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.

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.