Recommendations / Education / Big Idea #2: Build Your Future in Baldwin

Big Idea #2: Build Your Future in Baldwin

Part of the "THE SCHOLARS" initiative

EducationMilledgeville/BaldwinUnder $250,000

Overview

Create a broad, county-wide campaign to convince current citizens, potential employers, and future industries that Baldwin County is the education destination in Central Georgia. The initiative promotes public, private, liberal arts, technical, and workforce education options while linking education quality to workforce readiness, business attraction, student entrepreneurship, and future economic development. It includes the “Build Your Future in Baldwin” campaign, an annual student business plan competition, a student-operated storefront, and industry partnerships with Baldwin College and Career Academy.

Action plan

Short-term
Identify community partners to support and promote the “Education Destination” / “Build Your Future in Baldwin” campaign. Identify key statistics and data points for each educational opportunity, including Baldwin BoE Pre-K, grade school, middle/high school, Fine Arts/CTAE, Career Academy, dual enrollment, AP options, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Military College, and Central Georgia Technical College. Begin reviewing education data such as graduation rate, post-secondary participation, board-certified teachers, extracurricular participation, parent attendance, AP offerings, student-teacher ratio, Georgia Climate Survey data, staff tenure, and military/veteran student data.
Medium-term
Identify vendors and target audiences inside and outside Baldwin County. Determine which organization should champion and deliver the campaign. The report recommends that the effort may be best managed by an outside agency, such as the Chamber, with a committee of chamber members and community partners. Seek outside guidance from organizations that facilitate similar efforts. Partner recommendation: Great Promise Partnership.
Long-term
Delineate an appropriate marketing campaign. Acquire sponsors and funding for the marketing campaign. Launch the campaign.

Expected impact

Board Certified TeachersEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Industry Partnerships with BCCAEducational

Tracks partnerships between current industries and Baldwin College and Career Academy.

Student Business Skill DevelopmentEducational

Tracks student learning in customer service, management, accounting, human resources, marketing, and financial skills.

Student Extracurricular ParticipationEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Education Destination RecognitionEducational

Tracks whether Baldwin County is recognized as the “education destination” in Central Georgia.

Parent Attendance at Conferences and PTAEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Graduation RateEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Improved Economic DevelopmentEconomic

Tracks whether education promotion contributes to improved economic development.

Storefront CreatedInfrastructure

Tracks creation of the student-operated downtown storefront business.

Projected: 1 Storefront
Georgia College EnrollmentInstitutional

Tracks student enrollment shown for Georgia College.

Projected: 6,772 Students
Students Graduating with Academic ScholarshipsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Real-World Student ExperiencesEducational

Tracks student exposure to real-world industry experiences.

State-Mandated Standardized Test DistinctionsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Dual or Multi-Certified Instructional StaffEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Winning Students Receive Business TrainingEducational

Tracks whether winning student entrepreneurs receive training on starting and running a business.

Public School EnrollmentEducational

Tracks public school enrollment shown in the report.

Projected: 5,559 Students
University/College Volunteer HoursEducational

Tracks volunteer hours from university/college programs supporting the business plan competition.

Projected: 150 Volunteer hours
Increased Job AvailabilityEconomic

Tracks whether the initiative contributes to increased job availability.

Storefront BudgetInstitutional

Tracks total storefront budget shown in the report.

Projected: $52,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Short-term
Student Performance DistinctionsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Extracurricular Clubs, Organizations, and TeamsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Graduates Remain in CommunityEconomic

Tracks whether graduates remain in Baldwin County and become contributing members of the local economy.

Prize Money AwardedEconomic

Tracks prize money provided by a local bank partner for winning business plan.

Projected: $5,000 Dollars
Special Education TeachersEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Drop-Out RateEducational

Tracks drop-out rate shown in the report.

Projected: 17% Percent
Build Your Future Campaign BudgetInstitutional

Tracks total campaign budget.

Projected: $145,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Short-term
Georgia Climate Survey DataEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Campaign LaunchOperational

Tracks formal launch of the Build Your Future in Baldwin campaign.

Timeframe: Long-term
Storefront Annual Lease CostOperational

Tracks annual lease cost for the storefront.

Projected: $12,000-$15,000 Dollars
Increased Enrollment at All LevelsEducational

Measures whether enrollment grows across education levels.

Storefront Operation and MaintenanceInstitutional

Tracks initial operation and maintenance costs for the storefront.

