The Future of Georgia’s Rural Workforce
Increasing prosperity through strategic investments in Rural Georgia’s workforce
Key Drivers
Skills misalignment among our workforce and lack of talent supply are the top issues facing the statewide business community and this is especially true for rural businesses. While challenges exist to increase workforce preparedness, there are numerous opportunities to successfully address Georgia’s rural workforce gaps.
Strategic and tailored talent pipelines that align with regional industry needs will yield productive paths for Georgians to enter or re-engage in the workforce and advance throughout their professional careers .
This bolsters opportunities for current workers and supports workforce readiness of our current learners from K-12 through post-secondary education.
Rural leaders have the advantage of being well versed in developing collaborative, meaningful partnerships which are integral in bringing critical partners to the table. Additionally, rural Georgia has experienced significant job growth due to an influx of new business projects and expansions, 83% of such being located outside of Metro Atlanta in the last year alone.1 Data-driven decision making will continue to aid communities in crafting workforce solutions to address current and long-term needs.
Top Challenges
While challenges abound across all of Georgia’s communities, rural Georgia continues to experience lower levels of educational attainment and lower third grade reading levels leading to preparedness and skills gaps.
Moreover, Rural Georgia’s labor force participation rate is lower than the statewide average More than 43% of working age adults in rural Georgia are not engaged in the workforce 2 .
This issue is compounded by rural Georgia having a larger share of population over the age of 65, compared to the state of Georgia as a whole. 3 As rural Georgians choose to retire, workforce shortages are likely to be more acute in rural communities than in urban centers. Succession planning and preparing the next generation of talent are important strategies for businesses to implement for their long-term economic success.
Top Opportunities
Rural communities in Georgia have traditionally thrived on collaboration and a regionally focused approach to development. Rural communities house a significant portion of Georgia’s technical colleges, which partner closely with industry to provide career-specific training opportunities. Within the last five years, rural regions have experienced an influx of business projects that will provide high-quality opportunities for workers in rural Georgia. Additionally, the expansion of broadband and flexible work opportunities has broadened employment opportunities in rural regions, providing the opportunity for further diversification of rural Georgia’s economic makeup and churn in local economies.
Top Indicators
3rd Grade Reading Proficiency
Georgia: 36.38% Rural Georgia: 30.99%4
Reading ability in the 3rd grade is necessary as students will begin to read for content and material, rather than only learning to read, which is widely thought to influence long-term academic and career success.5 Students with below grade level reading comprehension in the 3rd grade are more likely to drop out of high school, be arrested or incarcerated,, and require social assistance programs later in life. The scores above show that less than a third of rural students are reading at or above grade level, indicating a significant need to implement interventions in early childhood education to improve literacy rates.
Educational Attainment, Associate’s and Above
Georgia: 42% Rural Georgia: 29%6
There are many career paths available that do not require a four-year degree, but do require some level of skills training or post-secondary credential. These ensure workers are prepared for some of Georgia’s most in-demand occupations. Georgia’s post-secondary institutions offer substantial technical training programs for workers to achieve the next level of needed skills. However, there is still a significant gap in the percentage of Georgians ages 25 and up who have obtained an associate’s degree or higher and this gap is wider in rural Georgia.
Labor Force Participation Rate
Georgia: 61.4% Rural Georgia: 56.7%7
The labor force participation rate measures the percent of the working age population employed or actively seeking work compared to the full potential talent pool. From traditional workers to untapped talent, there are many people still choosing to not engage in the workforce and therefore not captured in the participation rate8. Businesses must continue to seek pathways for these individuals as they battle talent and skill misalignment and shortages.
Aging Workforce, Population 65+
Georgia: 16.6% Rural Georgia: 18.9%9
Rural Georgia’s population is aging overall. 16% of rural Georgia’s population is 65 years of age or older, only slightly above the total Georgia share of 18%, but considerably higher than the share in Metro Atlanta, which is just above 14%. 10 A greater share of aging Georgians means more potential retirements to manage, as well as a loss of institutional knowledge with retirements as the workforce evolves. Succession planning becomes more important to appropriately manage shifts in a business’s workforce.
