housing stock, making them perfect first-time homes,” he shares. This effort revitalizes existing properties and provides affordable options for newcomers and locals. ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY: FESTIVALS AND UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS Haralson County’s vibrant community engagement is evident through its numerous festivals and unique local attractions. County Clerk Alison Palmer highlights the proactive nature of the county’s cities in organizing festivals. “Our cities are very outgoing. We’ve got a lot of groups that host festivals,” she says. One of the standout events is Buchanan’s Fried Pie Festival, inspired by Tennessee’s Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg.“They went to Tennessee and studied the Cornbread Festival, bringing that idea back here. It’s turned into a large festival in the county seat,” she adds, drawing 11,500 attendees and featuring 172 vendors. Tallapoosa’s New Year’s Eve celebration offers a quirky twist on traditional festivities. “Tallapoosa has the Possum Drop for New Year’s Eve,” Palmer mentions. Instead of the customary peach drop seen in Atlanta,Tallapoosa drops a possum—one that has died of natural causes and been taxidermied. “We have a big taxidermist in the area who has a little museum down there,” Palmer explains. Ridley talks about a new and exciting development in the rural parts of the county—glamping. “We’ve got an investor with about 600 acres in the rural part of the county who’s going to start glamping,” he says. “The ultimate plan is over 200 high-end camping sites with community amenities. Some sites will have luxurious yurts or safari-style tents, and others will be perfect for motorhomes.There will be a central place with a farmer’s market and a chef-led restaurant using local farm foods.” WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE Haralson County recognizes the critical importance of workforce development, especially in the face of a nationwide labor shortage. Through collaborative 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09
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