It has never been more important for those concerned with the future of Jones County and Gray to come together and Jones County PLAN (People Looking Ahead Now) is the mechanism to make that happen.

The 12th annual PLAN retreat is scheduled for next month and more participants are needed to lend their time and expertise. The event will be held at the Little Ocmulgee State Park in McRae, April 2-4, with facilitator Billy Parish of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs leading the Team Georgia group.

PLAN is a forum open to anyone concerned with the future of the community and the deadline to register to attend the retreat is Friday, March 20. Registration forms are available at the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce.

The retreat begins Thursday afternoon with a meeting of steering committee members who will discuss the structure of PLAN. The committees’ ideas will be shared with PLAN members Friday and will be discussed by the entire group Saturday.

Friday’s workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. and work begins at 9. This year’s retreat will be different in that the steering committee met with Parish to discuss what they would like to accomplish. The committees have been reduced to four and the members will be asked to try some different ways of exchanging ideas and coming up with action plans for implementing those ideas.

Overnight accommodations are in the Lodge of the Little Ocmulgee State Park and are included in the full conference registration fee. All registration packages include meals.

Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carmen Copeland said 30 people are already registered for the retreat.

“We’ve been preplanning this year and have been meeting with the main facilitator. Ashley Mackin is in charge of entertainment and she will be great,” Copeland said.

She said the Chamber board of directors voted this year to include the PLAN chairman as a board member to increase coordination and communication between the organizations.

The director said the price of the retreat has been reduced due to the generosity of local businesses and sponsors. The sponsors are Exchange Bank, Security Bank of Jones County, and Tri-County EMC.



PLAN has a place for everyone who wants to make a difference in their community.

“Whether you are a homeowner, business person, educator, religious leader, government leader, parent or concerned citizen, you are being affected by the changes taking place in our community,” Copeland said. “This retreat will provide you with the opportunity to help shape the future of Gray and Jones County.”

PLAN was formed by a steering committee of community leaders in 1997. Over the past decade, PLAN helped with the formation of Jones County Family Connections and Operation Early Intervention and the reactivation of the Jones County Development Authority. Committees from the organization were instrumental in the development of the county’s Gateway, Landscape, Sidewalk, and Buffer ordinances, and PLAN committees worked with the Middle Georgia Regional Development Center to develop the community’s Comprehensive Plan.

PLAN members instigated applications for ISTEA and Better Hometown grants and the History and Heritage group began in the grassroots organization. PLAN’s housing committee collected and provided data allowing tax credits necessary for new affordable housing for seniors, and an intensive yearlong study of the county’s water system was a product of the group.

This past year PLAN committees were the driving force behind the formation of Gray’s Downtown Development Authority, created a Multi-use Zoning to encourage development in Gray and Jones County, initiated a homeless count in Jones County, worked with Jones County High School to add a course for financial responsibility, and held credit seminars for the community.

For more information about PLAN or to register for the retreat call the Chamber of Commerce Office at 986-1123.