The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission (HOGARC) is a quasi-governmental agency comprised of 17 counties and 62 municipalities. Our mission is to provide professional advice and assistance to our member governments and the State of Georgia in the areas of planning, community and economic development, local government administration and management, historic preservation, aging services, geographic information system services, workforce investment, and coordinated transportation. Our goal is to assist the planning and provision of efficient and effective services to improve the quality of life for citizens in the region’s counties, the region, and for all of Georgia.
www.hogarc.org
Appling - Bleckley - Candler - Dodge - Emanuel - Evans - Jeff Davis - Johnson - Laurens - Montgomery - Tattnall - Telfair - Toombs - Treutlen - Wayne - Wheeler - Wilcox
WELCOME!
Welcome to the home of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Plan Update. The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission is currently undergoing strategic planning meetings to guide the future growth and development for our 17 county region. Issues discussed include economic development, community facilities and services, natural and cultural resources, housing, land use, intergovernmental coordination, and other important concerns. In a series of meetings and public listening sessions, to be held in November - March, regional leadership will be seeking input from our local governments and citizens concerning these topics. This page will provide periodic updates and working documents from the Regional Plan Technical Advisory Committee.
Regional Plans are a guide for future decision making that address critical regional issues and opportunities and provide a framework for advancing the state's planning goals. Regional Plans are also wider in scope than local plans, and deal with broader issues that involve a variety of entities, including state and federal agencies, local governments and private organizations. Each of Georgia’s twelve Regional Commissions develops a regionally-specific plan, which must be approved by DCA and adopted by its Regional Council.
The Georgia Planning Act, O.C.G.A. 50-8-1, et seq, gives DCA the authority to establish standards and procedures for appropriate and timely regional planning by all Regional Commissions in Georgia. Those standards and procedures are embodied in the rules known as the 'regional planning requirements'. In order to remain eligible for state funding programs, each Regional Commission must prepare, adopt, maintain, and implement a regional plan that meets these planning requirements.
In order to remain eligible for state funding programs, each Regional Commission must prepare, adopt, maintain, and implement a regional plan. In accordance with DCA’s Standards and Procedures for Regional Planning (“Regional Planning Requirements,” Chapter 100-12-6, Effective 2017), a regional plan is required to be updated every five years. In addition, annual updates to the implementation program component of the regional plan are required.
HOGARC 2024 Regional Plan Timetable
- Thursday, 11/16/2023, 5:30 p.m. - Initial Public Hearing #1/Stakeholder Steering Meeting #1/Council Meeting, Mount Vernon, Georgia
- Thursday, 12/5/2023, 5:00 p.m. - Listening Session #1 (Location: Santa Claus Community Center)
- Wednesday, 1/17/2024, 10:30 a.m. - Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting #2 (Location: Vidalia Municipal Annex, 302 E. First Street, Vidalia)
- Thursday, 1/18/2024, 5:00 p.m. - Listening Session #2 (Location: Towns Bluff Park & Heritage Center, 45 Riverwood Trl, Hazlehurst)
- Wednesday, 2/21/2024, 2:00 p.m. - Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting #3(Location: Vidalia Municipal Annex, 302 E. First Street, Vidalia)
- Wednesday, 2/21/2024, 5:00 p.m. - Listening Session #3 (Location: Carnegie Library, 314 Academy Avenue, Dublin)
- Tuesday, 3/21/2024, 5:30 p.m. - Stakeholder Steering Committee Meeting #4/Public Hearing #2 (Location: Mt. Vernon Senior Center)
- April-May 2024: Community Agenda under review by Department of Community Affairs
- June 20, 2024: Final adoption of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Plan
PREVIOUS REGIONAL VISION
While the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region has a stable population for a rural region, issues remain. The Region wishes to continue to grow, thrive, and prosper in a healthy, sustainable manner. The Region would foster a business-friendly climate which grows the economy; encourages business concerns to expand, locate, or start-up; and increases employment with well-paying jobs, while maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere and attractive natural and cultural environment. It desires to do so while protecting and enhancing its scenic and natural amenities and significant historic resources; maintaining productivity of its prolific agricultural and forest resources; diversifying and solidifying a globally competitive economy; attracting retirees, lifestyle in-migrants, entrepreneurs, and other residents; retaining its youth and bringing home natives who have left; and preserving its rural, small town character.
The future Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region will be a thriving, mecca of rural renaissance with a strong sense of regional identity, and envious examples of collaboration and cooperation. The Region will continue to invest in its people and their education, workforce, and leadership skills; to invest in infrastructure, with special emphasis on access to state-of-the-art broadband and telecommunications, to prepare for and accommodate quality growth and development; to seek growth and development which links to, utilizes, and builds on its local natural and historic resources; to diversify, innovate, and maintain productivity in its agricultural and forest products and uses; to further improve its excellent transportation access and connection to nearby urban areas and the Georgia ports; to attract new residents, such as young families and retirees, with readily available healthcare services, increased public transit availability, education and recreation opportunities, arts enrichment, and other desired quality services and amenities; and otherwise, to diversify and expand its economy in a supportive, sustainable manner. Agri-tourism, heritage tourism, and nature-based tourism will be actively promoted, key components of the Region’s economy which attract visitors and provide local employment. The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Region truly will be a coveted address to live, work, recreate, and in which to conduct business. Its unique history, culture, and quality of life will be widely recognized.