Americus | Sumter County: The Americus Advantage

Not long ago, downtown Americus mirrored the decline in many rural towns: shuttered storefronts, deferred maintenance and a fading sense of economic vitality. “The buildings had been neglected. There was minimal foot traffic and little incentive for people to invest or locate businesses downtown,” says City Manager Diadra Powell.

Today, Americus boasts a downtown occupancy rate of 95%, according to Qaijuan Willis, director of both the Main Street program and the Downtown Development Authority. Iconic buildings have been refurbished, a thriving mix of shops and restaurants lines the streets, and a new spirit of entrepreneurship is taking root.

What changed? A combination of strategic public-private partnerships, creative incentives and an unwavering commitment to downtown as the economic heartbeat of the community. The city’s embrace of public-private partnerships was key to Americus’s resurgence.

Much of the early momentum came from the Windsor Hotel, a grand 1892 structure that had fallen into disrepair. “The Windsor was our anchor,” says Powell. “We knew if we could bring it back, other investments would follow.” After a multimillion-dollar renovation by private investors, supported by historic tax credits and city improvements to adjacent infrastructure, the hotel reopened in 2010. It went through another renovation in 2019. It now draws tourists, hosts events and serves as a symbol of the downtown revival.

Grand Structure: The Windsor Hotel, built in 1892, was renovated in 2010 and 2019. Photo credit: contributed

Inspired by this success, other developers stepped in. Notably, local businessman Chris Riddle purchased and redeveloped multiple properties along Jackson Street. His company invested over $2 million in renovating vacant structures and launching businesses like Toboggan Steve’s, a rooftop restaurant popular with students from nearby Georgia Southwestern State University.

“Downtown is our brand now,” Riddle says. “It’s what people think of when they think of Americus.”

Founded as the county seat of Sumter County in 1832, Americus struggled to grow. But in the 1850s, as the Southwestern Railroad prepared to bypass the city, community members raised $75,000 to divert the rail line to Americus. The railroad’s arrival in 1854 transformed the town into what Mayor Lee Kinnaman describes as a “micropolitan hub.”

Today, the nonprofit One Sumter Economic Development Foundation supports education, workforce development and quality-of-life projects. One of its latest initiatives is the Sumter County Housing Collaborative Partners, addressing the critical need for affordable and workforce housing. The initiative was formed because homes priced for middle-income earners are in especially short supply, and that makes it hard to attract and retain people hoping to move to the area for work.

Another major initiative is rehabilitating the former Habitat for Humanity Global Village. Habitat for Humanity’s operational headquarters are in Americus, and the Global Village was an outdoor museum that closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now it’s being transformed into the Rev. Pearly Brown Music Park. The park honors Reverend Pearly Brown, a blind gospel and blues musician and Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee. It’s a cultural project with economic implications.

“Investments like these show potential investors that this is a community where people care about quality of life,” says Kinnaman. Americus has also reinstated its Community and Economic Development Office in 2024 after being unfilled for 10 years. Director Edward “E.J.” Jackson is a local leader and current Sumter County Board of Education member. Collaborating with urban planner Sid Walker, Jackson works with various public agencies and private investors to encourage strategic growth and attract economic investment opportunities.

Kinnaman believes these partnerships are key to rural prosperity. “The death of a community is when people can’t work together across sectors. You’ve got to get out of the silos.”

He hopes that this model of “collaborative leadership” becomes his legacy.

“When I’m no longer mayor, I want this culture of cooperation to continue. Because it’s the only way forward – not just for economic development, but for the common good.”

Strategic Partners Fuel Growth

Americus and Sumter County are experiencing an economic renaissance, driven by a powerful combination of industrial expansion, sustainable energy initiatives and strategic workforce development.

Renewable Practices: Rusty Warner, executive director of the Sumter County Development Authority, at the construction site of Americus Fresh. Photo credit: David Parks

“One of the biggest things we have right now is the opening of a 236-acre industrial park adjacent to our current one,” explains Rusty Warner, executive director of the Sumter County Development Authority. “We’re going to make it a sustainable park. We’re encouraging renewable products and practices.” That vision aligns with the community’s growing green energy sector, including major projects like NanoPV, a solar panel manufacturing company that Warner describes as “one of the largest of its kind in the United States.” Bringing 500 jobs at the company’s 2021 opening, NanoPV has invested $36 million in the region, with the goal of employing 2,000 people by the end of 2026.

Other existing industries are expanding, too. Southern Wholesale Glass added 60 new jobs in the past five years, while Tamarack Foods, a poultry processor that opened in 2022, added around 200 jobs. Call center TLCx created 1,000 jobs when it opened in 2020 and added another 300 in 2022.

Americus Fresh, a vertical farming company, is building a $90 million, 338,000-square-foot facility to support over 100 jobs.

