January 15, 2026 The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission hosted a New Mayors’ Meeting in Camilla, bringing together newly elected municipal leaders from across Region 10 for collaboration, orientation, and strategic resource sharing.
Peer Leadership Insights
Mayor James Eubanks of Pelham and Mayor Travis Wimbush of Blakely shared practical insights from their experiences leading small municipalities. Their discussion emphasized fiscal stewardship, infrastructure planning, workforce development, and the importance of regional partnerships.
State and Regional Resource Briefings
Heather Sharpe of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs provided an overview of available state programs, including Community Development Block Grant funding, planning compliance requirements, housing initiatives, and technical assistance opportunities.
Suzanne Angell, Executive Director of the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission,
reinforced SWGRC’s role in:
- Grant writing and administration
- Comprehensive planning and Community Work Programs
- Economic development coordination
- Housing and infrastructure strategy
- Regional collaboration initiatives
Region 10’s New Mayors in Attendance
Newly elected mayors representing the following cities were in attendance:
- Donalsonville
- Bainbridge
- Thomasville
- Climax
- Coolidge
- Leesburg
- Meigs
- Cairo
Region 10 spans 14 counties and 43 cities, and strong municipal leadership remains foundational to advancing economic development, infrastructure investment, and quality of life throughout Southwest Georgia.
Moving Forward Together
The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission extends congratulations to each of our newly elected mayors. We look forward to supporting your administrations through strategic planning, funding coordination, compliance guidance, and regional partnership development.
Leadership matters. Collaboration accelerates results. Region 10 moves forward—together.
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FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) NOFO Now Live
Rural organizations working to expand housing and community development now have an opportunity to receive free technical support through the Housing Assistance Council’s OneRural Technical Assistance Program. Applications for Round 6 are now open and will be accepted through March 31, 2026, with additional applications considered through April 15 if space remains. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rural Capacity Building Program and USDA Rural Development’s Rural Community Development Initiative, OneRural provides no-cost, one-on-one technical assistance to help rural organizations strengthen operations, build capacity, and expand affordable housing and community development efforts. Selected participants receive expert guidance on housing development and financing, specialized training resources, and support from a dedicated HAC team partner to help implement solutions and grow long-term impact. Because the program is competitive and space is limited, applicants are encouraged to submit strong proposals that clearly demonstrate organizational goals and leadership commitment. Organizations can learn more and apply online, or direct questions to apply@ruralhome.org
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