Georgia's Rural Center Supports Youth Development

A strong workforce begins with investing in the next generation. Youth workforce development programs are equipping students and young adults with the skills, experiences, and opportunities they need to succeed while strengthening the communities they call home. The following projects highlight two ways Georgia’s Rural Center is helping communities prepare young people for successful futures. 

Lead Gilmer: 

Lead Gilmer connects young people with local employers, career opportunities, and community leaders through a partnership between CTAE, Greater Gilmer Joint Development Authority, and Georgia’s Rural Center. By building these connections early, the program aims to encourage graduates to remain or return to the community after high school or college. This will strengthen the workforce for years to come.

Lead Gilmer serves two cohorts, juniors and seniors. Each has a distinct focus designed to prepare students for success after graduation. Juniors explore career opportunities within their community through industry tours and professional development workshops that help them discover their strengths, build workplace skills, and connect their interests to future career paths. As seniors, students apply their skills through community service projects and entrepreneurial challenges, working with local mentors to develop innovative solutions while strengthening leadership, teamwork, and professional communication skills. 

Gilmer County was also selected as a Georgia Power CREATE (Cultivating Resilient Entrepreneurs and Transforming Economies) community in 2024, with youth workforce development identified as the team's primary focus. One initiative brought the Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop to the county's middle school, where students participated in an interactive, hands-on experience introducing them to high-demand careers in the skilled trades and technical fields.

At the high school level, the CREATE Team partnered with school leadership, the school counselor, and the Work-Based Learning Coordinator to launch Bobcat Bridge, a monthly employability skills series. The program equips students with workplace competencies that employers consistently identify as essential, including communication, time management, professionalism, teamwork, and receiving and applying constructive feedback. The CREATE Team also hosted a spring job fair, connecting juniors and seniors with local employers and summer employment opportunities, further strengthening the bridge between education and the workforce.

Presentation to Fannin County, GROW (Getting Ready for Opportunities for Work) group: 

Georgia's Rural Center conducted a presentation titled “Handshake and a Cupcake,” for students in Fannin County High School’s GROW (Getting Ready for Opportunities for Work) program. The students participated in an interactive workshop focused on making strong first impressions and developing professional communication skills. Through hands-on activities and discussion, students explored the importance of body language, eye contact, confidence, and the difference between effective and ineffective handshakes. 

Students also created and practiced their own 30-second commercial–a concise personal introduction highlighting who they are, their interests, and their goals. Whether meeting a potential employer, college representative, community leader, or mentor, the ability to confidently introduce oneself is a skill that can create lasting opportunities. 

While these experiences may seem simple, they help address a critical gap in workforce readiness. Many young people have never been taught how to network, start a professional conversation, or communicate their strengths effectively. Yet employers consistently identify communication and professionalism as some of the most important workplace skills.