The Georgia Department of Education, in partnership with the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) and Georgia Power, has selected six school districts to receive the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) designation for FY26.
This year's Economic Development Partnership districts are Bryan County Schools, Lumpkin County Schools, Colquitt County Schools, Peach County Schools, Paulding County Schools, and Haralson County Schools. The EDP designation is part of Georgia's Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program and lasts for five years. The districts were celebrated at GEDA's annual fall conference in Savannah on September 18.
"When schools and local employers are at the same table, students have more opportunities to see where their talents can take them — and communities grow," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "These six districts have done the work to build those strong connections between the classroom and high-demand careers in their own communities. That's how we make Georgia the Top State for Talent. I'm proud to congratulate these district teams on earning the EDP designation."
Districts receiving the designation participated in a certification process that prepared them to adopt best practices and behaviors that support economic development and align education with key regional industries. EDP elevates the capacity of school systems to serve as essential partners in their communities' business recruitment and expansion strategies and as catalysts for talent pipeline development.
For students, EDP promotes increased Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship opportunities, additional exposure to local business and industry, access to high-demand career opportunities, and career-relevant classroom content.
Since FY22, the Georgia Power Foundation has donated more than $130,000 in grant funds for districts pursuing the EDP designation, supporting externships and economic development activities.
"Georgia's continued ranking as a leading state to attract and retain business lies in its ability to produce a workforce to supply current and future job demands," said Elyse Davis, Director of Regional Economic Development at Georgia Power. "The EDP designation demonstrates a proven level of communication and collaboration needed to build Georgia's workforce pipeline. Georgia Power is honored to be part of this unique and impactful program."
The EDP designees represent five state economic development regions (Regions 1, 6, 10, 12, and 2, respectively) and join 21 other Georgia school districts that currently hold the designation. Five school systems have been accepted into the EDP process for FY27: Clarke County, Coffee County, White County, Camden County, and Union County.
"We are proud to recognize the six school districts that have earned the FY26 Economic Development Partnership (EDP) designation," said Dr. Barbara Wall, GaDOE Deputy Superintendent for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education. "This designation reflects a district's commitment to serving as a key partner in their local and regional workforce development ecosystem. Through Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, Georgia's school systems are preparing students for high-demand careers while strengthening the talent pipeline that supports business and industry. Together with our partners, we remain dedicated to advancing Georgia's position as the #1 state for doing business and the Top State for Talent."
