is a Rails-to-Trails project led by the Harris County Chamber of Commerce and funded through T-SPLOST. Currently, the 10-mile trail starts in downtown Pine Mountain, meanders past the Callaway Gardens Country Store, and ends just south of downtown Hamilton. In 2022, the chamber received an additional $5 million through the renewal of the T-SPLOST to begin the next phase of the trail. The long-term plan is to connect the Man O’ War Trail to the Dragonfly Trails at the Harris–Muscogee county line.

Pine Mountain Trail consists of over 23 miles of trails and loops that follow the beautiful Pine Mountain Ridge in F.D. Roosevelt State Park. The trail is designed for hikers and backpackers. Horses and wheeled vehicles are not allowed.

Regional Blueways

Regional Outdoor Recreation

Regional Blueways Trails

In addition to biking and other forms of terrestrial trails, there are also great opportunities to develop water trails, often referred to as “blue trails,” on a number of the beautiful rivers and creeks that fl ow through the River Valley Region.

housands of people already visit Columbus to take advantage of its world-class whitewater facilities, and it is a small leap to attract those visitors to engage in other types of water sports in the area, such as canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding. Local blueways would support employment opportunities for river guides, boost equipment sales and rentals, and draw visitors to all associated elements of the tourist economy, such as restaurants and lodging. The impact of this industry can be significant. Research from American Rivers shows that Americans spend $86 billion per year on watersports, which is second only to camping gear in outdoor recreational spending.76

The Georgia River Network has identified 21 designated water trails in Georgia, more than a dozen of which are in some phase

of development.77 While establishing these trails requires a great deal of organization and community engagement, they do not require large amounts of built infrastructure. Two water trails are currently in development in this region: the Flint River Water Trail and the Lower Chattahoochee River Water Trail. Water trails like these are opportunities for economic development that can also promote community resilience and enhance compatible land uses.

The Flint River Water Trail was established along 28 miles of the Flint River in Meriwether County. This project was organized by the Meriwether County Board of Commissioners and the Lake Meriwether Advisory Board. The partners maintain a website that describes the trail, entry and exit points, geological and ecological diversity, and fishing information. They also publish maps and brochures detailing

the trail. Efforts are underway to extend this trail from Spalding County down to Lake Seminole, which includes Talbot and Taylor counties. (https://flintriverwatertrail.com/)

The Lower Chattahoochee River Water Trail78 is a proposed trail in the River Valley Region. It is intended to run for 50 miles along the Chattahoochee River from West Point in Georgia to Phenix City in Alabama. The effort is being organized by the Trust for Public Land, and its goal is to eventually have eight to 10 launch locations on the upstream sections and portages around the river’s main stem dams. This would create a continuous paddling path along the Georgia–Alabama border from West Point to Columbus. Sponsors estimate that when completed the water trail will produce 50 local jobs and generate $3 million in annual revenue for the surrounding communities.

ARTS ASSETS

Promoting local history and culture can provide economic opportunity while preserving the unique communities and landscape in the region.

A rt s Regional Arts: Leveraging the Arts and Artisans for Economic Development

The River Valley Region is rich in arts and culture, from local fine artists and musicians, to quilt making, distilling and craft brewing, to the famous Pasaquan site in Marion County. Artists and artisans are important assets to community and economic development, enriching locals’ lives and attracting tourists and young professionals to an area.

Economic development around the arts and artisan programming not only promotes a stronger, shared sense of identity, it also creates pride and a sense of place that attracts visitors and entrepreneurs. In their existing Comprehensive Plans and in focus group discussions, every community expressed the desire to preserve their specific local character. By supporting local arts and artisans, a community can capitalize on what makes it special while generating economic activity that allows the community to grow and prosper in a way that preserves that culture.

Flint Energies Mural Butler, Georgia | Photo Credit: Flint Energies

Lonnie Holley signs his mural in downtown Lumpkin, Georgia

Photo Credit: The Reimagine Home Project

www.rivervalleyccd.com

The pink pins on the map represent arts assets in the region. Maps on the project website have zoomed-in views of the communities and icons representing visual arts, artisans, musicians, and cultural assets. These icons specify the following categories:

Arts Venues – These locations showcase artwork such as art centers, galleries, museums, and performance halls.

Public Art – Public art includes murals, sculptures, and structures that can be enjoyed in public spaces.

Festivals and Events – These sites host events and festivals that draw people to the region annually.

Drinks – These locations include major breweries, wineries, distilleries, and any other places where people enjoy drinks made in the region.

Food – Major restaurants and any other places where people enjoy food in the region

Artisans – Makers and crafters

Music – Live music venues

Other Arts Assets

The decentralized nature of the creative industries can benefit residents of areas often thought to lack economic strength, such as rural areas and the urban core. At the heart of the creative industries are individual artists who are typically well-connected to the communities where they reside. Linking these artists with entrepreneurial opportunities both inside and beyond their regions offers many economic development possibilities.

