Springer Mountain Farms Announces Partnership with JA of Georgia

Investment in Seven North Georgia Communities Will Help Groom the Next Generation of Business Leaders

BALDWIN, GA (April 13, 2020) – Springer Mountain Farms has announced a partnership with Junior Achievement of Georgia to aid in their mission to inspire, empower, and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

As a presenting partner, Springer Mountain Farms will support the interactive simulation center at The Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia. This will include an investment in two hallmark programs: JA Biztown and JA Finance Park.

JA Biztown and JA Finance Park allow more than 15,000 middle school students annually to interact with community volunteers while applying concepts they’ve learned in the classroom covering topics from entrepreneurship to financial literacy.

“One of the biggest investments that we can make is with young children in our North Georgia community,” said Gus Arrendale, Chairman of the Board, Springer Mountain Farms. “Springer Mountain Farms is honored to partner with Junior Achievement of Georgia to help groom the next generation of business leaders in Georgia.”

The Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia serves students from Calhoun City Schools, Dalton City Schools, Dawson County Schools, Forsyth County Schools, Gainesville City Schools, Hall County Schools, Lumpkin County Schools, and Whitfield County Schools, plus charter schools, private schools, and middle schools from outlying systems.

“We are thrilled that Springer Mountain Farms is joining us as the presenting partner of JA BizTown at the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia,” said Juan McGruder, Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President, JA of Georgia. “Their support will enable us to continue serving students across the region, and will provide exposure to an industry and careers that directly impact local students.”

JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where sixth grade students are able to interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also discover the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

JA Finance Park gives students a rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Seventh and eighth grade students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

ABOUT SPRINGER MOUNTAIN FARMS®

Springer Mountain Farms® is a family-owned poultry producer based in Baldwin, Georgia that strives to provide the healthiest and most delicious, highest quality chicken on the market. Springer Mountain Farms® hatches, raises, and processes all chickens at farms and facilities located within a convenient 60-mile radius of the home office. Springer Mountain Farms® was the first poultry company in the world to be certified by the American Humane Association for the humane treatment of chickens. The Springer Mountain Farms® PLUS line of products incorporates feed that is made from 100% American-grown, Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients.” Learn more about Springer Mountain Farms® at www.springerMTN.com or connect on social media @SMFchicken.

Junior Achievement and Georgia Southern University Developing Historic Partnership in Savannah

Fifth JA Discovery Center Planned for Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus

Savannah, GA – Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA) is collaborating with Georgia Southern University to plan the construction and launch of a JA Discovery Center on the Armstrong campus in Savannah.

“We are so excited to be deepening our impact in the Savannah area and are looking forward to growing our relationship with Georgia Southern University,” said Camille Russo, Vice President, Marketing, JA of Georgia. “We are grateful to the local Savannah community for decades of support and are thrilled with the possibility of bringing this innovative and engaging experience to the students of the region.”  

Retrofitting construction of the Student Recreation Center is anticipated to begin as soon as Fall 2020.  Space can be made available for the JA Discovery Center in Savannah to serve 15,000 middle school students annually in the coastal region of the state.

Outfitting the space to become a Discovery Center will require financial support of approximately $4 million, funded from an up-and-coming campaign. The project will also require approval by the University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents. 

The facility will provide students continued exposure to their future possibilities through two innovative programs:

JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where 6th grade students can interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Here, students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also realize the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

JA Finance Park provides 7th grade students the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

“We are excited about the potential collaboration with Junior Achievement and the concept of a Discovery Center on Georgia Southern's Armstrong Campus in Savannah,” said Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero. “This project aligns with our mission, values, and strategic plan. It will also provide experiential and employment opportunities for our Armstrong students and help make the Armstrong Campus a destination for the region.  This is exactly the type of impactful relationship that evidences the value added of a collaborative approach to educational attainment and talent development."

Currently JA Discovery Centers serve more than 88,000 students a year across three locations - the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Altanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming. The fourth facility, in Dalton, is under construction and will open in 2021, bringing the total impact to more than a third of middle school students in Georgia.

To find out more about getting involved, please contact Robert Grant at 912-856-1700 or rgrant@georgia.ja.org.

About Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Dalton Board of Education Votes to Bring Immersive Facility to Local Middle School Students

The decision provides space on the Hammond Creek Middle School campus for a JA Discovery Center to serve local students 

Exterior view of the JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton

Floor plan for the JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton

Dalton, GA – Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA) announced today, in partnership with Dalton Public Schools, the unanimous approval by the Dalton Board of Education to incorporate a JA Discovery Center on the new Hammond Creek Middle School campus.

 “We are thrilled with the decision of the Board that will allow us to deepen our impact in the Northwest Georgia region,” said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia. “We are thankful for the commitment of the local community, led by Anna Adamson, Director of Development for JA of Georgia in Northwest Georgia, and look forward to providing unmatched learning experiences that enable students to discover the possibilities that their futures can hold.”

 With a completion planned in conjunction with the Hammond Creek Middle School campus in 2021, the JA Discovery Center in Dalton will serve 13,000 middle school students annually in the northwestern region of the state. The facility will provide students continued exposure to their future possibilities through two innovative programs.

 JA BizTown creates an unmatched experience where students are able to interact within a simulated economy and take on the challenge of fueling a business. Here, students not only discover the intricacies of being a professional and member of the community, but also realize the abundance of opportunities available within their city.

 JA Finance Park provides students the rare opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. Guided by an assigned ‘life situation,’ students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow.

 “Having the availability of this center locally will provide enormous opportunities and access for our staff and students to have authentic, real-world learning experiences that are applicable to a number of academic subjects,” said Dr. Tim Scott, Superintendent, Dalton Public Schools. “Beyond our schools, we know this center will be available for use in professional development, parent education and community involvement.”

 The construction of the facility is possible through a joint partnership with JA, as a result of a private grant and Dalton Board of Education’s commitment of capital financial resources that will not require any additional taxes. The private grant coupled with the funds from Dalton Public Schools will support completion of the fourth JA Discovery Center in Georgia, bringing the total state-wide impact to more than 98,000 students a year.

 In partnership with the education and business communities, the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Altanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett and the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia in Cumming give a third of Georgia middle school students access to the breadth of careers available to them, and the skills needed to be successful in those careers.