Assistance is provided with the objective of improving the quality of life of Georgia citizens.
The division was formed when the Institute of Community and Area Development merged with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Its core philosophy is to combine content expertise with relevant theory and understanding about the group decision process into programs designed to support and enhance participatory policy design and program implementation. The faculty represents a wide array of disciplines with a work program that is responsive to the goal of community development whether it be at the local, substate, state, or national level. The faculty of the Community and Regional Development Division pioneered the use of participatory policy design, an approach that helps to manage task and people complexity in order to arrive at sound decisions. While this approach remains the cornerstone of the division's work program, it is now enhanced through combining the content expertise of division faculty and resources of the Institute.