Industry Overview
Rural Georgia is creating jobs at a slightly higher rate than Hub or Metro Atlanta regions, with notable growth in the transportation and warehousing industry. This necessitates investments in our transportation and logistics systems, as well as re-skilling and recruitment of talent to fill these positions.
By number of jobs and gross production, public sector industries such as government and defense maintain a strong lead by employment throughout all regions of the state. However, the transportation and warehousing industry represents strong growth industries with the number of jobs created. In rural Georgia, logistics-centric industries such as retail trade, manufacturing, and agriculture continue to be in the top industries by year-over-year growth, and electricity production is also a key industry for gross domestic production.
Population Trends
According to the most recent data from Lightcast, rural Georgia can expect a 6% growth in population compared to 5% total in Georgia, 5% in Metro Atlanta and 4% in Hub communities for 2023 to 2028 .
This is above the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget’s (OPB) past projections of 3.5% in rural Georgia 4.5% total in Georgia, 5.5% in Metro Atlanta and 3.5% in Hub Communities from 2025 to 2030.
The faster-than-anticipated rate of population growth for rural Georgia and the state is another positive indicator that our communities are growing .
Although this bodes well for Georgia’s rural talent base, the same projections predict nearly 20% of rural Georgia’s population to be above the age of 65 by 2028, compared to only 15% in Metro Atlanta. Seeking solutions to bolster the rural workforce as this population retires will become critical in addressing workforce talent shortages. Georgia’s poverty rate declined slightly since 2019, and now ranges from 13.5% to 15%.11 While the rate of all families in poverty is significantly lower, at 10.00%, the rate of woman-led, single households in Georgia is notable higher, at 25% compared to the rate of married family households, at 4.8%. Both poverty rates further increase in households with children under 18, however rural counties average higher on all accounts. The average poverty rate for a single, women-led household with children under 18 in rural Georgia is 43% compared to the state rate of 33%12 These rates in Georgia are consistent with national trends and are largely symptomatic of the issues discussed below in this report.
Projected Population Change, 2023 to 2028
Workforce Characteristics
Labor Force Participation
In rural Georgia, only 56.7% of working age individuals are engaged in the workforce, either as employed workers, or seeking employment. In comparison to Georgia’s 61.4% workforce participation rate, this five-percentage point lag indicates a distinct untapped talent pool and significant opportunity for economic growth potential. 13 Rural Georgia’s labor force participation requires investment in solutions to re-engage individuals who are not currently seeking engagement in the workforce in rural Georgia. Potential employers must do more than simply recruiting talent to rural communities; they must also work to alleviate barriers that prevent current rural residents from participating in the workforce. As new jobs continue to be created in rural communities through new project announcements and industry expansions, an active and engaged workforce is critical to meeting the needs of employers.
Need for Reskilling Health Challenges
Lack of Reliable Transportation
Recent research identifies reskilling needs, childcare access, health challenges, and lack of reliable transportation as top reasons individuals are not engaged in the workforce. Addressing these issues in communities can alleviate existing workforce shortages and better position Georgians for upward mobility in their careers.
Workforce Preparedness
Many opportunities exist to better prepare rural Georgians for current and future employment opportunities. As technology continues to evolve, changing responsibilities in occupations and requiring new skill sets, ensuring there are effective programs to reskill individuals will become increasingly important. Pathways for employers such as Technical College System of Georgia partnerships, can be beneficial in training employees in specific industry skills, while professional pathways and programs can provide upskilling in development.
Workforce preparedness spans beyond our current talent base and to our future workforce. On average, only 30.99% of third graders in rural Georgia counties are proficient in English language arts and reading. This significantly lags the statewide average of 36.38% and indicates a substantial gap in achievement between the two student groups.14 As students at this age begin to read for content rather than only proficiency, reading ability becomes crucial in their future learning and development, and is thought to have great implications for future life achievement. Students not proficient in third grade reading are more likely to drop out of high school, be in the criminal justice system, and need social assistance in their life, proving investments in K-12 education are vital to set students up for success.15
Preparedness begins with our earliest learners and continues throughout their K-12 education, and there is more work to be done specifically to increase students’ preparedness to engage in the workforce. 62% of business leaders surveyed in the Georgia Chamber Executive Insights Survey reported experiencing preparedness issues with new employees and challenges with recruiting talent, ranking it as a top concern. Early exposure to careers and direct workplace experience are important strategies to combat this lack of preparedness. Forty percent of high school students have never participated in any type of career training program. 16 Without awareness or direct exposure, students are unable to develop the skills and competencies needed to be successful in their careers. Additionally, there is a knowledge gap in K-12 education about high-demand job opportunities, especially those that exist in the local community. This leaves our future members of the workforce unprepared and unaware of the opportunities that are currently available in the workforce. Early career exposure and direct engagement in Georgia businesses plays a vital role in generating interest in career fields and establishing education paths that move them from middle and high school through their professional careers.