Nationally, the arts accounted for 4.2% of GDP or $876.7 billion in 2020.79 In Georgia, creative industries represent a combined $29 billion in revenue, including 200,000 jobs that provide a total of $8 billion in income.80 Many Georgia communities have had demonstrable success implementing arts programs as a major part of their economic development strategies.81

The River Valley Region has a long history with the arts and has hosted a number of successful arts events. The Taste of Richland & Market was an annual event in Richland, Georgia, highlighting artisans in the region before it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The Phenix City Artpark, an outdoor gallery in Phenix City, Alabama, also lost traction after 2020. The Talbotton Blues Festival is a major event each year in Talbot County. While these and the numerous other events in the region were severely impacted by the pandemic in recent years, funding for the arts stayed fairly stable, and many funding opportunities exist to support individual artists and arts organizations and help revive or reinvigorate the arts economy in impacted areas.

The next section highlights a small sample of the well-known past and present-day artists and artisans that continue to shape this region. It then proposes initial steps communities can take to build on the region’s robust history of arts and culture and to leverage existing arts efforts, including those that may have existed prior to the pandemic, for economic rural development.

This plan has three primary elements:

1. Asset mapping, a process to identify current assets as well as visualize the assets in a regional context

2. Identifying local champions and encouraging collaboration between communities through a Regional Arts Partnership

3. Developing a strategy for collaboration and funding across the region to promote mutually supportive arts and artisans programming

– Arts & the Economy: Using Arts and Culture to Stimulate State Economic Development; National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices; www.nga.org.

RIVER VALLEY COMMUNITY COMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

ASSET MAPPING

All the artists, musicians, artisans, and local champions highlighted in this section were identified through online research and focus groups. The UGA team researched assets, compiled them into an extensive list, and then categorized and mapped them using icons. The asset map clearly shows a diversity of valuable arts-related assets across the River Valley. In addition to the diversity of assets identified through online research, additional assets were found through conversations with local champions in each of the communities. Focus group discussions and conversations with community members provided context for the assets identified through online research. While a multitude of efforts exist to showcase the arts in the region, many operate on their own and for one individual county. The pandemic was hard on the arts, and some efforts ceased in 2020.

Through regular conversations, communities could combine efforts related to promoting the arts. This plan proposes the development of a Regional Arts Partnership, a group of local champions who meet regularly to share current efforts, discuss goals, and explore regional opportunities for the arts. These meetings should culminate in a strategy or plan to incorporate existing efforts into a region-wide initiative.

Asset Mapping: Key Takeaways

• Many diverse and valuable arts-related assets

• Many people championing arts efforts as well as existing collaborations

• Assets throughout the whole region, but opportunities for better connection

• Columbus as an arts hub that supports Pasaquan and Zion Episcopal Church

• Pandemic severely affected the arts, with some efforts ending in 2020

• Flint Energies supporting 3 murals in this region: 1 in Buena Vista, and 2 in Butler

• Murals in 5 of the 6 participating counties

• Every community has at least 1 major event

• 2 music festivals: Pasafest and the Historic Zion Church

Blues Festival

• A need and desire for better promotion of artists and artsrelated events

Photo Credit: Butch Anthony, museumofwonder.com

Highlighting Artists, Musicians, and Artisans in the River Valley Region

Many of the assets identifi ed in the River Valley are already examples of leveraging the arts for economic development.

From folk artists with brightly painted wooden signs to technically skilled woodworkers to traditional grain mill operators and bakers, hometown heroes and nationally known artists celebrate the region’s history, tradition, and natural beauty in unique and powerful ways. However famous, they are cherished in their respective communities. Many of these incredible artists, artisans, musicians, and places are already invaluable to their local communities and offer tremendous potential to stimulate wider economic vitality. This section highlights artists, musicians, and artisans from the area. This is just a sampling of the resources that can support a vibrant arts economy across the River Valley.

A rt s

Photo Credit: Richland Rum

Precious Bryant | Photo Credit: Tim Duffy

Photo

Credit: TSchiroMGA, CC BY-SA

4.0

PASAQUAN BRINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BUENA VISTA

Pasaquan

7-acre artscape

6 major structures and 900 feet of painted masonry fence, painted totems, decorative walkways, sculptures, paintings, and other art and artifacts

(St. EOM’s Pasaquan)

Immediate Impact after Opening

120 students engaged in Marion County projects in the past 2 years

Pasaquan, a 7-acre artscape west of Buena Vista, Georgia, has become a prominent art asset. It is the legacy of renowned artist Eddie Owen Martin, also known as St. EOM. Born in 1908 to a sharecropping family in Buena Vista, Martin at age 14 made his way to New York City, where he eventually came to study art. He saw a vision when experiencing a high fever: three “people of the future” from a place called Pasaquan chose him “to depict, through art, a peaceful future for human beings.” It was after this event that he began calling himself St. EOM and pursued the unique artistic style seen at Pasaquan.82

Pasaquan consists of six major structures and more than 900 feet of painted masonry fence, painted totems, decorative walkways, sculptures, paintings, and other art and artifacts.83 In the 1990s, the Marion County Historical Society gained ownership of Pasaquan. After society member Fred Fussell wrote a series of grant proposals to preserve and restore the site, a $5 million grant from the Kohler Foundation supported its restoration in 2014, and a partnership was made with Columbus State University for future maintenance and management. Revenue is generated by hosting events, contributions from visitors, and external grants. Since it opened to the public in 2016, Pasaquan has averaged approximately 3,100 visitors per year. These visitors have made a noticeable contribution to the local economy. This increased tourism has been linked to the creation of 24 local businesses, including a performing arts theatre, a winery, a distillery, and a local coffeeshop.84

Received $62,000 in funding for improvements, including a new welcome center, 8 new businesses, and educational support about tourism for new businesses

Recent Numbers

3,100 visitors per year

Since the announcement of the Kohler Foundation’s commitment to Pasaquan’s restoration, 24 new businesses have opened and four buildings have been restored around the city’s square.

