Last updated on January 31st, 2025 at 02:48 pm

The projects are part of Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing’s work to connect rural communities with new logistics technologies.

A Georgia Institute of Technology faculty member was recently honored for his efforts connecting new supply chain technologies with rural and underserved communities across Georgia.

Charles Easley Jr., a professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (SCL) and project lead for the Rural Supply Chain Resilience initiative through Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM), received a Building Better Regions Superstar Award during a special event in Wichita, Kansas, marking two years of the Build Back Better federal grant program. Georgia AIM is among the recipients of a Build Back Better grant.

“This is a testament to the teamwork that we have across Georgia AIM, and the dedication of Georgia Tech  Supply Chain and Logistics Institute team to connect rural Georgia to emerging and accelerating technologies,” said Easley. “This is a tremendous surprise and very humbling. It pushes us to do more. The Georgia AIM initiative is making a positive impact on Georgia. With the history of Atlanta as Terminus-centroid for multiple railroads, Savannah’s port plus its connecting with Charleston, and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Georgia is and should continue to be a thought leader, innovator, and center of excellence for supply chain and logistics. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the team and this groundbreaking effort.”

The Building Better Regions Superstar Award announcement took place during a hybrid ceremony on Sept. 12 and capped a regional convening of Build Back Better-funded programs. The award event included remarks from Justin Tooley, the Economic Development Administration’s director of the American Rescue Plan, panel discussions highlighting the work of regional programs, and video presentations marking the 2-year anniversary of the grants.

One panel discussion earlier in the day, “Marking the Moment: Celebrating the Work of Regional Program Managers,” featured another Georgia AIM project. Kenya Asbill, program manager for the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs in Atlanta, reflected on her program’s work over the past two years and future plans. Earlier in the week, Georgia AIM co-director Donna Ennis spoke as part of a panel, “Reaching Beyond Cities,” which focused on outreach and investment happening beyond metro hubs.

Easley’s award recognizes the work he’s spearheaded in different parts of the state to increase supply chain access and resilience. Georgia AIM’s Rural Supply Chain Resilience initiative has three areas of focus: to develop projects that train and upskill members of Georgia’s workforce; to empower employees at the mid- to executive level who use AI or machine learning to grow their business, uplift the community, remain competitive; and to create pilot projects within small to medium companies that assist employees in applying new technologies and creating change.

Through these projects, employees incorporate AI and machine learning tools to accelerate and enhance a business’s ability to grow and lead.

Easley and the SCL team are spearheading several projects throughout the state, each tailored to that region of Georgia in a way that is meaningful and sustainable for the community it serves. These projects include:

• A workforce development project partnering with Groves High School, the Department of Juvenile Justice Education Transition Center in Savannah (Chatham County, and Effingham College and Career Academy. This program trains teenagers in new logistics technologies, opening career pathways after students complete the program. More than 70 teens — many of whom are still in high school — have completed the program since its launch.
• Connecting small and medium companies in rural areas with generative AI tools to improve their shipping and logistics. This program trains employees to use open-source tools, such as Chat GPT, to develop and refine their internal processes. The SCL is working with senior executive teams at Sunnyland Farms, a pecan farm in Southwest Georgia; and flooring manufacturer HTMX in North and Southeast Georgia to streamline their processes, shipping, and logistics.
• The Supply Chain and Logistics Institute also offers classes and certificates to a variety of students across the state, ranging from professionals looking to increase their company’s competitiveness to veterans transitioning to civilian life and residents in economically underserved areas. These programs allow people to attain a credential and plug in to a new career trajectory in an area in need of skilled professionals.

In the spirit of public/private teamwork, Georgia Tech has formed key partnerships with Regions Bank, Home Depot, Georgia Power, Goodwill, and HMTX to support the workforce development component of the Rural Supply Chain Resilience initiative.

While other projects within Georgia AIM focus on machine learning and changes in manufacturing, Easley is quick to point out that supply chain and logistics can also benefit from smart technologies. The Port of Savannah and Georgia’s strong manufacturing presence underscores the need for an adaptable, resilient logistics infrastructure.

“Supply chain has always had a thirst and a hunger for more accurate and timely data. We never have enough information, so it’s a very good receptor for AI and its applications,” said Easley. “A lot of the metrics, the reporting, decision-making and modeling use AI. Whatever your imagination could create, you could generate.”

Georgia AIM is administered through Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. Funded by a $65 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration, Georgia AIM is a network of projects across the state that work to connect the manufacturing community with smart technologies and a ready workforce.

Georgia AIM works to connect all populations and communities to manufacturing, and works with manufacturers to adopt AI and smart technologies Georgia AIM projects include K-12 education, Georgia’s technical colleges and universities, workforce development, regional partnerships, nonprofits, and support for emerging technologies and manufacturers.