Issues Impacting The Workforce
Broadband
In today’s economy, technology is essential for business operations, schooling, and accessing community services. Governor Kemp has taken historic steps to bridge the broadband gap, investing more than $1 billion for improved broadband internet access.17 This figure does not include the significant number of resources invested through private partners. The result is exponentially increased access for Georgians across the state. The work of the advisory committee has been integral in increasing coverage for Rural Georgians. The sustained commitment of ACCG, AT&T, Comcast, Windstream, Georgia Cable Association, Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), Georgia EMC, Georgia Cities (GMA), Georgia Telecom Association, as well as DCA, GTA, and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has produced unparalleled success and creates a strong foundation for continued progress.
Despite significant improvements, broadband access gaps persist in rural Georgia. When listing counties where more than 50% of the county is unserved by broadband providers, only rural counties are included.18
These gaps limit opportunities for rural Georgians who are looking to start or expand their business, as well as for individuals looking for flexibility with working from home or being fully remote. Of course, limited broadband access may also impact individuals’ ability to complete coursework for credentials or degrees online and K-12 students to complete their assignments. Continued partnership between private and public entities will be critical to address the lingering gaps in broadband service, which have already been successful in decreasing the number of unserved locations by at least 25,000 19
Transportation
Lack of transportation is a statewide barrier to employment, an issue which is amplified in rural areas where providing public transportation is not a scalable option and where rideshare options are less prevalent. Transportation serves as a barrier when individuals need employment assistance, job training services, or receiving healthcare. This results in lower access to preventative care, leading to greater prevalence of chronic conditions and other disabilities which impact an individual’s ability to participate in the workforce.20
Currently, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is creating Transit Development Plans for each of the state’s 12 regions with the goal to create a snapshot of exiting conditions, identify disparities and needs.21 Also, in FY 2023, GDOT distributed $46.8 million to small urban and rural contracted subrecipient transit providers to support operations outside of metro areas. Employers and partners across the state can continue to seek opportunities to engage in network solutions like these to further remove barriers, provide better access to work options and improve quality of life.
Childcare
In a recent statewide poll of 400 Georgia parents with children aged up to five years old, almost half reported having to turn down jobs due to barriers accessing childcare, and one in three parents left the workforce entirely due to childcare related issues. Lack of availability of early learning programs and slots, as well as cost of programs both prove to be challenges for working families. 22
However, it is important to note that while access to childcare affects all family members, mothers are significantly impacted by lack of childcare and expense of childcare options. Despite more women returning to the workforce following a significant exodus in 2020, childcare access remains a leading reason for women not returning to the workforce. 23
Of all state quality rated early learning programs, rural Georgia has 30% of programs in the state, but only 22% of all Pre-K slots awarded. Hub regions have 23% of the quality rated early learning programs, 15% of Pre-K slots, while Metro Atlanta has 46% of programs but over 60% of slots. This indicates that programs
in Metro Atlanta are much larger.24 In part, this could be in response to varied densities of eligible students by region, However, even in Atlanta where they maintain a greater share of slots there is an estimated gap of 84,000 students for whom childcare slots are not available by public or private programs. 25 These deficits persist in rural Georgia as well, further highlighting the need to increase the number of slots and programs in these regions.
The cost and availability of infant care can be especially burdensome, an issue that is often exacerbated by shorter parental leave periods. Rural Georgia quality-rated programs are less likely to serve infants (88% of programs) than programs in Hub (90% of programs) or Metro Atlanta (92% of programs), which not only challenges parents in rural Georgia, but may disincentivize young families or workers from moving to rural regions, especially when combined with the lower number of quality rated programs overall. 26
What is Quality Rated?
