About GMRC
MISSION STATEMENT
To serve the local governments of the Georgia Mountains Region by improving the quality of life through economic development, community planning, information technology, and workforce development to support and enhance the region’s prosperity.
VISION STATEMENT
The GMRC envisions the Georgia Mountains Region as an area that values its diverse communities and resources, fosters economic vitality and innovation, and provides opportunities to meet local and regional needs. This is accomplished through maximum cooperation between the GMRC staff, council, member governments, and other stakeholders.
CORE VALUES
Collaboration
We foster collaboration through open communication, cooperation, and a commitment to teamwork.
Service
Our commitment to service and leadership is second to none.
Trust
The hallmark of our organization is trust and is accomplished through a professional staff, transparency in decision making, and objectivity and accuracy in our day-to-day work.
Innovative
We are innovative in our thinking to achieve cutting edge work program.
Sustainability
We work with our partners and local governments to achieve a quality of life that provides resources for today’s generation while preserving an improved quality of life for future generations.
Rewarding
We promote a work environment that allows for professional and personal growth, recognizes achievements, and makes a positive difference in the lives of staff and the community.
The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) is a sub-state district created by local governments in 1962 under provisions of Georgia Enabling Law. The purpose of the GMRC is to locally promote and guide development of human, natural, physical, social and economic resources in the Georgia Mountains Region. The area covers 3,500 square miles, and includes Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties.
The GMRC offers a wide variety of services to its 49 local governments, which include 12 counties and 37 municipalities. The GMRC works with these entities to formulate goals and strategies for area growth and development. Upon request, the GMRC provides a variety of technical assistance that will improve community services and the quality of life for Georgia Mountains residents. The GMRC focuses its broad scope of responsibility through the following departments: Planning, Economic Development, Workforce Development, Information Services, Finance and Administration.
The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission’s (GMRC) governing Council is responsible for establishing policy and direction to complete its regional objectives. The objectives of the GMRC are to develop, promote, and assist in establishing coordinated and comprehensive planning in Georgia; to provide local governments on both an individual and regional basis with professional technical assistance to improve local government service programs; to provide professional technical assistance with the development, collection, compilation, and maintenance of a local information base and network; to manage those nonprofit corporations created by the GMRC in accordance with Georgia law for the operation of revolving loan programs; and to function as the designated fiscal agent responsible for Workforce Development services.
The GMRC is guided by a forty-one (41) member Council and is composed of individuals appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker and one county elected official, one city elected official and one private sector individual from each of our 12 counties. City, County and private sector representatives are chosen by the cities and counties they represent. The Council is responsible for all policy decisions. Council meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. with the exception of November and December, which are held earlier in the month due to the holidays. Council Meetings rotate locations around the Georgia Mountains Region. Please check our Meetings and Announcements for more information.