The 2020 Legislative Session is set to resume on Monday, June 15. Please be sure to monitor your email and the ACCG website for updates from the policy team. 

June's spotlight is shining directly on Michael Prevatte and his experience as an intern for the Athens-Clarke County Public Information Office. During his internship, he gained real-world experience that will prove valuable in his school work and his professional development. 

Currently at 56.6%, Georgia is lagging behind the national average and is 7% below its self-response rate from 2010. In addition, Georgia is ranking below almost every neighboring state. Now is the time to track your county's response rate and ramp up Census outreach efforts to avoid an undercount.

Learn more about the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program and Land and Water Conservation Fund by attending a FREE webinar-based workshop hosted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The next webinar takes place on Tuesday, June 9.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced organizations and companies to rethink how they provided services to the community, including the preservation of Georgia's foresty. In response to the pandemic, the Georgia Forestry Commission has released a statement to keep county officials apprised of the work they've been doing to protect the state's natural resource. 

The deadline to apply for the 2020 Georgia Smart Communities Challenge is Friday, June 12. Georgia Smart is a competitive one-year program that supports local governments of any size within the State of Georgia by providing grant funding and access to technical assistance, expert advice, and a network of peers. 

Now, more than ever, counties are celebrated for their tireless work on behalf of their communities. Help ACCG highlight those efforts by sending in your photos for Georgia's Local Lens, the newsletter that provides a weekly snapshot of Georgia's counties. Visit the ACCG website for more information.

Does your county have a story to tell? The Georgia County Spotlight will allow counties to share with ACCG, and other counties throughout the state, what great things are taking place in their communities. Visit the County Spotlight page to get started. Once on the page, share your news by clicking the "Submit Your News Here" button in the top right corner.