Dalton Set To Host 2022 "Young Gamechangers" Project
With several capital improvement projects both on the horizon and also more already in progress, the City of Dalton is working to be the best place to live, work, and play in Georgia. Today, the City of Dalton is announcing a partnership with GeorgiaForward’s “Young Gamechangers” program to host a panel 50 of Georgia’s brightest young minds to help guide that growth.
“Number one, obviously we’re excited about the recognition around the state that we’re hosting this project,” said Dalton Mayor David Pennington. “And obviously it’s going to be interesting to see what other young professionals coming into our community think about what we’re doing in Dalton. We hope to get some new ideas as far as marketing our community.”
Young Gamechangers brings together professionals ages 24-40 to help solve the persistent challenges of one Georgia community each year. Each class does extensive research and works to generate big idea recommendations based on their host community’s specific needs. They present their recommendations, along with a comprehensive report, at the end of their project. The Dalton host committee will determine what issues the panel will study and present the group with a set of four “challenge questions” to develop answers for.
“The timing is perfect for the Young Gamechangers program to come to the City of Dalton to bring fresh ideas and perspectives as our community continues to grow and evolve,” said Andrew Parker, who will take over as City Administrator this week. “There are so many exciting projects taking place within the City over the next few years, and the Young Gamechangers will help us continue to think critically to best position the community for long term success.”
“We are so excited to be heading to Dalton for our first Young Gamechangers Program in two years and our first from within the Georgia Municipal Association,” said GeorgiaForward Managing Director Brenda Belcher. “With GMA’s statewide breadth supporting GeorgiaForward’s expertise, I know this program will have lasting impact on Dalton as well as every Young Gamechanger.”
A third of the 50-person panel working on the project will be made up of people who live in the Dalton area. The program is open to civic minded 24-40 year olds from any professional background. If you are an energetic, civically-driven big thinker, please consider applying for the program. Ambitious individuals from any professional sector will be considered.
Applications for the Dalton Project will be open until September 15th. The 50 panelists will be selected and contacted on November 1st and begin their work in January. The study will take place over the course of six months with the presentation of findings set for next August. Applications can be downloaded by clicking here.
GeorgiaForward is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to improve the state of Georgia by engaging business, political, academic and civil leaders to collaboratively shape a statewide policy agenda through their Young Gamechangers program and annual Forum. For more information, please visit their web site: www.georgiaforward.org.