The energy sector is booming as well: Samsung Solar and Invenergy’s Americus Solar will contribute a combined $700 million in investments and 700 indirect jobs. Invenergy alone is developing what could someday be the largest solar array east of the Mississippi River, according to Warner. “They’ve already secured 10,000 acres and built a massive substation,” says Warner, who adds that these investments follow five years of momentum during which Sumter County secured nine major manufacturers and solar developers, plus 10 expansions of existing businesses. The total five-year capital investment: $1.2 billion.

Building the Future Workforce

In Americus, two institutions power the region’s economic resilience and workforce innovation: Georgia Southwestern University and South Georgia Technical College. Their complementary missions – Georgia Southwestern focuses on academic growth while South Georgia Tech emphasizes practical training – prepare students to meet the demands of today’s evolving job market. Warner praises South Georgia Tech for aligning its curriculum to workforce needs, equipping students for roles in both incoming and existing companies. “They’re my No. 1 partner,” he says.

Academic Rigor: Georgia Southwestern State University President Michelle Johnston. Photo credit: contributed

Georgia Southwestern’s standout offerings include nursing, education, business, computer science and a unique long-term care management degree. Nursing Schools Almanac ranks its school of as one of the top 20 nursing schools in Georgia, drawing attention from students and healthcare employers alike. The long-term care management degree – the only one of its kind in the U.S. – prepares students for leadership roles in senior care, an industry in growing demand nationwide.

Another academic innovation is its recently revamped bachelor’s degree in information technology, designed to address the urgent need for professionals who can protect digital infrastructure. The College of Business and Computing continues to expand, fostering an enterprising spirit in Southwest Georgia and preparing graduates for management, finance and tech careers.

Beyond technical knowledge, Georgia Southwestern is cultivating leadership with its prestigious President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program, named in honor of the university’s most distinguished alumnus. Launched in 2019, the program selects a cohort of 20 high-achieving students each year and provides intensive leadership development, service opportunities and global awareness training. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who championed diplomacy, ethics and community engagement – and a powerful differentiator for the university. University President Michelle Johnston says, “The heavy emphasis on community service plus the academic rigor of the courses really keeps the legacy of President Carter alive.” Acceptance to the program is highly competitive.

High Achievers: Georgia Southwestern students who were selected to be in the highly competitive Jimmy Carter Leadership Program. Photo credit: contributed

Meanwhile, just across town, South Georgia Technical College is producing job-ready graduates who are helping drive regional industries. It offers over 200 Associate of Applied Science degrees, Diploma programs, and Technical Certificates of Credit. The college is especially known for its aviation maintenance program, one of the best in Georgia. It supports aerospace employers like Pratt & Whitney. Located on the historic Souther Field – where Charles Lindbergh once trained – South Georgia Tech maintains a legacy of excellence in technical aviation education.

Legacy of Excellence: John Watford, president of South Georgia Technical College. Photo credit: Daemon Baizan

John Watford, president of South Georgia Technical College, says that Gulfstream, Delta Air Lines and local airports hire many of the school’s students. “An [Airframe… and Powerplant] mechanic, a graduate from South Georgia Tech, can sit for their FAA license, and we have a 100% pass rate on that. And when they get that FAA license, they can work on any non-military aircraft in the country.”

In addition to aviation, South Georgia Technical College’s programs in criminal justice, EMT training, diesel equipment technology, welding and commercial truck driving align directly with the needs of local and regional employers. Its model is simple and effective: It gives students marketable skills in under two years and helps them find employment immediately.

The partnership between Georgia Southwestern and the technical college creates a seamless educational ecosystem. Many students begin at the technical college and later transition to Georgia Southwestern for bachelor’s degrees. Dual enrollment programs give local high school students early exposure to college-level coursework, lowering the cost and time to degree completion.

Together, those institutions are redefining what learning and leading in rural Georgia mean. They’re not just preparing students for jobs, they’re shaping a generation of civic-minded, highly skilled professionals. With programs that span cybersecurity labs, welding bays and hospital floors to leadership forums, these two schools are anchoring Americus’s educational and economic future.

A Historic City with a Broader Lens

Plains Train Depot and Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Campaign Headquarters on Main Street. Photo credit: contributed

Tourism in Sumter County is deeply rooted in history, with legacy sites that draw thousands of visitors annually. Just 11 miles west of Americus is Plains, where the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park includes the former president’s boyhood farm, the Plains Train Depot (used during his 1976 presidential campaign) and Plains High School, which both he and Rosalynn Carter attended. Visitors can tour these sites seven days a week.

Spreading the Word: The late President Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school for years at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains. Photo credit: Carol M. Highsmith

The Carter family home and gravesite, where the former president and first lady are buried, is currently closed to the public, while the park develops a plan to provide access to the memorial garden and burial site. There could be a significant increase in tourism once it opens.

Also in Plains, Maranatha Baptist Church continues to draw steady attention for its Sunday school where the late president once taught. The classes are now led by Kim Fuller, Carter’s niece and executive director of the Friends of Jimmy Carter nonprofit.