‘Quality Rated’ has an online tool that helps families find childcare in their area that have been evalua ted by credentialed early childhood experts and deemed high-quality. Early learning programs must opt in to be evaluated, and programs seeking to serve students under the CAPS scholarship must be rated. Click HERE to learn more about Georgia’s quality rated programs.
Housing
Georgia does not have enough affordable housing to accommodate our current needs--let alone our growing workforce.27 Despite generally having lower housing market prices compared to the rest of the state, rural Georgia housing prices have increased at a greater rate than the Metro Atlanta region in the past year. The average rural Georgia county has experienced an 11.5% increase in monthly mortgage payments compared to just over a 10% increase in Metro Atlanta, and a 12.5% increase in Hub regions.28 These rates sit well above the current increase in consumer prices, which sat around 3% higher in Q1 of 2024 than in Q1 of 2023. 29 This results from compounding factors of more expensive building materials, increased building time, and other factors including local zoning and building regulations and lot size minimums which pose a significant challenge to those living in rural Georgia regions.
Over the last five years, rural Georgia has experienced a 62.8% decrease in housing inventory, exceeding the state average.30 Specifically, rural Georgia especially suffers from the ‘missing middle’ in the housing inventory, the lack of middle-income appropriate housing, which restricts housing mobility and opportunity. 31 This shortage means there is less churn, creating fewer opportunities for first time home buyers to enter the market and potentially decreasing overall homeownership. This also contributes to rising prices as supply has not kept up with demand, preventing individuals from living in the same communities they work. Employers have reported they are experiencing issues with retaining and recruiting talent due to housing stock deficiencies.
Homeownership is a proven method for wealth creation and creating economic mobility. There must be a greater variety of housing options in rural communities to support a strong workforce.
Strategies and Solutions to Grow Rural Georgia’s Talent Base
While challenges persist, rural communities and the businesses that operate there have found success in implementing programs and strategies to create growth in their local communities. These solutions serve as potential models to be replicated and scaled to other parts of rural Georgia.
1. Preparing the Next Generation
From literacy efforts to industry-education workforce pathway alignment, ensuring the preparedness of Georgia’s next generation of workers and learners is necessary to bolstering Georgia’s future success. Improving outcomes in universal hard skills such as early learner literacy, math proficiency, and financial literacy are important to equip students for success, and providing tools for career planning and development, professional learning opportunities and development, and leaning into public-private partnerships is crucial as well.
In the Spring of 2024 the Georgia Chamber Foundation was proud to deliver more than $2 million dollars to rural school districts across the state in support of locally developed workforce preparedness initiatives. This effort was made possible through partnership with the Georgia Department of Education’s Office of Rural Education and Innovation (REI) and Office of Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE). District initiatives focused on:
• Strengthening alignment with business and industry needs
• Expanding awareness of post-secondary and high-demand career opportunities
• Expanding entrepreneurial work-based learning opportunities for rural students
Projects ranging from career counseling services to career exploration, and industry partnerships were implemented in more than 60 rural school districts, enabling more intentional creation of workforce pipelines and stronger collaboration among educational institutions and the business community.
2. Addressing Statewide Literacy
Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation that created the Georgia Council on Literacy in 2023.32 This Council met throughout and 2023 and released the Literacy Council Report in November 2023, detailing its body of work and recommendations. The Council recently launched the Georgia READS Campaign, a statewide effort to ensure every citizen can read and thrive. Part of this effort is the Georgia Reads Community Awards, which will recognize up to 10 community partnerships that have made notable progress in literacy over the past three to five years. Each winning community will receive up to $25,000 to continue their literacy improvement efforts. The application launches on September 30, 2024, and closes on November 26, 2024
To learn more about Georgia READS, please click here .
3. Community Awareness Leveraging Existing Resources
While our education systems work hard to promote student success, partnerships between educational institutions and the business community provide additional learning opportunities for students in rural Georgia and increase awareness for high-demand occupations. Engaging disconnected workers and untapped talent is equally important in seeking solutions for current workforce gaps and misalignments.