Georgia Council for the Arts. 2020. Leveraging Public Investment in the Arts: The Role of Arts-based Economic Development Strategies in Rural Georgia Communities. gaarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ Role-of-Arts-case-studies-booklet.pdf

KEY FACTS

K TS

Pasaquan | Photo Credit: Explore Georgia

HISTORIC

ZION EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Historic Zion Episcopal Church

Made of heart pine, 200–500-year-old longleaf pine

Approximately 550 visitors per year

Around 400 people attend the Bluesfest each year

10 planned concerts each year plus several informal and impromptu performances by visitors who come to play for fun

2 musicians plan to play and record in Zion: Jontavious Willis and Neal Lucas

Located in Talbotton, LeVert Historic District is a true architectural treasure, Zion Episcopal Church. The wooden structure was built in 1848 among an oak grove and cedar trees. It is recorded as having been built with “heart pine,” or wood that is likely 200–500-year-old longleaf pine. Adorned with lancet windows and Tudor arches, the structure demonstrates a rural version of the English Gothic style. The interior consists of walnut furnishings, including an altar, communion rail, lectern pulpit, and prayer desk. An 1850s Pilcher organ is still operative and is one of the oldest in the United States. Galleries on either end of the choir loft were places of worship for slaves. Today, these galleries serve as a connection to the past. Many visitors come to experience a setting from the 1800s when slavery was prominent. One person traced her lineage to the slaves of an original founder of the church, and she comes to worship and visit where her ancestors were slaves.

While the church has not had a local congregation in decades, it is still appreciated for its art, history, architecture, and acoustic quality. Quarterly worship services are still held and led by various ministers. In 2020, Zion Church Restoration, Inc. completed the outside restoration of the church and received the 2021 Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Chairman Award. The superb quality of the restoration makes Zion a beautiful backdrop, not just for weddings and events, but also for filmmaking.

The acoustics of the church have been greatly admired by faculty and musicians at Columbus State University, leading to planned CSU-hosted concerts. The Springer Opera House Theatre Academy has also performed in Zion Episcopal Church. In addition to formal concerts, the church is a focal point in the community and hosts the annual Historic Zion Episcopal Church Bluesfest. This event brings energy to Talbotton’s community and attracts talented blues artists like Jontavious Willis, a Grammy-nominated blues musician. The annual event raises money to fund restoration and maintenance projects for the church.

KEY FACTS AC FA A S TS CT C T

Historic Zion Episcopal Church | Photo Credit: National Register of Historic Places

Folk Art, Fine Art, Quilts, and More – Artists of the River Valley

The River Valley Region is home to a number of nationally known artists who exhibit their work across the country. Their work celebrates the unique character of the region and tells stories about its history, traditions, and natural beauty. The list below features just a small sample of the numerous artists from the region. Highlighting the work of artists and artisans like these will help define the region by showcasing its rich creative history and culture, while creating an environment that can foster young artists and future artists and artisans.

American Blues Singer who began her career in Columbus, Georgia

American Pianist and Composer born near Columbus, Georgia and toured the South

Muralist who liv Georgia, but ha several murals

BUTCH ANTHONY

Contemporary Artist and Creator of the world’s first drive-thru museum, the Museum of Wonder in Seale, Alabama

Wood Artist, Architect, and Designer in Stewart County, Georgia

GERTRUDE “MA” RAINEY

THOMAS “BLIND TOM” WIGGINS

CHRIS JOHN

ROMAN STANKUS

NSON

lives in Columbus, has completed in the region

FLORIA YANCY

Folk Artist from Richland, Georgia

JONTAVIOUS WILLIS

American Country Blues Singer, Guitarist, Songwriter, and Multi-instrumentalist who has performed in the Historic Zion Episcopal Church in Talbotton, Georgia and is collaborating with Henry Jacobs for the Fall Line Blues Project to document musicians in the Fall Line region

PRECIOUS BRYANT

American Country Blues, Gospel, Folk Singer and Guitarist born in Talbot County, Georgia and performed in the region

ST. EOM

(EDDIE OWENS MARTIN)

Artist and Creator of Pasaquan in Buena Vista, Georgia

CATHY FUSSELL

Artist and Quilter, who began working with textiles during her early childhood in Buena Vista. Now maintains a studio in Columbus, Georgia

REGIONAL ARTISTS

The River Valley: Home to Mother and Daughter of the Blues

With a rich history in blues music, the River Valley Region has been home to several prominent blues musicians, including Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, “Mother of the Blues,” and Precious Bryant, “Daughter of the Blues.”90

Unlike blues traditions in the Piedmont (the upper Chattahoochee River), the region is defined by the lower Chattahoochee, combining popular blues traditions with fingerpicking, alternating bass notes or bass notes and chords, as well as traditions of African-American string bands or “pole plattin.”91 Ma Rainey was pivotal in bridging the call-and-response style of blues with a vaudeville performance. She was also known for creating music for the people, music related to themes of injustice and separation.92 Other musicians from the region include Jim Bunkley (Talbot County), Cliff Davis (Stewart County), Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarlton (Muscogee County), Jimmy Lee and Eddie Harris (Russell County), Dixon Hunt (Marion County), Green Paschal (Talbot County), and Bud White (Stewart County).93

Building on this vibrant musical history could help promote local artists, supporting a local entertainment economy. Like local artists and artisans, musicians bring people to a community where they support local businesses, while also creating more opportunities for local residents to get out and spend money in the community.

