DARIEN, Ga. — McIntosh County, situated on Georgia’s coast, is working to reshape its economic future with a commitment to workforce development that begins before students even hit middle school. County leaders launched a program — Anchor Up — that caught the eye of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) Vice President David Bridges on a recent visit to the region.
“As I was meeting people around the state, there were stories I thought were really compelling,” Bridges said, “interesting programs that are similar or complementary to programs we offer through EI2. I think telling these stories is a way to show that we’re supporters of the broader community and of the great work going on across the state.”
In 2025, McIntosh County announced a $60 million cold storage facility — the largest county development project in decades. With this growth, though, comes challenges.
To help meet the challenge of workforce development, the county launched Anchor Up in the fall of 2025. The program is a mentoring initiative that grew out of a partnership between the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), McIntosh County Schools, and the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber called McIntosh Grows.
Building Life Skills
Anchor Up starts early — with sixth graders — to reach students at a transition point as they enter middle school. It may seem they’re too young to be tackling workforce skills, but at this age, students’ long-term habits are forming, their confidence is developing, and perspectives about responsibility begin to take hold.
The heart of Anchor Up is the Essential 10, soft skills that include communication, confidence, integrity, gratitude, leadership, and work ethic. These behaviors — often cited by employers as among the hardest to teach — are the focus of sessions held during the school year. Students learn not just the theory behind these qualities, but how to practice them so that they become habits.
To build their skills, students learn firm handshakes and eye contact. They learn how to introduce themselves and write thoughtful thank-you notes. They engage in conversations that challenge them to think critically and respond with clarity. Over time, these small actions begin to build self-assurance and accountability.
“What we’ve been teaching in the mentoring program is not encouraged in school, typically,” said Tom Draffin, president and CEO of the IDA. “But they are the things that get people jobs.”
Local professionals — including business and civic leaders and educators — volunteer as mentors, working with students and modeling the very behaviors they are teaching.
Colette Fried, the business development director for the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority leads the program. Fried brings 25 years in education along with workforce expertise to Anchor Up.
“It surpassed what I expected,” Fried said, “So many of the mentors were saying, ‘I can’t believe how much growth I’ve seen.’ And I said, ‘That’s the rewarding part of being a mentor and guiding young people.’ When community leaders consistently show up, listen, encourage and invest their time, students begin to see that they matter and that their future matters.”
Anchor Up culminated with a Mini Amazing Shake, inspired by the nationally recognized Ron Clark Academy model. Students rotated through more than 20 interactive stations, demonstrating skills they had developed over the year. From mock job interviews and teamwork challenges to etiquette scenarios and critical-thinking exercises, the event provided a real-world test of their knowledge and growth.
“You can see our approach is trying to find these kids and have them see their greatness and build that confidence so that they can go out into our community and do great things,” Fried said.
Real-world Possibilities
Looking ahead, organizers plan to expand the program, continuing with current students through seventh and eighth grades while welcoming new cohorts of sixth graders. Future phases may introduce career exploration opportunities, helping students connect their developing skills to real-world possibilities.
“As we bring more business into the region, we want to encourage these students to be ready, to prepare themselves for those opportunities, but also embrace those opportunities,” Draffin said. “If we help students become better rounded citizens, they’re going to have a better opportunity to excel wherever they go. I think we have been able to instill in them that they can do things they didn’t believe they could do.”
Socioeconomic Development in Action
“Everywhere I go, every business and community leader I talk with puts workforce development at the top of their wish list,” Bridges said. “It’s why EI2 is committed to growing and strengthening the workforce around the state.”
That commitment can be seen in EI2 programs including Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM) and its work with statewide partners to place high school students in internships and apprenticeships at manufacturing companies, where they learn essential soft skills along with job training. It plays out in the work of the Partnership for Innovation (PIN) that places hundreds of paid interns and fellows in positions around the state to tackle real-world challenges and gain important work experience.
“Anchor Up is exactly the kind of program that feeds into and supports the important work we do at EI2,” Bridges said. “It’s exciting to see the seeds of confidence and responsibility planted in these young people.”