New goals for Columbus regional growth are set for next 5 years. See the list

The Regional Prosperity Initiative (RPI), formerly known as Columbus 2025, announced Wednesday its new 2030 regional strategy, called “Columbus Ahead.”

Columbus Ahead is a five-year plan, spanning from 2026 to 2030, that outlines strategies to drive economic momentum, cultivate talent, and foster a thriving community across the Chattahoochee Valley region, according to their news release. The plan was made in collaboration with accounting firm Ernst & Young.

“Economic opportunity is the foundation for achieving all our other ambitions for Columbus,” Tabetha Getz, executive director of RPI, said. “While we have seen momentum building recently, this strategy provides the clear, measurable roadmap we need to become a leading economic area in Georgia.”

Since its foundation, the Regional Prosperity Initiative has played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape in Columbus.

Their former economic development plans have brought together other economic development organizations, such as Choose Columbus, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbus Development Authority, to drive progress in workforce development and business growth.

Here’s an overview of the nine priorities and goals, according to the press release.

Jobs: Vibrant Economy

• Economic Growth: Rank in the top half of Georgia metros for job growth.
• Targets: 5% increase in private sector employment growth target or 6,500+ private sector employment opportunities
• Workforce Growth: Rank among the top five Georgia metros for prime-age workforce growth.
• Targets: 10% increase in prime-age workers, workers aged 25-54, or 12,500+ prime-age residents in the Chattahoochee Valley
• Entrepreneurship: Strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by improving access to capital, with a target of at least $10 million raised by local startups.
• Tourism: Attract 15 million visitors to the region.
• Target: 50% increase in visitors compared to 2020-2024

Talent: Prosperous People

• Postsecondary Education: Rank among the top five Georgia metros for growth of residents with postsecondary education.
• Target: Increase the population with postsecondary education completion by 21% or by 17,500.
• Student Readiness: Improve student chronic absenteeism and grade-level readiness by 20%.

Place: Thriving Community

• Public Safety: Reduce crime rates to below the national average, including a 50% reduction in violent crime.
• Connectivity: Enhance connectivity by developing the most extensive trail network in Georgia, completing a total of 61+ miles.
• Civic Engagement: Enhance civic pride and community engagement.
• Target: 45,000 media placements, with 50% national publication placement and 80% positive sentiment across all media mentions.

Getz said that progress on these goals will be measured annually and be available to be viewed on the Columbus Ahead dashboard on their website, columbusahead.com.

Challenges ahead

At the Columbus Ahead announcement luncheon, RPI officials were clear-eyed about the challenges ahead to complete these goals.

The luncheon lasted an hour in a packed room at the Pearl, 1040 Broadway. Business leaders, executives and community members from across the Chattahoochee Valley were in attendance.

“This is a very ambitious plan, but I am bullish on our area’s future,” Betsy Covington, president of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, said during the luncheon. “I believe we can do this. I believe we can do it together, and I can’t wait to work alongside each one of you.”

Out of all the goals, RPI officials told the Ledger-Enquirer they have two high-priority areas: job growth and attracting prime-age workers, ages 25-54. Getz described how these two goals work together.

“That prime workforce category that needs to be growing in population,” she said. “That helps us to attract companies because they know we have available workforce. We need to encourage 25 to 54-year-olds to stay in the region and get a great job.”

The attraction and retention comes from emphasizing Columbus’ natural assets and momentum, Getz said.

“Columbus has a lot of assets,” she said. “We are known for our outdoor adventure. We’re known for being most welcoming. That was a new designation that was given to us this year by Travel and Leisure magazine. We have amazing assets in our river, including whitewater. We have new momentum with new job announcements that have just come out at the end of 2025, so we have a lot to build on.”

Officials also emphasized the importance of a collaborative effort to achieve these goals. Pace Halter, chairman of the RPI board, explained the role of RPI’s partner organizations in the development of the Columbus Ahead plan.

“It’s really important to understand that each of the goals was set in conjunction with the partner who is going to be involved in the execution of the goal,” Halter said. “Each of our strategic partners was not only involved in the study but also in designing and setting the goal. … That was something that was ambitious but achievable, and something that they were very confident that their organization would be able to execute on. It is a heavy lift, and it’s going to take every organization in Columbus to deliver on their piece of the overall strategy.”

RPI partner organizations include most of the economic development, tourism and philanthropic organizations in Columbus, including Choose Columbus, Visit Columbus, Uptown Columbus, startUP Columbus, and United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, among others.

This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 12:05 PM.