Butch Anthony is a contemporary mixedmedia artist in Seale, Alabama. He created the Museum of Wonder and describes it as “a modern-day cabinet of curiosities filled with art, artifacts, and found or gifted objects….”

In the 1980s, he took an anatomy class while studying zoology, geology, and biology, and he began using veins and bones in his art. His work has been exhibited in several states across the US, including Ohio, Alabama, and South Carolina. His work has also been featured in major publications such as the New York Times, Garden and Gun, and Hyperallergenic 85

Cathy Fussell

Cathy Fussell is a fiber artist from Buena Vista, Georgia, who has a studio in Columbus, Georgia. She has been sewing and working with textiles for more than 50 years. Her quilts tell stories of regional geography, southern literature, and American modernism. Her work has been featured in juried shows and curated art exhibitions. Her most recent exhibitions highlight her map quilts, which explore the history, landscape, rivers, and topography of the Southeast.

Marion County

Russell County

Christopher Johnson

Christopher Johnson is a muralist and artist who currently lives in Columbus, Georgia. He was a professor of art and director of the Fine Arts Program at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia. He began his career in printmaking and wood carving, before turning to murals to help uplift and revitalize communities. A recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Award for Arts and Humanities, he has worked with communities and painted over 50 murals throughout the Southeast. His work was also acknowledged as the 2020 Favorite Art Piece in the Local Choice Awards (Columbus, Georgia). In addition, he has received three grants from Flint Energies to continue his mural revitalization projects.87

Roman Stankus

Roman Stankus is a self-taught woodworker and registered architect who currently lives in Stewart County. From an early age, he enjoyed making things and building wooden models. In high school, he was introduced to woodturning. He describes his work as exploratory and sculptural. His design and architecture background influences his work as he explores form, color, texture, and artistic composition through wood. He begins with a basic form created on the lathe, then uses routing, carving, burning, texturing, and coloring to complete the piece.88

Floria Yancey

Floria Yancey was a folk artist from Richland, Georgia. She created brightly painted plywood works of art. Born the 16th of 18 children to a family of sharecroppers, her work was inspired by her family heritage, childhood memories, faith, and imagination. Floria’s work was displayed at her own Folk Art Gallery. Brightly painted signs with themes of her spirituality could be seen at a distance. These signs were visible to drivers and marked the location of her church and studio. Floria took a picture with each person who purchased her work. She passed away in December 2021 at age 70.89

Stewart County

Stewart County Chattahoochee River Valley Region

REGIONAL MUSICIANS

Chattahoochee River Valley Region

Talbot County

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey

Ma Rainey, a prominent blues artist in the early 20th century, was born in Columbus, Georgia. Her music bridged the traditions of the southern blues call-and-response with vaudeville theater.94 Vaudeville performances were variety shows and often had different kinds of performers such as singers, comedians, dancers, actors, performing animals, and other forms of entertainment.95

Precious Bryant

Precious Bryant, “Daughter of the Blues,” was born in Talbot County, Georgia in 1942.96 She grew up in a family of blues musicians including her father Lonnie James Bussey and her uncle George Henry Bussey, who became her mentor.97 She was first recorded in 1969 by George Mitchell in Atlanta. Bryant was a country blues singer with a powerful voice who played fingerstyle guitar. Many of her songs were produced by her manager, Amos Harvey, at Zelda Station, the home of friend and folklorist-author Fred Fussell in Buena Vista.98

Talbot County Chattahoochee River Valley Region

Jontavious Willis

Jontavious Willis grew up singing the blues and gospel music in Greenville, Georgia. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2020 for his album Spectacular Class. In his youth, he played and recorded in Talbotton’s Historic Zion Episcopal Church 99 He has also documented blues artists in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley through The Fall Line Blues Project. In partnership with Henry Jacobs, he interviews men and women playing the blues in the Fall Line region.100

Thomas Wiggins

Thomas Wiggins, who went by the stage name “Blind Tom” Wiggins, was a remarkable blind pianist who both improvised and played his compositions. Born into slavery on a plantation in Columbus, Georgia, his mother made a plea to General James Neil Bethune to keep her family together, an agreement that would lead to Bethune becoming Wiggins’s legal guardian. Wiggins’s talent for hearing and replicating music “note for note” led to a career during which he would make $100,000 a year (over $1 million a year today). Unfortunately, with Bethune as his legal guardian, none of the earnings went directly to Wiggins.101

REGIONAL ARTISANS

Drinks, Foods, and the Preservation of Southern Traditions

The artisans of the River Valley exhibit a wide variety of talents and Southern traditions. Visitors to this region can taste artisanal handcrafted beverages such as wine, beer, whiskey, and rum. They can also learn how to hunt, process, and cook wild hog. These assets preserve Southern traditions and give way to new experiences. Like art and music, local foods and other products can draw visitors to the area who then spend money and help grow the local economy. Perhaps more important, local food and locally produced goods allow local people to purchase items grown and created in their community. This keeps money in the local economy rather than allowing it to be siphoned off to large corporations in distant cities. Supporting local growers, producers, and retailers keeps jobs and prosperity local.

