Registration for the GICH 2026 Spring Retreat is now open!
Registration deadline is Friday, March 27th!
Secure lodging by Monday, March 16th to ensure event hotel rates!
Retreat Information
Dates: The GICH 2026 Spring Retreat is scheduled for April 14th-16th, 2026.
Location: University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center
2360 Rainwater Rd, Tifton, GA 31793
Registration Information
- Registration Fee: The registration fee for the GICH 2026 Spring retreat is $150. A $25 dollar late fee will be added after the March 27th deadline. The registration fee applies to all attendees who are not members of current GICH communities or GICH program staff. This includes all members of alumni communities and other guests.
- Registration Policy: To ensure accurate attendee counts, please be sure to fully complete the online registration form. For those who will register multiple people, please register each person individually and not under the same name.
- The link to the online registration form is below. For questions, please contact Dr. Jermaine Durham, GICH program director (Jermaine.Durham@uga.edu).
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Federal Helene Relief: Hurricane Helene Block Grant Applications to Open March 16
Thomas, Colquitt, and Decatur County Students Showcase 44 Innovative Projects at InVenture Prize
Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. Announces FY2027 Community Project Funding (CPF) Opportunity
Tifton, Georgia | Register by March 27
Application Workshop Announcement Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has officially announced the 2026 Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program Competition, a critical funding opportunity designed to stabilize housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness across Georgia. What Is the ESG Program? The ESG Program, funded through the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless (HTF) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development via U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, supports: Street outreach Emergency shelter Rapid re-housing Homelessness prevention Related housing stabilization services Awards are provided to local governments and nonprofit organizations, which then deliver services locally. DCA does not provide direct assistance to individuals or households. This program operates within a continuum of care model, helping individuals and families transition from crisis to housing sustainability. 2026 ESG Competition Timeline Application Opens: Monday, April 13, 2026 Application Deadline: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM All applications and required documentation must be submitted by the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. Full competition details will be posted on DCA’s ESG webpage: https://dca.georgia.gov/affordable-housing/homelessness-assistance/emergency-solutions-grants In-Person ESG Application Workshops DCA will host four in-person workshops covering: Eligible activities Application process Required organizational documentation Submission timelines Compliance expectations February 18, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM This session is exclusively available to registrants of the DCA Homeless and Special Needs Housing Symposium in Savannah, GA. March 10, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Microbusiness Enterprise Center 230 S. Jackson Street Albany, GA 31701 Click Here to Register March 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Advocates for Children 827 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE Cartersville, GA 30120 Click Here to Register March 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM River Edge Behavioral Health 175 Emery Highway Macon, GA 31217 Click Here to Register Who Should Attend? Local government housing administrators Nonprofit executive directors Homeless service providers Continuum of Care partners Grant writers and compliance staff Housing advocates and policy professionals Attendance is strongly encouraged for both new applicants and returning subrecipients. Questions? For ESG Program assistance, contact: Tiffany Bowers-Weller – Tiffany.Weller@dca.ga.gov LaDrina M. Jones – LaDrina.Jones@dca.ga.gov If your organization is preparing to apply, now is the time to begin gathering required documentation and reviewing eligibility requirements. With a competitive funding window and firm deadline, early preparation will position your agency for success.
Georgia Tech’s Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) program recently brought students from Bainbridge, Thomas County Central, and Thomasville City together in Bainbridge, Georgia, for the program’s first Tri-District Race. Students competed with custom cars they designed and built as part of the AMP curriculum, a hands-on pathway that introduces advanced manufacturing through programming, digital design, 3D printing, machining, and performance testing. What Students Learned AMP’s signature project is simple and powerful, students engineer the fastest possible car from the ground up, learning how to: Design with CAD tools, then iterate on prototypes, Translate digital models into physical parts through 3D printing and machining, Use data to optimize speed and performance, and Apply real manufacturing workflows under real time constraints. In the accompanying video highlights, students describe the excitement of taking something “from online into real life,” while regional industry voices emphasize the long-term payoff, growing local talent that is more likely to build careers and stay in Southwest Georgia. Community Partners and Regional Momentum The Tri-District Race was hosted at Southern Regional Technical College in Bainbridge, with community support that helped turn the competition into a true regional celebration. Georgia Tech reports AMP is already expanding, adding three more Southwest Georgia schools and doubling program reach. Award highlights Georgia Tech’s event recap includes race results and awards such as Best Engineering, Best in Show, and People’s Choice, reflecting both speed and design excellence across teams. Call to action Read the full feature story and see photos, student quotes, and program details here: https://research.gatech.edu/feature/amp-tri-district-race
