NEWS & OPINIONS
How Can You Measure Welfare Program Success? Part 2
When someone needs financial help or workforce training from the government, where do they go?
If we just allowed people to navigate federal programs on their own, the average person would be completely overw
Helping Children Adjust to Holidays During the Pandemic
Helping Children Adjust to Holidays During the Pandemic By Guest Blogger Jen Johnson "We have a unique opportunity to introduce this social skill this year due to the financial impacts of the pandemic." Have you ever...
How Can You Measure Welfare Program Success? Part 1
When someone needs financial help or workforce training from the government, where do they go?
If we just allowed people to navigate federal programs on their own, the average person would be completely overw
Health Care Waiver Approvals Are Good News
By Erik Randolph Amidst the noise of the presidential election, the mainstream news media missed a major announcement the prior Sunday that promises to positively impact the lives of many Georgians. The announcement could signal a turning point in the near...
GCO welcomes Jace Brooks as Director of the Gwinnett Workforce Initiative
As a member of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, Jace had worked for years to bring together nonprofits with government resources in the human-services area. All of these efforts went into overdrive when the first case of COVID-19 arrived in Gwinnett County.
Statement from GCO president Randy Hicks on 2020 election results
Election night is over but the most impactful decisions occur in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities.
Op-Ed: It’s time for Georgia to reign in policing for profit
Much needed conversations are happening in recent weeks across Georgia and our nation on policing reforms. One practical area of reform that can’t fall by the wayside is this: It’s time to break the connection between policing and profit.
The Working-Class Welfare Trap: How Policy Penalizes Marriage | NATIONAL REVIEW
Our tax and welfare policies often penalize marriage, trapping too many people in poverty. ...Not surprisingly, these penalties seem to play a role in fueling working-class Americans’ retreat from marriage that we have seen play out over the past three decades. In...
Welfare Cliffs and Gaps: The role health insurance plays in upward mobility
Cody and Estelle are a young married couple living in a suburban neighborhood. Cody has a full-time job and Estelle is a nanny so she can have their daughter with her at work. They make just enough money to pay the rent…
The Best Administrative Structure for Welfare
When someone needs financial help or workforce training from the government, where do they go?
If we just allowed people to navigate federal programs on their own, the average person would be completely overw
We could all use a good laugh right now, right?
We’re excited to announce that comedian and inspirational speaker Michael Jr. will be joining us as a keynote speaker for Breakthrough Online 2020.
New GCO poll: 81% of parents support educational microgrants during COVID-19
The Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) today released the results of a parent opinion poll that found 81 percent of respondents in favor of using federal emergency relief funds to help parents cover some educational costs during the coronavirus pandemic.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Report finds thousands of Georgia residents ‘missing’ from the labor force
While Georgia officials routinely tout the state’s low unemployment rate, a new report found hundreds of thousands of residents are "missing" from the labor force. According to a Georgia Center for Opportunity analysis, 454,100 Georgians are not in the labor force and...
Georgia ranks 8th nationally in economic freedom
Georgia is the 8th most economically free state in the country, according to the report Economic Freedom of North America 2022 by the Fraser Institute. The report tracks freedom across three variables — government spending, taxes, and regulation — and focuses on the...
GCO analysis: Nearly half a million Georgians have given up on work
PEACHTREE CORNERS—A new analysis from the Georgia Center for Opportunity shows that around 454,100 Georgians are missing from the labor force. This figure comes even as pundits celebrate a statewide and national unemployment rate that remains at historic lows. ...
Less than a third of fourth and eight-grade Georgia students score proficient in reading
Georgia officials touted Peach State students' scores on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, saying they were in line with the national average. However, a leading Georgia nonprofit says news that less than a third of fourth and eighth-grade students...
Less than a third of fourth and eight-grade Georgia students score proficient in reading
Georgia officials touted Peach State students’ scores on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, saying they were in line with the national average.
BETTER WORK Columbus hosting job fair for MCSD parents
BETTER WORK Columbus will host a job fair on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for parents of children in the Muscogee County School District (MCSD). It will take place at Victory Mission at 3448 North Lumpkin Road in Columbus, according to an MCSD press...
Issues impacting voters ahead of the midterm elections
Joshua Crawford, Senior Fellow of Public Safety Policy, joined FOX 5 to discuss issues about high-crime and criminal justice policy impacting voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Josh Crawford Joined Leland To Talk Crime, Policies, Criminals Back In Workforce and more
Josh Crawford joins Leland Conway to share his expertise about crime, communities, policies, and the needed solutions to improve high-crime areas and create opportunities for people to thrive. Listen to the interview