Community Spotlight
In Southwest Georgia , Phoebe Putney Hospital System fostered a targeted partnership with the local career academy which includes a new, paid internship program for healthcare science students. This is an effort to create a strong healthcare pipeline of opportunity for students and showcases straightforward and innovative solutions to align community and industry needs. Learn more about the Phoebe Putney – 4C Partnership Program HERE
4. Small Business Entrepreneurship and Growth
As rural Georgia continues to build industry opportunities, small business and entrepreneurship serve as critical and diverse components of rural Georgia’s economy. Small businesses contribute nearly one third of all business sales per dollar in rural Georgia and promote economic dynamism that is necessary for growth and innovation. Georgia must continue to promote and support small business ownership and success.
The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce seeks to identify, engage, and provide support for high-growth entrepreneurs and their teams in the earliest stages of their business lifecycle. They incorporate brainstorming sessions with chamber staff, mentorship programs, and structured business plan amenities to provide support in some of the most common high-demand areas for young businesses.
The Seeds Center , an entrepreneur resource center specializing in customized research and data to help emerging business leaders tailor their services and business and marketing plans, was recently launched by the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce. This resource is supported by Georgia Power Company and the City of Valdosta, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships.
The Georgia Chamber Foundation Champions Rural Georgia
Reporting on Takeaways: Rural Workforce Preparedness Grant
The Rural Workforce Preparedness Grant enabled the Georgia Chamber Foundation to directly invest in workforce preparedness programs in rural school districts across the state. This grant was made possible through the support of the Georgia Department of Education’s Office of Rural Education and Innovation (REI) and Office of Career, Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE). A report will be produced in early 2025 detailing the success of the collective initiative and key takeaways from districts and businesses that engaged in these programs. These learnings will foster a deeper understanding of what generates success in workforce preparedness programs and equip rural leaders to implement similar successful projects tailored to their community’s needs.
Investing in our Partnerships
Through the support of the Truist Charitable Fund, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation has augmented the efforts of our partners Be Pro Be Proud, and Georgia Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX). The Foundation is supporting the expansion of FLEX to three rural communities as well as twelve days of Be Pro Be Proud visits in rural communities.
Through increased access to these workforce preparedness programs, barriers to educational access and employment opportunities will be mitigated, resulting in a more prosperous Rural Georgia. The Truist Charitable Fund is committed to Truist Financial Corporation ’s purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. A donor-advised fund administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation, Truist Charitable Fund invests in local community organizations, focusing on grants that support initiatives and programs in the areas of educational equity, leadership development and essential community services.
FLEX
The Georgia Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurship Experience (FLEX), an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber, focuses on creating prosperity and revitalizing rural entrepreneurial ecosystems through the education of students in establishing small businesses. FLEX was created through a collaboration among the Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce and the Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County Development Authority to foster the entrepreneurial spirit within the next generation. [Insert FLEX photo from this year’s competition]
Be Pro Be Proud
Be Pro Be Proud , another partner of the Georgia Chamber, is a technical career fair on wheels that showcases to students and young adults what technical professions they can pursue after high school. The truck will provide simulations to these careers, and the professions on board will connect them to post-secondary opportunities.
Center for Rural Prosperity
The Georgia Chamber’s Tifton office serves as a hub for rural prosperity with the mission if working alongside our south Georgia partners to improve economic mobility and the long-term economic prosperity of our state’s rural communities. The Georgia Chamber has committed to promote successful and thriving rural communities in Georgia through policy initiatives, as well as the Rural Prosperity Council.
Addressing Rural Georgia’s Housing Needs
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce was proud to partner with the Georgia Association of Realtors, Homebuilders Association of Georgia, Habitat for Humanity Georgia, Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, and Georgia Municipal Association in 2023 to discern the best practices to ease the housing challenges in the state. The Georgia Chamber Foundation recently released a report detailing the inventory declines that have occurred over the last five years. This report, the State of Housing Report , enables local leaders to see how their community has been impacted and consider strategies to alleviate the negative impacts to citizens.