Five Points Berries Winery

Five Points Berries

Five Points Berries Winer y is a 40-acre farm winer y in Marion Count y, The farm five varieties of blueberries to use in the wines. are offered ever y and wines can be online. The winer y also tours of the orchard with presentations about its natural and wine methods. The

Five Points Berries Winery is a 40-acre farm winery in Marion County, Georgia. The farm produces five varieties of blueberries to use in the wines. Tastings are offered every Thursday through Sunday, and wines can be purchased online. The winery also provide tours of the orchard with presentations about its natural farming and wine production methods. The winery showcases its wines at a variety of festivals in the Southeast.

Swamp Fox Co.

Swamp Fox Distilling Co.

Fox Co. is a small-batch distiller y in Buena Vista, Georgia. It tours and of its handcraf ted r ye malt moonshine, white and bourbon. Swamp Fox also hosts events the year, such as a murder myster y, and a bike race

Swamp Fox Distilling Co. is a small-batch distillery in Buena Vista, Georgia. It provides tours and tastings of its handcrafted spirits: rye whiskey, malt whiskey, moonshine, white whiskey, and bourbon. Swamp Fox also hosts events throughout the year, such as comedy nights, a murder mystery, and a bike race.

Marion County

Marion County

Omaha Brewing Company

“Small Town, Big Beer.” Omaha Brewing Company is a craft brewery in Omaha, Georgia, that serves craft beer and spiked sparkling seltzer. Most Saturdays, the brewery features food trucks and live music. Omaha Brewing Company has made several efforts to have an active presence in the community. It hosts an annual BBQ competition, and customers receive half off their first beer if they show a Georgia State Park parking pass (Friends of Providence Canyon). In addition, each month, the brewery selects a cause and donates $1 for every to-go beer sold.

Richland Rum

In 1999, Richland Distilling Company emerged from a sugarcane farm at Richland Estate. The sugarcane turned into rum in barrels. Visitors can learn more about the traditional techniques and artisan methods used to create rum through tours of the distillery, fermentation room, and barrel house. In addition to rum, the distillery offers a Georgia-made rum-barrelaged coffee.

Patsiliga Museum, Inc. and Fielder’s Mill

Patsiliga Plantation in Junction City, Georgia, is home to the historic Fielder’s Mill, a grist mill that continues to produce cornmeal, grits, and flour. The mill is one of the oldest businesses in Talbot County, producing freshly ground flour and cornmeal using traditional methods and hosting events such as “Harvest Days in Old Talbot,” celebrating Southern arts, crafts, and foods.

The Old South Farm Museum

Paul Bulloch run the Old South Farm Museum and Agriculture Learning Center in Woodland, Georgia. The museum exhibits old tractors and provides a variety of farm workshops, such as how to make sausage, Brunswick stew, lye soap, and cracklings and how to smoke meats. At the end of the demonstration, participants leave with information about sausage making and meat curing as well as 10–15 pounds of pork products.

Stewart County

Stewart County

Talbot County

REGIONAL ARTS CHAMPIONS

Leaders in the arts are advocates and connectors who advance not just individual artists but a collective group of artists in the community.

Further connecting leaders and facilitating conversations through a Regional Arts Partnership could expand on existing efforts. Fortunately, the region already has a number of local champions. These organizations and individuals are well-versed in the region’s arts communities and have set the stage for additional collaboration and investment.

DEVELOPING A STRATEGY

for Collaboration and Funding

Clearly, the region is home to an abundant culture and history in the arts. These resources are already contributing to the local economy, but expansion will require an organized and concerted effort to promote local arts and artisans across the region. A Regional Arts and Artisans Plan would support community development by leveraging existing arts efforts for economic rural development across the region. Appendix C contains case studies and brainstorms building on activities that are already occurring in the region.

Flint Energies

Flint Energies, an energy cooperative in Reynolds, Georgia, not only advances clean energy within the region but also supports the arts and economic development. Murals have the potential to increase economic development by providing aesthetic beauty in rural communities. In 2019, Flint Energies started the Rural Murals Program, a project that grants $10,000 to a community to support a mural project. Flint Energies sees murals as a catalyst for economic development, celebrating the people, history, environment, and culture that make communities distinctive. Each mural is custom-made to celebrate the community’s unique history and provides a sense of place. It serves as a focal point in the community, drawing travelers off main interstates to explore and appreciate new areas while dining and shopping in local communities.

Flint Energies has supported eight murals throughout Georgia and has a vision to have a Rural Mural Trail across a 17-county area.102 Flint Energies has supported murals in three of the six participating communities in the River Valley Region, specifically two in Butler and one in Buena Vista. Future aspirations of the Rural Mural Program include the development of a Rural Mural Trail, a trail for visitors across multiple rural communities to see murals representing each community’s unique identity.

Flint Energies has received feedback from some of the communities participating in the project indicating that the murals have already generated private-sector investments and supported increased property values.

