UGA Archway Partnership reviews 34 Burke County projects, asks community to weigh continued MOU

Connie Fennel Burley, the Archway professional assigned to Washington County who has been filling in for Burke County since late fall, told trustees at the April 4 meeting that the University of Georgia Archway Partnership has completed 34 projects for Burke County, has five projects in process, and has engaged about 50 students and 14 faculty on local projects.

Burley described Archway as a community-driven UGA public-service program that connects local leaders with students, faculty and resources. She said the partnership’s stated goal is to address locally identified community and economic-development issues and that the Archway executive committee — made up of local leaders and funding partners — helps set priorities.

"The community knows what challenges are here," Burley said. "Archway's whole mission is to come alongside of what is going on in the community and figure out ways to partner with community members ... and help you reach the goals that whatever the community is trying to work on." She outlined example projects that have ranged from housing assessments and downtown design to workforce studies and hospital health-needs assessments.

Burley told trustees Archway’s recorded return on investment for Burke County between 2022 and 2024 is about $436,000. She said Archway projects are assigned conservative values based on student, graduate and faculty time and expertise, and that typical funding for Archway work is roughly two-thirds state support and one-third from community partners.

She noted the Archway relationship runs on a yearly memorandum of understanding (MOU) and observed many communities commit three to five years while others have been Archway partners longer. Burley asked local leaders to consider whether to continue the partnership as the current MOU period comes up for decision.

Lisa Hopper, the Georgia Power area manager and chair of the Archway executive committee in the region, accompanied Burley to the meeting and was introduced during the presentation. Trustees asked for details about specific completed projects and the project tracking database; Burley said Archway maintains a database with student and faculty participation records and a list of completed and in-process items.

Burley listed projects completed in Burke County including a housing assessment, zoning and ordinance research, downtown restroom concept design, park and streetscape designs, workforce data reports, an internship and career expo, and a VITA tax-assistance project among others. Trustees had follow-up questions about funding partners and the community-level process. Burley said the board of education serves as one of the leading local funding partners for the Archway program in Burke County.

Burley closed by recommending a community mindset of cross‑sector collaboration and a review (or "reset") of local Archway priorities to align with current needs and the resources the university can bring.

No formal board action was recorded on continuing the Archway MOU during the April 4 meeting.