Recommendations / Civic Engagement / Big Idea #1: All In For Athens: Campus & Community Awareness Campaign

Big Idea #1: All In For Athens: Campus & Community Awareness Campaign

Part of the "ATHENS UNITED" initiative

Civic EngagementAthens-ClarkUnder $250,000

Overview

Deploy an integrated, multi-channel communications campaign and technology network designed to bridge the town-and-gown perception gap. The framework establishes a unified website hub, a recurring joint municipal-academic newsletter, and a shared public-facing SeeClickFix 311 digital reporting platform to streamline non-emergency resident service requests. This infrastructure is reinforced physically by installing interactive touch-screen digital kiosks across central campus and downtown vectors, supported by gamified merchant tools (e.g., Hidden Bulldogs Scavenger Hunt) and a permanent local cross-sector storytelling series.

Action plan

Short-term
(Short Term 0-6 Months - Foundation & Rollout): Formally secure leadership buy-in and establish the joint campaign working group; execute a consultant-led community perception survey and stakeholder focus groups; finalize core branding assets and messaging guides; construct the digital newsletter distribution pipeline; hire 1–2 student or recent graduate interns ($1,500/month); build out the expanded CivicPlus webpage; contract and configure the foundational SeeClickFix licensing parameters; launch the central campaign website hub and deploy early media storytelling tracks.
Medium-term
(Medium Term 6-12 Months - Launch & Growth): Transition the integrated SeeClickFix 311 platform live for public city-wide use; initialize high-volume monthly newsletter distribution schedules; execute recurring storytelling media features; deploy physical city assets (street lamp banners, digital billboards); scale up outreach toolkits; design, coordinate, and host the inaugural Joint Civic Summit.
Long-term
(Long Term 12+ Months - Sustainability): Complete multi-year program evaluations and track campaign-sponsored event metrics; adjust communication architectures based on user analytics and survey feedback loops; negotiate and execute permanent long-term funding and corporate placement agreements between UGA and Athens-Clarke County.

Expected impact

Projected Interagency CollaborationInstitutional

Total number of cross-sector public tools successfully launched, including shared newsletters, SeeClickFix 311 systems, and toolkit download modules.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Awareness GrowthCommunity

Aggregated social media analytics tracking likes, shares, comments, reach, and impressions of co-branded content across official agency handles.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Participation RateCommunity

Tracked attendee volume, sign-in rosters, RSVPs, and volunteer hours logged across campaign events like the "All In for Athens Day."

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Public Service AwarenessCommunity

Pre- and post-campaign survey metrics tracking resident, student, and business baseline perception shifts regarding town-and-gown alignment.

Timeframe: Short-term

Key stakeholders

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government & Mayor's OfficeUniversity of Georgia (UGA) DivisionsUGA Grady College of Journalism and Mass CommunicationAthens Downtown Development Authority & Chamber of CommerceLocal Media Outlets (The Red & Black, Banner-Herald, Flagpole)State & Federal Granting Entities (Georgia DCA / BJA)Civic & Non-Profit Organizations (United Way / Historic Athens)International Town & Gown Association (ITGA)

Estimated budget

$117,500 to $238,500 Total Initial Startup Capital Expenditure. • Personnel & Planning: $500–$5,000 Working Group stipends; $12,000–$18,000 Intern/Fellow compensation; $5,000–$15,000 Perception survey/focus groups; $8,000–$12,000 Branding and messaging development. • Digital Infrastructure Setup: $5,000–$15,000 Website hub build; $500–$1,500 Newsletter platform; $3,000–$5,000 CivicPlus expansion; $15,000–$25,000 SeeClickFix software licensing/setup; $2,000 SeeClickFix go-live support. • Media, Kiosks & Events: $8,000–$12,000 Pilot storytelling media; $5,000–$8,000 Newsletter distribution loops; $8,000–$20,000 Ongoing content production; $2,500–$5,000 Interactive digital kiosk stations; $10,000–$15,000 Outreach tools; $10,000–$30,000 Joint Civic Summit execution. • Strategy & Evaluation: $8,000–$25,000 Formal campaign evaluation; $5,000–$10,000 Strategy adjustment planning; $10,000–$15,000 Long-term funding alignment tracks. $23,000 to $50,000 Estimated Annual Recurring Cost sustained in subsequent years.