DC Gamechangers Implement First Recommendation

DC Gamechangers, a group comprised of the local representatives from GeorgiaForwards’s Spring 2016 Young Gamechangers program, are formally transferring ownership of the “Explore Douglas” recommendation to the Douglas County Tourism Department. Explore Douglas recommends that a comprehensive marketing and advertising strategy be developed to collectively market Douglas County’s outdoor recreation assets and position Douglas County as “Metro Atlanta’s  Outdoor Recreation Hub.” Douglas County is home to more than 8,000 acres of dedicated outdoor space including but not limited to Sweetwater Creek State Park, Boundary Waters, Dog River Park, and areas donated to the county by Southeaster Trust for Land and Parks but not including any athletic fields or parks.

Shortly after the final recommendations to the community by the young Gamechangers program, the Douglas County Tourism department reached out to the local representatives regarding the Explore Douglas recommendation because it fit nicely with their tourism plan. Colin Cash, Director of Tourism for Douglas County, states “we could have spent thousands of dollars on research and still not have developed an idea as viable as this one presented by the Young Gamechangers.” Breezy Straton, President of DC Gamechangers, said “the goal of GeorgiaForward’s Young Gamechangers program is to develop viable but big ideas that the community could use- the Explore Douglas idea helped answer the question of how does Douglas County fit into the Metro Atlanta ecosystem besides being a bedroom community- by using the dedicated outdoor space as a tourism product we are able to grow our local tax base through tourism dollars and also highlight the amazing attributes of our beautiful community.”

As of August 22nd, the Explore Douglas idea will be known as “Naturally Douglas” and Douglas County will market the program through its tourism efforts.

The group known as DC Gamechangers is currently working to officially form a non-profit organization focused not only on implementing the recommendations put forth by the GeorgiaForward Young Gamecahngers program, but also carry out the vision to be “a forward thinking collaborative to improve the quality of life for each Douglas County citizen.”

The mission of the DC Gamechangers is “to be the catalyst of positive, sustainable change in our community” by promoting and championing quality of life issues for each Douglas County citizen. For more information regarding the DC Gamechangers, please go to www.DCgamechangers.org.