A leadership team behind the countywide Georgia Tech study soon will be seeking volunteers to implement its major goals for the area, but results of the work show a number of interest groups al-ready have been consulted about Troup County’s future.

Results of the 18-month study of the county’s resources and planning efforts were revealed last week. It includes the opinions of hundreds of local residents and “partner organizations” that deal with the area, as well as another group not as likely to get recognition: the area’s teenagers.

Georgia Tech surveyed 1,352 high schoolers, ages 15-17, from all three public high schools.

“That so many young people voiced their hopes and fears provides a level of depth not found in most strategic planning, and says very positive things about their desire to be included in Troup County’s efforts to prepare for the future,” the study results noted.

And the students surveyed appeared to be honest about their challenges. Seventeen percent said substance abuse is a major problem for youths their age; crime and public safety came in second with 15 percent, according to results.

“They are our future and our economic base,” County Commission Chairman Ricky Wolfe said when discussing the results last week. The main point of the Georgia Tech survey is to plan for Troup County’s future, yet just 22 percent of the youth surveyed plan on staying here after graduating from high school.

“Beyond educational pursuits, many expressed a desire to leave the insularity of LaGrange and Troup County to experience ‘something new,’ ” the study report said. “Whatever their reason for leaving, some respondents left open the possibility of returning to their hometown later in life in order to settle. For example, one participant shared, ‘I plan to return here after I graduate from college. I personally enjoy this area and small-town atmosphere.’ “

Partner groups surveyed about Troup County had recommendations for the whole area, as well as LaGrange, West Point and Hogansville.

The most prominent suggestion for LaGrange was to plan for growth, accounting for 28 percent of all suggestions, the report said. The second suggestion (24 percent) was for LaGrange to “stay the present course,” which researchers say means there is broad support for what LaGrange has done to this point. Those interviewed also suggested developing transportation solutions (8 percent) and maintaining leadership continuity (8 percent) as issues of immediate importance to the city.

Other next steps offered for LaGrange included:

— Develop infrastructure;

— Improve existing amenities;

— Improve the educational system;

— Promote entrepreneurship; and

— Redevelop retail and industrial areas.

In West Point, the vast majority of respondents suggested the city plan for growth as its immediate next step, accounting for 45 percent of the responses. The study said the survey highlighted concern West Point is not yet ready for the type of growth expected to arrive in the near future when the Kia Motors plant begins operation. Those surveyed also said West Point should focus on developing infrastructure (15 percent) and building cooperative relationships (10 percent) with its neighbors.

Other next steps offered for West Point included:

— Creating greater housing choice;

— Developing an identity for the city;

— Leveraging the arrival of Kia; and

— Maintaining leadership continuity.

More than any other suggestions offered for Hogansville was the need to plan for growth, which accounted for 30.4 percent of the suggestions, the study says. The partners recommended that Hogansville focus on developing its infrastructure second, accounting for 26.1 percent of the responses.

“Beyond that, partners focused on Hogansville’s need to get more involved in future decision-making with internal Troup County issues (13 percent), and building cooperative relationships with other jurisdictions in Troup and the surrounding region (8.7 percent),” the study results said.

Other next steps offered for Hogansville included forming an identity and marketing itself, as well as taking advantage of current and future changes.

— To view a summary of Georgia Tech’s plan and the county’s goals, go to www.troupcountyga.org. The summary includes a link to the full study, www. community-innovation.org /sites/share/Troup. The site requires a user name, edi_ad\partner. The password is password.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.