Taylor County

Talbot County

David and Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson, a retiree from the Muscogee County School System, and her husband, David, professor emeritus in American literature and creative writing at Columbus State University (CSU), are leading efforts to restore and preserve Zion Episcopal Church. The couple discovered Talbotton in 1966 for its beautiful historic buildings. They became involved in the preservation of Zion Episcopal Church through their membership in another episcopal church responsible for refurbishing Zion. Today, they are committed to raising funds for promoting and conducting routine maintenance for Zion. To date, they have raised over $300,000 for the exterior restoration, $100,000 in a Historic Columbus Foundation Public Participation Grant, and additional funds to restore the church’s 1850 Pilcher organ. In the future, they would like to continue to develop their relationship with CSU’s Schwob School of Music (as well as other departments), provide a spotlight for local musicians and artisans, help preserve Talbotton’s history, and design programs for local youth.

Fred Fussell

Annie

Stewart County

Moye

Annie Moye began the Reimagine Home Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to create a sense of place in Stewart County by restoring public access to arts and arts education, and preserving and documenting local history. Moye has written and received grants for over $50,000 from the Georgia Council for the Arts. These grants led to the creation of two murals in Lumpkin, Georgia. She also served as chair of the Pasaquan Preservation Society, dedicated to the conservation and care of St. EOM’s Pasaquan.104

Radio efferson Currie, a

Fred Fussell, a prominent figure in the arts of the River Valley, is a writer, curator, artist, and documentary photographer whose work focuses on the traditional folk culture of the American South. Fussell was also a leader in the restoration and preservation of Pasaquan, artist St. EOM’s 7-acre artscape. He wrote several grants and received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Knight Foundation, and the Kohler Foundation. He was a friend of Precious Bryant, a prominent blues musician, and even used his home as a recording studio.103 The entire Fussell family is very talented. Fred’s wife Cathy and his daughter Coulter are quilt and textile artists. His son Jake Xerxes Fussell is a successful blues musician who also hosts “Fall Line Radio” with Jefferson Currie, a station exploring music of the American South.

Marion County artists. sell usician “ he

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

AND NEXT STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

This plan lays out a multipronged approach to simultaneously promote economic prosperity, community development, and natural resource conservation while protecting the rural character that defines this region and supports Fort Moore’s long-term sustainability goals. The sections above describe a variety of actions communities can take to further this vision of economic development that fosters compatible land uses around Fort Moore. A number of activities have been completed or are already underway. Some of these are detailed below.

• As part of this overall effort, the Marion County Development Authority was reconstituted, with training and assistance provided by UGA team members. This represents an important step forward in revitalizing the city of Buena Vista, the county’s central business district. Downtown development authorities are crucial tools for developing downtowns through financing, executing contracts, and purchasing, leasing, and selling property, among other powers.

• The city of Buena Vista plans to invest the $2 million it is slated to receive in early 2023 from the voter-approved T-SPLOST package in downtown infrastructure. The RVCCD team worked with the city and downtown property owners to craft the downtown designs shown on pages 72–75 to help inform the application of those funds.

• The UGA College of Engineering offers technical assistance to Georgia communities through its Capstone Design Program in which senior engineering students complete directed design work to address community needs. Rising seniors will be given the opportunity to work with Buena Vista to further the city’s streetscape designs and develop cost estimates for future fundraising efforts.

• Three graduate-level planning and design classes from the UGA College of Environment and Design have come to the River Valley Region to support the design and development of recreational opportunities in the area.

• The RVCCD team has initiated discussions between UGA and Auburn University to form a collaborative partnership for ongoing planning, engineering, and design support for local community projects throughout this region.

• The RVCCD team worked with Stewart County and the city of Lumpkin to develop the urban design visions shown above that were used to apply for $2 million of funding through the Governor’s Office program, Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities. This grant was awarded in May 2023.

• The RVCCD team submitted a grant application to the US Economic Development Administration in partnership with the Lee-Russell Council of Governments, multiple local governments, and Uptown Columbus to support trail planning and design and regional marketing.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RVCCD TEAM

The RVCCD team is also engaging in the following ongoing types of technical assistance:

Prioritizing specific external funding sources to support community infrastructure repairs and strategic upgrades (see Appendix E for potential funding sources)

Developing a list of priority infrastructure projects related to sustaining the military mission suitable for submission to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program

Building relationships with UGA’s Defense Community Resilience Program to provide ongoing planning support and proposals for external funding

Supporting electric vehicle infrastructure deployment by facilitating contacts between communities, Flint EMC, Georgia Power, and others investing in EV infrastructure expansion

Arranging for students in the Historic Preservation Program at the College of Environment and Design in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at UGA will begin work in summer 2023 on developing a tourism trail to highlight General LaFayette’s visit to America, and within Marion County, from 1825. Flint EMC has pledged funds to print a brochure.

Including Marion County in the 2024 cohort of Institute of Government’s PROPEL program, a two-year economic development program funded by the University of Georgia Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Arranging for UGA’s State Botanical Garden of Georgia to design and implement a Connect to Protect garden in downtown Buena Vista at the site of a new mural. The garden will feature native pollinator plants, and all materials and labor will be provided by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

The long-term viability of these efforts will also require the investment of time and resources to ensure that these communities have the capacity to maintain rural and conservation character of this landscape and avoid incompatible development.

