Archway Partnership moves forward

DALTON, Ga. -- The University of Georgia Archway Partnership is expected to tackle the biggest issues facing the community.

"I think that in a couple of years you'll see great progress and a big change that will make a difference in Dalton and Whitfield County," said Dr. John Schwenn, president of Dalton State College and vice chairman of the Archway executive committee.

The university's Archway program works with communities to identify key goals and then connects with college resources -- such as students and faculty -- to attain those goals. The greater Dalton area is the eighth community selected since the program began in 2005.

Archway started here with an August listening session attended by about 300 residents. A report from that session recently was completed.

Melissa Lu, the area's Archway professional, said the executive committee plans to meet Dec. 11 to discuss the report and identify the top issues.

"Everybody kind of takes something different from it (the listening session report), and that's what happens when you put together a summary that 300 people contributed on," Ms. Lu said. "Hopefully we can sit down and tease out what are the main ideas."

Dr. Schwenn said he doesn't yet know how priorities could take shape, but said it seems residents are interested in topics such as the economy and education.

Ms. Lu said that once the group determines priorities, members will organize steering committees and volunteers to work on certain projects and develop action plans.

She said her job is to keep the process going and connect the community with the college resources it needs.

Grow Greater Dalton, a privately and publicly funded economic development strategy, is paying $200,000 and the University System of Georgia is providing a match of $840,000 to fund the partnership, according to a Grow Greater Dalton brochure.

ARCHWAY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

* Brian Anderson

* Linda Blackman

* Katie Brochu

* Jim Burran

* Don Cope

* Chuck Dobbins

* David Gregg

* Jim Hawkins

* Rick Hooper

* Dixie Kinard

* Bob McLeod

* Jeff Myers

* Ty Ross

* John Schwenn

TO LEARN MORE

Copies of the Dalton-Whitfield Listening Session report are available at the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce and at http://archwaypartnership.uga.edu/category/whitfield-reports/