Community Affair’s Commissioner Mike Beatty (left) is always welcome in Colquitt, but especially when he brings his checkbook. Colquitt and Miller County officials give the group a good welcome. Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Commissioner Mike Beatty, Miller County Board of Commission Chair Barbie Womble and Mayor Jerry Chapman of Colquitt signed the Communities of Opportunity Contract on Thursday, November 12, at 5:00 p.m. at the Colquitt- Miller County Chamber of Commerce.

Launched by Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Rural Development Council in March 2007, the Communities of Opportunity (Co-Op) initiative is a collaborative, locally-driven community development strategy focused on enhancing the economic vitality of rural Georgia communities.

In keeping with Governor Perdue’s vision for a growing, healthy, safe and educated Georgia, Co-Op will challenge local communities to engage in a comprehensive and collaborative approach to community development.

Co-Op is administered by the Georgia Department of Community of Affairs (DCA), in partnership with a number of public and private partners.

Participation in Co-Op is optional. Communities that decide to participate will receive an assessment and follow-up discussions to determine their focus areas. Based on a positive response by local community leaders, the Co-Op team will offer assistance to develop a Community Improvement Strategy. Incentives for local involvement will also be offered.

Local leaders and citizens have completed their Community Improvement Strategy for Miller County. The Co-Op Implementation Team and collaborating organizations and agencies will work towards addressing their highest priorities, as identified in their improvement strategy, over a two-year period. Miller County will address issues surrounding childhood development and health by creating a playground on property adjacent to the new county K-12 school.

Play is a critical part of a child’s development. Games and play activities can sharpen a child’s physical and social skills in ways that will benefit that person for the rest of their lives. Additionally, physical activity helps combat childhood obesity which is a growing problem not only in Miller County and the state of Georgia, but nationwide. To address these issues, Miller County and the City of Colquitt will construct a playground adjacent to the new K-12 school. The playground will also serve as a community gathering place and point of pride. This will be a space where friends and neighbors can meet and watch their children or possibly exercise and play themselves. Alumni from the Leadership Colquitt class will be used as volunteers to complete the different parts of the project. Each class will be given a different part to complete along with a timeline and budget. Utilizing the Leadership Colquitt graduates in this way will enhance leadership in the community and give the alumni a concrete project to complete and to which they can apply the principles they learned in the class. By encouraging play, and thereby better physical, mental and emotional fitness, and increased leadership within the community, Miller County and the City of Colquitt will help improve the future of the community and all of its residents.

Participants at Thursday’s contract signing include: Implementation Team Leader Leigh Thompson, Miller County Collaborative Committee (Family Connection & Communities In School); members of the Colquitt- Miller Chamber of Commerce; Miller County School Board; Miller County Parent Teacher Organization; Leadership Colquitt Alumni and 2009 Class; and other community leaders. The public was invited to attend.

For more information please contact Miller County Communities of Opportunity Implementation Team Leader Leigh Thompson, 229-758-3059 or Patrice Williams, DCA Communities of Opportunity program coordinator, 404- 323-9133.