Projected: $15,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Short-term
Business Plan Competition BudgetCommunity

Tracks total business plan competition budget.

Projected: $57,000 Dollars
Public School Perception ImprovementCommunity

Tracks improvement in public perception of the school system.

Central Georgia Technical College EnrollmentEducational

Tracks student enrollment shown for Central Georgia Technical College.

Projected: 931 Students
AP Course OfferingsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Georgia Military College EnrollmentEducational

Tracks student enrollment shown for Georgia Military College.

Projected: 1,549 Students
Employer and Industry AttractionEconomic

Tracks whether potential employers and future industries view Baldwin County favorably because of its education assets.

Storefront Renovation CostOperational

Tracks renovation costs for the storefront.

Projected: $25,000-$100,000 Dollars · Timeframe: Short-term
Vendors and Targets IdentifiedOperational

Tracks identification of campaign vendors and target audiences inside and outside Baldwin County.

Timeframe: Medium-term
School District RankingEducational

Tracks school district ranking shown in the report.

Projected: 153 out of 179 Ranking
Military/Veteran Graduates or StudentsEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Degrees/Majors GraduatedEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Students Pursuing Post-Secondary EducationEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Top Student Business Ideas SelectedEducational

Tracks top student business ideas selected in high school and middle school classifications.

Projected: 5 Ideas per classification
AP Course Average Test ScoreEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Campaign Data Points IdentifiedOperational

Tracks identification of key statistics and data points for each educational opportunity.

Timeframe: Short-term
Business Plan Competition CreatedEducational

Tracks creation of the annual business plan competition for student entrepreneurs.

Projected: 1 Program
Student-Teacher RatioEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Prepared WorkforceEducational

Tracks whether the campaign supports a broader, prepared workforce.

Public Support for EducationCommunity

Tracks whether citizens publicly and positively support the local school system.

Internship OpportunitiesEducational

Tracks internship or project-based opportunities connected to local industries.

Sponsors and Funding AcquiredSustainability

Tracks acquisition of sponsors and funding for the campaign.

Timeframe: Long-term
Average Length of Staff TenureEducational

Data point identified for campaign promotion and evaluation.

Positive Image of Educational OpportunitiesCommunity

Tracks whether the campaign creates a positive image of educational opportunities in Milledgeville/Baldwin County.

Key stakeholders

Current Milledgeville/Baldwin County citizensPotential employersFuture industriesBusiness ownersFamilies of current employees moving to the areaBaldwin County School System / Baldwin County BoEBaldwin County BoE PR DepartmentBaldwin BoE Pre-KBaldwin BoE Grade SchoolBaldwin BoE Middle and High SchoolFine Arts; Career, Technical and Agriculture Education (CTAE)Career Academy; Dual Enrollment; AP OptionsBaldwin College and Career AcademyGeorgia College & State UniversityGeorgia Military CollegeCentral Georgia Technical CollegeStudent entrepreneursHigh school studentsMiddle school studentsLocal investorsLocal bank partnerPanel of judgesUniversity/college programsDowntown storefront businessStudents staffing storefrontLocal farmersCurrent industries in Milledgeville/Baldwin CountyIndustry leadersTeachers and administrators at Baldwin College and Career AcademyWorkforce / industry / business development stakeholdersCommunity partnersCampaign vendors and targetsMilledgeville/Baldwin County ChamberChamber members / campaign committeeGreat Promise PartnershipMike BeattyGreater Macon Chamber of CommerceNadia OsmanCommunity Foundation of Central Georgia, Inc.’s Knight Fund for MilledgevilleMilledgeville/Baldwin County Chamber - Keystone InvestorsMunicipal governmentMilledgeville/Baldwin Development AuthorityLocal business investorsLocal financial institutionsLocal media organizationsNon-profit grantsJohn Milledge AcademyBaldwin County Family Connection

Estimated budget

Build Your Future in Baldwin campaign: Television and radio: $30,000; Publications and mailings: $20,000; Print ads: $15,000; Online and social media: $20,000; Billboards: $20,000; Special events: $30,000; Miscellaneous expenses: $10,000; Total: $145,000. Business Plan Competition: Annual investment fund: $50,000; Prize money from local bank partner: $5,000; Pitch competition event expenses: $2,000; Total: $57,000; 150 volunteer hours from university/college programs. Storefront: Renovation costs: $25,000-$100,000; Annual lease costs: $12,000-$15,000; Initial operation and maintenance: $15,000; Total: $52,000; approximately $5,000/year required for subsequent years.