The students in Flint Energies’ Empower Regional Youth Leadership program learned about economic development and toured industries in November. Students from Crawford, Talbot and Taylor Counties were hosted by the Development Authority of Houston County, the City of Perry Government, Visit Perry and the Perry Downtown Development Authority. The students explored Graphic Packaging lnternational and enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Sandler Nonwoven Corporation. The Sumter County Development Authority, City of Americus Downtown Development Authority, and Americus-Sumter County Tourism hosted groups from Macon, Marion and Schley Counties. Students explored Caravelle/Recreation Unlimited which graciously opened its business for a personal tour.
This month’s focus was to give the students a better understanding of economic development, tourism marketing, and all of the behind-the-scenes work that it takes to make a city and community successful, create jobs, and bring quality of life to our communities. Various organizations and industry hosts interacted with the students through discussion and a walking tour of Perry and Americus projects. The industry and business partners who worked with the Flint Energies team on these days made a tremendous impact on our Empower students.
The following students are in the Empower program: Crawford County students are MiKayla Beard, Ka’Maya Blasingame, Riley Gallagher, Makale Harris and Lauren Perkins; Macon County students are Towanna Cochran, Antonio Corley, Isabel Martinez, Jenajah McKenzie, Natalie Milledge, Destiny Slappy, Jeremiah Soloman and Jeremiah Walker; Marion County students are Anaya Ansley, Ty Goodroe, Liz (Victoria) Hudson and Ella Jernigan; Schley County students are Harper Bishop, Kayden Poole and Madyson Tyus; Talbot County students are Gracin Arnold, Ikerria Carter, Ci’Aja Gillis, Annatasia Grier, Jordan Mahone, Steven Mullinax, Riley Thomas and T’Kandis Walker; and Taylor County students are Cayden Coleman, Kelsey Driggers, Jireh Gray, Amiyha Gross, Addison Hunter, Khamryn Ogburn, Colt Pandolfi, Kaytie Scott, Nashaila Sherman and Valeria Zepeda.
