Aspen CSG partners with Rural Development Hubs across the country to strengthen local leadership, align funding, and build regional capacity. Through research and peer learning, we support Hub leaders to refine strategies and apply what works across regions.
In Georgia, we work with Hub partners that coordinate across sectors, align resources, and connect communities to advance long-term regional strategies:
McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development
McIntosh Sustainable Environment and Economic Development (McIntosh S.E.E.D.) is a community-led organization based in coastal Georgia and active across the Deep South, dedicated to strengthening low‑wealth rural communities through asset-based economic development, education, empowerment, and environmental stewardship. Its programs—from establishing Georgia’s first community forest and advancing land retention for Black landowners to promoting local food systems, affordable housing, voter engagement, and youth leadership—are rooted in inclusive, community-centered decision-making that fosters resilience and self-determination.
McIntosh S.E.E.D. is featured in these Aspen CSG resources: Measure Up: Call to Action, Using Relational Leadership to Build Power Together, and A Few Things to Know About Rural America
Sustainable Forestry & African American Land Retention Network
The Sustainable Forestry & African American Land Retention Network (SFLR Network) creates a system of support for African American and rural forest owners that significantly increases the value of forests, land retention, and asset development for rural families in the US South. The SFLR Network has improved forest management and forest retention by connecting African American landowners with established networks of local forestry support. This includes federal and state government programs, businesses, non-profit conservation, legal, and community development organizations.
The SFLR Network is featured in these Aspen CSG resources: Using Relational Leadership to Build Power Together, and more.
