The University of Georgia (UGA) has received the 2025 Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Award in the “Place” category from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. This national award recognizes UGA’s efforts in community and economic development throughout Georgia.
The IEP Awards highlight case studies that show significant economic engagement. The Place Award specifically honors initiatives focused on social, cultural, and community development. UGA’s selection is based on over ten years of work that has supported towns, empowered local leaders, and led to hundreds of millions in public and private investment.
“This recognition affirms the University of Georgia’s enduring commitment to serving the people of our state, and we are proud to be a national model for university-led economic development,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Our faculty, staff and students are helping communities realize their potential and build vibrant futures.”
UGA’s submission featured several statewide projects managed by its Public Service and Outreach units. These include the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Renaissance Strategic Visioning and Planning (RSVP) program, Community Branding programs, and the Archway Partnership’s work in Hartwell.
Since 2013, RSVP has helped 25 communities revitalize their downtowns through public engagement and planning support. These efforts have resulted in more than $500 million in combined investments from both public and private sources.
One example is Gainesville, which began working with UGA in 2015. Since then, Gainesville has added over 800 housing units, created nearly 500 jobs, attracted more than $388 million in private investment, and secured over $80 million in public funding. In 2023 alone, Gainesville received $4.4 million from the state for green space improvements.
“Economic development is not just about attracting business. It’s about creating places where people want to live, work and invest,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Through these initiatives, our faculty and students are helping communities across Georgia turn ideas into lasting change.”
UGA’s Community Branding Program assists towns with developing authentic brands that reflect local identity using research-driven methods. In Hawkinsville, this program helped leverage a $33,000 investment into more than $6 million in grants—including a $4.5 million streetscape grant—by using brand visuals created by UGA as part of grant applications.
Sixteen communities have worked with UGA through this branding initiative. The program recently received an Award of Excellence from the University Economic Development Association in its own Place category.
The Archway Partnership connects UGA faculty with local needs by embedding them within communities since 2005. In Hart County alone since 2020, Archway has overseen 93 projects involving nearly 200 students and over 70 faculty members from various colleges at UGA—with an estimated return on investment of $6.8 million.
Hartwell credits its partnership with Archway as a major factor behind being named Downtown of the Year by the Georgia Downtown Association in 2023 and earning designation as a Georgia Exceptional Main Street community in 2024.
“Public Service and Outreach is the bridge between the university and the communities we serve,” said Stacy Jones, vice president for public service and outreach. “This award is a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact we can achieve when we listen to communities and work alongside them to build solutions that support each community’s unique identity that makes them a special place.”
To qualify for IEP Awards, universities must first receive APLU’s IEP designation after completing a self-study process involving stakeholder input to identify strengths in economic development work. UGA earned this designation in 2022 before being selected for this year’s Place Award out of more than seventy eligible institutions.
