The landscape of rural development in Georgia is shifting, with Georgia's Rural Center for Innovation and Prosperity moving under the purview of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced the integration along with the appointment of new executive director, Charles “Charlie” Fiveash, starting August 15. Fiveash comes to the position with an impressive resume built over nearly 35 years of experience in various sectors, including commercial real estate, economic development, and workforce development.
The Rural Center, which was established in 2018, has seen more than $408 million in investments in rural parts of Georgia. The transition follows House Bill 495, which moved the center’s operations from the University System of Georgia to the Department of Agriculture. Stepping into the role, Fiveash has received unanimous approval from the Georgia Rural Development Council. “We are incredibly excited that Georgia’s Rural Center is now housed at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and we look forward to leveraging existing resources through GDA and Georgia Grown to build upon and expand the great work the Rural Center is already doing,” Harper said, according to a statement obtained by Georgia Department of Agriculture. “We’re equally excited to welcome Charlie Fiveash, who brings nearly 35 years of experience, to the Rural Center team, and I look forward to working closely with Charlie to make investments and build prosperity in Rural Georgia.”
Fiveash's track record includes tenure as Executive Director of Partnership Habersham in Habersham County and contributions on the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. He also boasts dual degrees from the University of Georgia and Georgia College & State University and is actively engaged in various professional, civic, and faith-based organizations. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the team at the Department of Agriculture and Georgia’s Rural Center and look forward to continuing the efforts being made to positively impact the rural communities in our state,” Fiveash told Georgia Department of Agriculture, expressing eagerness to foster partnerships that create meaningful progress in rural communities.
The Rural Center's role in Georgia's progress includes touching all 159 of the state's communities, metro, suburban, and rural alike, through regional and statewide projects, and directly impacting 73 counties with needed projects. Jim Matney, Chairman of the Georgia Rural Development Council, noted, “The council is excited to continue promoting, advocating for, and sharing about rural Georgia with Charlie Fiveash at the helm while working with the Georgia Department of Agriculture as it strives to advance these communities within our state,” as reported by Georgia Department of Agriculture. His leadership is expected to further elevate the center's mission to spur innovation and investment within since its inception, just as it has managed to achieve a 132:1 return ratio against CRPI funds with a total investment yield of over $408 million.