These lasting investments include helping these cities and counties upgrade their basic infrastructure systems, like water and sewer, but also maintaining the capacity of their human capital. Examples of the kind of long-term systemic investments that are needed include the following:

Proposed Next Steps for Long-Term Systemic Investment

Developing infrastructure projects suitable for funding through the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program and other infrastructure funding opportunities, focusing on water and sewer upgrades.

Engaging in a focused analysis with Russell County on potential land use changes that could impact the Fryar Drop Zone, particularly in regard to sewer line extensions in the area.

Conducting a feasibility analysis of sewer line extensions to Chattahoochee County and a study of related land use controls necessary to prevent incompatible development.

Undertaking analysis and planning to ensure the transportation network can support community and military needs, including EV charging needs as the installation transitions its nontactical fleet to electric vehicles.

Building capacity among residents for community leadership and entrepreneurship through state and university leadership and capacitybuilding programs.

Developing regional partnerships to foster effective planning, asset management, code enforcement, and zoning administration.

Formulating more robust estimates of the economic and environmental service values provided by the conservation and recreation lands.

Supporting dark-sky efforts to prevent excess light pollution.

Connecting river and stream corridor planning to larger conservation efforts.

Supporting arts, culture, and other community programs to build upon existing cultural assets and interest.

Improving communication between Fort Moore and the rural communities in part by initiating regular community briefings where installation staff brief community leaders on Army issues and needs.

The items noted on page 163 are not meant to be a comprehensive list of implementation steps. This plan offers a conceptual design for future development based on the needs and desires expressed by the residents and leaders in the partnering communities. While some of the short-term actions are clear, and many are already underway, the details of the implementation of the ideas and opportunities presented here must arise from local leaders, and they should be incorporated into this plan and made part of a shared community vision for the region. Long before the delivery of this final plan, community members and local leaders had embraced the idea that their communities are positioned to leverage their rural character, natural

surroundings, and quality of life to revitalize the area. Indeed, as the list of ongoing steps indicates, work has already begun, underscoring just how much community leaders want to see the region thrive. The River Valley Regional Commission and the University of Georgia, along with the other project partners, are committed to continuing to work with these communities on implementation of this plan and to develop additional projects to further the shared resilience of Fort Moore and these communities. In particular, UGA’s Defense Community Resilience Program will remain engaged in this region to help foster the shared resilience of the installation while supporting the surrounding communities.

Building resilient communities through collaborative efforts and sustainable development is the key to unlocking a future of prosperity, conservation, and growth.

What exactly is the “DCIP”?

The Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program provides grant funding to assist state and local governments, and not-forprofit, member-owned utilities in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. Proposals are typically due in late spring.

Given the infrastructure needs in the RVCCD area, DCIP funding is a prime opportunity for communities in the region.

DCIP projects must be “construction-ready” and endorsed by the installation commander. Thus, a primary recommendation is that communities with infrastructure needs identify projects this summer (2023) so that the RVCCD team can assist with finding resources to demonstrate that the projects are “construction-ready.”

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38 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. “Sandhills: West.” Retrieved from georgiawildlife.com/sandhills-wma-west ; Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. “Sandhills: East.” Retrieved from georgiawildlife.com/sandhills-wma-east

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44 US Army n.d. “Maneuver Center of Excellence: Fort Benning.” Retrieved from www.benning.army.mil/common/Content/PDF/MCoE%20Overview%20Brief.pdf

45 Additional information about the public amenities can be found at the Fort Moore’s Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Program: benning.armymwr.com/programs/ parks-ponds-trails

46 McMahon, T. Edward. 2018. “A Proven Economic Development Strategy.” Main Street America. Retrieved from higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NMSC/ UploadedImages/13ab8d07-fa39-46c8-a581-c8fc135fdb81/A_Proven_Economic_Development_Strategy.pdf

47 Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy. 2022. “Small Business Facts: Small Business Job Creation.” Retrieved from advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/ uploads/2022/04/Small-Business-Job-Creation-Fact-Sheet-Apr2022.pdf

48 McMahon, E.T. 2018. A Proven Economic Development Strategy. Main Street America. Retrieved from higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NMSC/ UploadedImages/13ab8d07-fa39-46c8-a581-c8fc135fdb81/A_Proven_Economic_Development_Strategy.pdf

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50 McMahon, E.T. 2017. Why Some Places Thrive and Others Fail: The New Formula for Community Revitalization. Main Street America. Retrieved from www.vml.org/wpcontent/uploads/pdf/VTCJanFeb17_pg21-25.pdf

51 Farmland Information Center. 2016. “Cost of Community Services Studies.” Retrieved from farmlandinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/Cost_of_ Community_Services_Studies _AFT_FIC_201609.pdf ; Dorfman, J. 2005. “The Local Government Fiscal Impacts of Land Uses in Athens–Clarke County.” Retrieved from www.accgov.com/DocumentCenter/View/344/ACC_fiscal-impacts-of-landuses?bidId. ; Dorfman, J. 2018. “Appendix D Cost of Services Study.” Retrieved from www. gwinnettcounty.com/static/departments/planning/unified_plan/2040_Plan/Appendix_D-Cost_of_Services_Study.pdf