The City of Boston, Georgia, located in Thomas County, is now accepting sealed bids for the Storm Drainage & Street Improvements Project serving the Johnson Street, Garnett Street, and Ruby Street area (Still Waters Engineering Project No. B1519.007). This infrastructure improvement project includes significant stormwater system upgrades and roadway enhancements designed to improve drainage capacity, roadway safety, and overall community infrastructure resilience. 📌 Project Scope Includes: Approximately 3,200 linear feet of storm drainage piping (18”–30”) Approximately 5,600 linear feet of 24” curb and gutter Approximately 30 storm drainage drop inlets Approximately 440 tons of 1.25” 9.5 mm Superpave Asphalt Bids will be received for a single prime contract and shall include lump sum and unit pricing as specified in the Bid Form. 🚨 IMPORTANT DEADLINE Sealed Bids Due: March 19, 2026 at 10:30 AM (Local Time) 📍 Boston City Hall 124 Jefferson Street Boston, GA 31626 Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud immediately following the deadline. Late bids will not be accepted. 📄 How to Obtain Bid Documents Bid documents are available through: Still Waters Engineering 130 Veterinary Way, Unit 2 Leesburg, GA 31763 Phone: 229-496-5700 Contact: Chad Griffin – cgriffin@stillwaterseng.com Nikki Griffith – officeadmin@stillwaterseng.com Electronic copies (PDF): $300 (non-refundable) Paper copies: Additional $100 (non-refundable) ⚠️ Only bidders who have officially purchased complete bid documents from the Issuing Office will be eligible to submit bids. Federal Compliance & Section 3 Notice This project is funded in part by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs through the U.S. HUD Community Development Block Grant Program and is subject to: Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing requirements Equal opportunity provisions Section 3 residents and business concerns are strongly encouraged to apply. For information regarding employment or subcontracting opportunities, contact: Mayor Danny Groover 229-498-6743 This advertisement is issued in accordance with the official bid notice dated February 12, 2026 C-111 Advertisement for Bids.do… .
Succeeding as a Supervisor The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission is notifying all 14 counties and 43 cities in Region 10 that registration is now open for the March/April 2026 Virtual Open Enrollment – Succeeding as a Supervisor (SaaS), Cohort 9, offered by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. This five-day supervisory development course is designed for: • Supervisors with two years or less in their current role • Employees preparing for supervisory responsibilities • Long-term supervisors without formal supervisory training The course is delivered virtually via Zoom over a five-to-six-week period and includes a course textbook and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter II assessment to support leadership self-awareness. Course Schedule (All Dates Required) March 5, 2026 March 12, 2026 March 19, 2026 March 26, 2026 April 9, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Format: Virtual (Webcam and microphone required) Cost: $675 per participant How to Register Online registration is preferred for the individual attending. Course Information & Online Registration: https://cviog.uga.edu/training/leadership-development/saas.html The registration form should only be used if: • Registering someone other than yourself • An invoice is required to process a check Payment must be received to guarantee enrollment. Registration Assistance Kaitlyn Elizabeth Lambert Phone: (706) 542-9523 Email: Kaitlyn.Lambert@uga.edu Eric M. Robinson Office: (404) 463-6807 Email: ericr@uga.edu Why This Matters for Region 10 Effective supervisors strengthen departments, improve employee morale, and enhance public service delivery. We encourage city managers, county administrators, department heads, and elected officials to identify emerging leaders and current supervisors who would benefit from structured leadership development. Leadership capacity is infrastructure. Let’s continue building it across Southwest Georgia.
The Regional Partners Network is dedicating the month of February to grant readiness , because strong organizations are built before the funding opportunity appears, not after. Grant readiness is more than having a good idea, it is about systems, documentation, leadership alignment, and the capacity to manage funds responsibly. As part of this focus, we need your participation before our February 18 meeting to ensure the discussion is practical, targeted, and responsive to real needs across the region. Please Complete These Two Quick Steps 1️⃣ Register for the RPN Meeting Wednesday, February 18 This meeting will center on how we can collectively strengthen grant readiness across our region, identify common challenges, and share practical strategies that help organizations move from interest to implementation. ➡️ Register for the February 18 RPN Meeting 2️⃣ Take the Grant Readiness Survey This short survey is a critical part of our preparation. Your responses will help shape the meeting discussion, guide panel insights, and ensure we address the areas where organizations need the most support. ➡️ Click here to complete the Grant Readiness Survey Why This Matters Funders increasingly expect organizations to demonstrate financial controls, governance structures, program clarity, and evaluation capacity before awards are made. Organizations that invest time in readiness are more competitive, more sustainable, and better positioned to steward public and private funds responsibly. Your participation helps us elevate not just individual organizations, but the overall funding strength of our region. We look forward to engaging with you on February 18 and building a stronger, more grant-ready network together.