To the north in Andersonville, the Andersonville National Historic Site continues to be a top tourism draw in Sumter County. It serves as a memorial to the many American prisoners of war who were held at Camp Sumter during the Civil War and includes the National Prisoner of War Museum and the solemn remains of the notorious prison camp. The nearby Drummer Boy Civil War Museum, an award-winning museum curated by Cynthia StormCaller, adds to the area’s historical appeal.

Tourism Draw: Andersonville National Historic Site. Photo credit: National Park Service

Thanks to federal support in 2024 from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund, Americus is restoring key African American heritage sites like Campbell Chapel AME Church. And the Americus-Sumter County Movement Remembered Committee is planning to transform the former Americus Colored Hospital into a Civil Rights and Cultural Center, creating what Mayor Kinnaman envisions as a dedicated African American heritage district.

“Our historic district is expanding to tell a fuller story,” he says. “And that’s a source of pride for everyone in the community.”

The SAM Shortline Excursion Train, departing from nearby Lake Blackshear, connects key regional destinations. The train has two routes; one is called the Presidential Flyer and starts at Lake Blackshear, does a flag stop in Americus, then goes on to Plains and Archery, the boyhood home of Carter; the second is the Sumter Explorer, and it also starts at Lake Blackshear, then comes into Americus with a longer stop for those who want to shop downtown, then it ends in Plains. These rail journeys offer passengers a unique view of Sumter County’s historical and natural highlights.

Connecting Regional Destinations: The SAM Shortline Excursion Train originates in Lake Blackshear and makes stops in Americus, Plains and the unincorporated community of Archery in nearby Webster County. Photo credit: contributed

“The Sumter Explorer has been a huge draw for our area. Not a lot of people realize that Lake Blackshear is a part of Sumter County,” says Willis.

Lake Blackshear itself remains an underrated gem, offering boating, fishing and vacation rentals. Though much of the lake is in Crisp County, it borders Sumter County and is actively promoted as a tourism anchor.

In Leslie, southeast of Americus, the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum houses one of the country’s largest collections of antique telephones and a vast warehouse of vintage automobiles. Although it closed in 2024 due to flooding, it remains a regional highlight and a top priority for restoration.

Tourism leaders, including Qaijuan Willis who is also the region’s interim tourism director, are working to enhance connections between Americus, Lake Blackshear, Leslie and surrounding communities. “We want to make sure that no matter where you enter Sumter County, there’s something to experience,” says Willis.

Tourism has become one of Sumter County’s key economic drivers. In 2023, the city of Americus collected around $456,000 in hotel-motel tax revenue, a substantial increase from approximately $324,000 in 2020. With strategic marketing, community partnerships and increased investment in heritage tourism, local leaders see even greater potential ahead.

“We estimate that if 200,000 visitors each spent just $10, that’s a $2 million impact,” Willis says. “And they’re spending much more than that.”

Americus is working hard to position itself as a tourism destination and a model for sustainable rural development rooted in history.

Phoebe Sumter: A Competitive Edge in Industry

Phoebe Sumter Medical Center is not just providing healthcare – it’s shaping the future of rural medicine. Under the leadership of Carlyle Walton, president of Phoebe Sumter and senior vice-president of the Phoebe Putney Health System, the hospital is launching into a new era defined by strategic expansion, advanced technology and deep community engagement.

Capital Investment: Carlyle Walton, president of Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Photo credit: David Parks

“We’re operating with an abundance mindset,” Walton says. “We see extraordinary potential – not only for Phoebe Sumter to grow, but to serve as a healthcare leader for the entire region.”

The development of a comprehensive campus master plan is driving the hospital’s forward momentum. Walton and his team are finalizing an agreement with a national healthcare design firm to map out how Phoebe Sumter can use its extensive acreage and infrastructure.

The hospital’s 76-bed facility was designed with expansion in mind. Its foundation supports the addition of two more floors. That foresight is now paying off.

“Based on our growing patient volumes, we anticipate needing more inpatient beds in the near future,” Walton says. “But we want to plan thoughtfully, so this master plan will guide every step.”

The hospital plans significant capital investment in infrastructure, services and community-centered resources.

One project is a childcare center on the hospital’s campus, primarily for staff, though potentially open to community families if capacity allows. “This is both a recruitment and retention strategy,” Walton says. “Access to quality, affordable childcare is critical for working families.”

The Phoebe Sumter Foundation has already committed $500,000 to the project, a sign of both internal and community confidence in the plan.

Phoebe Sumter is also making significant technological upgrades, including expanding the use of robotic-assisted surgery. In 2023 the hospital introduced its first da Vinci Surgical System, which supports advanced procedures including bariatric surgery. It was funded by contributions made to the hospital through the Georgia HEART (Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) Hospital Program.

The hospital is also evaluating robotic technology in orthopedics, which could soon enhance precision and recovery for patients needing joint replacements or other orthopedic procedures.

“Technology allows us to attract top-tier surgeons and improve patient outcomes,” Walton says. “It’s a direct investment in the health of our region.”

Americus may be small, but it is outsized in ambition and execution. From its revitalized downtown and flourishing healthcare system to a booming industrial base and forward-thinking education partners, Americus is not just surviving – it’s thriving.