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59 Spraggs, A. 2022. “What’s Causing Water Problems in Marion County?” WTVM. Retrieved from www.wtvm.com/2022/06/15/whats-causing-water-problems-marioncounty/; Spraggs, A. 2022. “Water Issues in Marion County Continue, Impacting Local School.” WTVM. Retrieved from www.wtvm.com/2022/08/31/water-issuesmarion-county-continue-impacting-local-school/

60 River Valley Regional Commission. 2022. Investing in the River Valley. Retrieved from rivervalleyrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022_RVRC_Annual-Report8.pdf

61 River Valley Regional Commission for Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County. 2021. The Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Comprehensive Plan Update. Retrieved from www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/cusseta-chattahoochee_county_comp_plan_ 2020_final.pdf

62 Parry, R. 2022. “University of Georgia Broadband Map Helps State Pinpoint Areas in Need.” University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Retrieved from cviog.uga.edu/news/spotlights/052322-broadband.html; Broadband Availability Map, retrieved from broadband.georgia.gov/2022-georgia-broadband-availabilitymap

63 US Department of Transportation. n.d. “Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES).” Retrieved from www.transportation.gov/rural

64 Downs, G. 2023. Wall Street Journal Video. www.wsj.com/video/series/george-downs

65 University of Georgia Archway Partnership. 2023. “Two More Rural Georgia Counties Complete Projects to Qualify as UGA Connected Resilient Communities.” Retrieved from www.archwaypartnership.uga.edu/two-more-rural-georgia-counties-complete-projects-to-qualify-as-uga-connected-resilient-communities/

66 International Dark Sky Association. n.d. “International Dark Sky Places.” Retrieved from www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/; Brooklyn, C. 2022. Dark Sky Tourism Is on the Rise across the US. National Geographic. Retrieved from www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/dark-sky-tourism -is-on-the-rise-in-the-us

67 Atlanta Regional Commission. 2016. Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. Retrieved from documents.atlantaregional.com/gastormwater/GSMM_2016%20 EDITION_FINAL_V1.pdf

68 Bosworth, G., and K. Salemink. 2022. All Hubs and No Spokes? Exploring the Potential of Hubs to Sustain Rural and Regional Development. Local Economy 36(7–8).

69 Woosnam, K., and J. Salazar. 2023, January. “Initial assessment of tourism contributions to the Columbus (Georgia) MSA.”

70 Arbogast et al., 2020.

71 Collison, R. 2022. “What is Place Branding?” Nifty. Retrieved from niftycomms.com/what-is-place-branding/

72 Messely, L., J. Dessein, and L. Lauwers. 2010. Regional Identity in Rural Development: Three Case Studies of Regional Branding. APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce 4. Available at 10.19041/Apstract/2010/3-4/3

73 Lucarelli, A., and M. Giovanardi. 2016. The Political Nature of Brand Governance: A Discourse Analysis Approach to a Regional Brand Building Process. Journal of Public Affairs 16(1): 16–27.

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75 Explore Georgia, www.exploregeorgia.org/; Visit Florida, www.visitflorida.com/; Discover South Carolina, discoversouthcarolina.com/

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79 Trust for Public Land. n.d. “Chattahoochee Valley Blueway.” Retrieved from www.tpl.org/our-work/chattahoochee-valley-blueway

80 US Department of Commerce. 2022.

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82 Georgia Council for the Arts, 2019.

83 Fussell, F.C. 2008. St. EOM. In New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved from www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/st-eom-1908-1986/

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87 See www.cathyfussellquilts.com/

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89 Ferguson, D.E. 2022. “Ma Rainey.” Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.

90 Bransford, S. 2004, March. “Blues in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley.” Southern Spaces. Retrieved from southernspaces.org/2004/blues-lower-chattahoochee-valley/

91 Ferguson, 2022.

92 Bransford, 2004.

93 Ferguson, 2022.

94 Bransford, 2004.

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96 Freeman, 2013.

97 See jontaviouswillis.com/bio

98 The Fall Line Blues Project, jontaviouswillis.com/bio

99 Tommasini, A. 2021, March 3. “He Was Born into Slavery, But Achieved Musical Stardom.” New York Times. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/arts/ music/thomas-wiggins-blind-tom-piano.html

100 Flint Energies. n.d. “Rural Murals.” Retrieved from www.flintenergies.com/rural-murals

101 O’Donnell, T. 2022, June 14. “Columbus State University Keeps Eddie Owens Martin’s Artistic Fantasy Alive at Pasaquan: National Trust for Historic Preservation.” National Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved from savingplaces.org/stories/columbus-state-university-keeps-eddie-owens-martins-artistic-fantasy-alive-at-pasaquan#. Y0mSz3bMIuU

102 Pasaquan Preservation Society,www.pasaquanpreservation.com

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOR PLAN LAYOUT:

Design Studio Manager

Danny Bivins, Senior Public Service Associate

Art Direction and Visual Style

Kaitlin Messich, Public Service Associate

Graphic Design and Layout

Eleonora Machado, Creative Designer

Landscape Design Lead

T. Clark Stancil, Landscape and Urban Designer

Maps and Graphic Design Support

Kelsey Broich, Landscape Designer

Illustrations

Garrison Taylor, Graduate Assistant

Project Sponsors

NRCS