National Civics Bee
The National Civics Bee is the newest partner of the Georgia Chamber Center for Workforce and Talent and was started by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the summer of 2025, the Georgia Chamber will be the official state partner for the Georgia State Civics Bee, where middle school-aged students will compete in competitions to promote civic and community engagement. The Georgia Chamber Foundation is excited to partner with local chambers of commerce and their school districts to host the National Civics Bee, especially in our rural communities.
GEM Program
The Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) Program at Georgia College and State University is designed to match third- and fourth-year students with a year-long mentor who has already attained a high level of professional success. In addition to frequent engagements with their mentors, the students will participate in a leadership course and visits around the state, allowing them to network with some of Georgia’s business leaders.
Concluding Thoughts
While challenges exist for Rural Georgia communities, there is much to be optimistic about due to steady job growth and investment along with faster than projected population growth. Many rural communities have found success implementing targeted programs and solutions to address needs in their communities, which serve as examples for other rural communities to replicate and scale. Through intentional community collaboration and strategic decision-making, rural Georgia can develop a prepared, resilient workforce built to foster long-term prosperity. To learn more about
Data and Reference Tables
2024 Population Estimates by Age and Region
Change in Jobs by Industry and Region, 2019 to 2024
‘Unclassified Industry is used by Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages to categorize businesses who did not report a NAICS code. These are generally new businesses who have not yet determined their proper NAICS code.
Sourced from Lightcast Data Software Accessed 8.2024
Endnotes
1 Office of Governor Brian Kemp (August 29, 2024). “Gov. Kemp: Georgia Job Creation Remains Strong”
2 Lightcast Data Software (Accessed 2023). Regional Comparison Report
3 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Population by Age
4 Georgia Department of Education (2022). End of Grade Milestone Assessment Report, 2021 – 2022 Statewide Scores
5 Annie E. Casey Foundation (2010). “Why Reading by the End of 3rd Grade Matters”
6 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Educational Attainment of the Population 25 Years and Older
7 Lightcast Data Software (Accessed 2023). Regional Comparison Report
8 Mckinsey & Company (December 8, 2022). “Investing in Georgia today for the economy of tomorrow”
9 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Population by Age
10 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Population by Age
11 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months
12 US Census Bureau (2022). 5 Year American Community Survey, Poverty Status of Families in the Past 12 Months
13 Lightcast Data Software (Accessed 2023). Regional Comparison Report
14 Georgia Department of Education (2022). End of Grade Milestone Assessment Report, 2021 – 2022 Statewide Scores
15 Cox Campus (October 6, 2014). “Low Literacy Rates Directly Impact Georgia’s Future”
16 Georgia Chamber Foundation, 2024 New Georgia Economy Tour Presentation
17 Office of Governor Brian Kemp (February 17, 2023). “Gov. Kemp Announces Additional Broadband Grants to Expand High-Speed Internet”
18 Georgia Broadband Program (Accessed October 2023). Georgia Broadband Availability Map
19 Georgia Technology Authority (Accessed August 2024). “Georgia’s Approach to Rural Broadband”
20 Kaiser Permanente of Georgia (September 27, 2022). “2022 Community Health Needs Assessment”
21 Georgia Department of Transportation (2023). Regional Transit Developments Plans
22 WLHR Lake Hartwell Radio (July 15, 2024). “Georgia DOT Recognizes Rural Transit Providers on National Rural Transit Day”
23 Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (Presented 2024). “Childcare is Critcal to Georgia’s Workforce”
24 PEW Research Center (August 3, 2023). “Almost 1 in 5 Stay-at-Home parents in the US are dads”
25 Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (Accessed August 2024) GEEARS Readiness Radar
26 Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (Accessed August 2024) “Metro Atlanta Childcare Access Report: North Atlanta Cluster”
27 Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (Accessed August 2024) GEEARS Readiness Radar
28 Metro Atlanta CEO (June 28, 2024). “Georgia Sees 7.5% Decline in Housing Inventory”
29 National Association of Realtors (Accessed July 2024). “2024 Q1 County Median Prices and Monthly Mortgage Payments by State”
30 National Association of Realtors (Retrieved October 2023). Data provided in partnership
31 Georgia Department of Economic Development, Center for Innovation (Accessed July 2024). Rural Housing Resources, Building Rural Housing Resources that can Help
32 Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (May 16, 2023). “Georgia Council on Literacy Appointments”