University of Georgia

Supporting Military Communities

Institute of Government partnerships build more vibrant, prosperous communities across the state.

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Key Takeaways

  • UGA’s Defense Community Resilience Program, housed in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, has partnered with the city of Buena Vista, Georgia, outside Fort Benning.
  • Since 2022, the partnership has produced downtown revitalization and tourism projects representing an estimated $1 million investment in the community.
  • By connecting the Buena Vista community with faculty, staff, and students across several UGA academic units, the partnership achieves UGA’s land- and sea-grant mission.

A vibrant mural at the corner of North Broad Street and Fifth Avenue in downtown Buena Vista, Georgia, catches the eyes of passers-by with its bright blue border. The mural tells the story of the longleaf pine forests that once dominated Marion County and the turpentine industry, flora, and fauna the trees supported—from gopher tortoises to bobwhite quail.

The mural is just one way the city is hoping to attract visitors and residents from nearby U.S. Army installation Fort Benning to boost its tourism, as recommended by the University of Georgia Defense Community Resilience Program. Housed in the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the program connects military installations and their surrounding communities with UGA expertise, strengthening local economies, supporting soldiers and their families, and fostering thriving communities across the state.

A collage with two photos. The left photo features the historic courthouse in downtown Buena Vista near Fort Moore. The photo on the right shows a local business in a bright orange building near Fort Moore.

Seeking Solutions

“Because of the tools being provided to us, generations are going to benefit.”

– Kevin Brown,

Mayor of Buena Vista, GA

In Buena Vista, the 2015 departure of Tyson Foods eliminated 400 jobs in the area and forced the community to reconsider its economic strategies.

“It pushed us to start focusing on tourism and trying to bring a transient population into the community to shop at our mom-and-pop shops and leave revenue with our small business community,” explained Mayor Kevin Brown.

The UGA Institute of Government first partnered with the community in 2021 as part of the River Valley Community Compatible Development plan, which provides strategic direction to spur economic development in the six rural counties outside of Fort Benning and Columbus.

Ileeia Smith – Public Service Assistant UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government
Ileeia Smith – Public Service Assistant UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government
Kevin Brown – Mayor of Buena Vista
Kevin Brown – Mayor of Buena Vista
Student Voices
Student Voices

Since 2022, Buena Vista has achieved several economic successes through its partnership with UGA, with an estimated impact of $1 million from various projects providing a blueprint for success. Faculty from the Institute of Government helped to revitalize the city’s development authority, which enabled Buena Vista to identify grant opportunities with governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations focused on economic development. Map of Georgia with Marion County highlighted. Text overlay reads: $1 million estimated impact in Marion County.

“Oftentimes rural communities are overlooked,” Brown says, so he appreciates the attention the University of Georgia is giving the community.

“Because of the tools being provided to us, generations are going to benefit,” he says.

In 2022, the community commissioned the downtown mural to welcome visitors and promote tourism through a public-private partnership with Flint Energies, the electric cooperative that serves 17 counties in the region. Flint, along with partners at Georgia Power and EnviroSpark, also facilitated the installation of an electric vehicle charger in downtown Buena Vista.

A photo of Fort Moore behind a large expanse of green grass. Paratroopers train using a series of cables that simulate combat airdrops.

Powerful Partnerships

“Finding ways to meet the needs of our local governments and the communities they serve is central to UGA’s land-grant mission.”
– Rob Gordon
Director, UGA Institute of Government

The UGA Defense Community Resilience Program is deeply integrated with faculty, staff, and students from various academic units. UGA students from the College of Environment and Design provided extensive landscape designs for Fort Benning’s historic Cuartels, or barracks. The engagement benefits both the installation, which receives innovative ideas, and the students, who gain valuable real-world experience.

“The University of Georgia’s mission with its outreach work is to leave an impact on these different areas in Georgia, and I think CED being able to have landscape architecture work that impacts real people does that,” says Marren Powelson, a fourth-year student who worked on the project.

UGA’s partnership with the Army has also benefitted from several intergovernmental support agreements that expand the university’s efforts in strengthening community and economic development.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead with military representative showing a “challenge coin” given after signing the proclamation.

UGA President Jere W. Morehead with Col. Colin P. Mahle showing a “challenge coin” given after signing the proclamation marking the agreement between the university and the U.S. Army.

A collage with 2 photos. The left photo is a group photo of people from the UGA Defense Community Resilience Program. The photo on the right features three people, including UGA President Morehead, at a long blue table signing documents.

The relationship also aligns with the UGA Public Service and Outreach land- and sea-grant mission.

“Finding ways to meet the needs of our local governments and the communities they serve is central to UGA’s land-grant mission,” says Rob Gordon, director of the Institute of Government. “The partnerships we are building by working directly with military installations and the surrounding areas deepens our ability to provide the best information for local leaders, while at the same time supporting meaningful student learning opportunities.”