A new chapter in community collaboration and data access has begun in Bulloch County with the launch of BEACON—the Bulloch Engagement and Community Opportunities Network. The online dashboard, now live at www.abrighterbulloch.com, is a simple, public tool that gives residents a clearer picture of how we’re doing in key focus areas: Economic Opportunity, Health and Well-Being, Public Safety, Community Vibrancy, and Education and Workforce.
“BEACON represents something special,” said Dr. Kyle Marrero, President of Georgia Southern University. “It’s a chance for our community to stay informed and for our leaders to work from the same set of facts. We believe it’s a valuable step forward as we all work to build a strong and thriving tomorrow.”
The dashboard was developed through a partnership between seven local organizations: the City of Statesboro, Bulloch County Government, Georgia Southern University, Ogeechee Technical College, the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, the Bulloch County Board of Education, and the Development Authority of Bulloch County.
These groups came together with one shared goal: to make the same data they use in their decision-making available to everyone.
“For years, we’ve all worked on similar goals, but we didn’t always have one place to see where we stand as a community,” said Dr. Annalee Ashley, Vice President for External Affairs, Communications, and Strategic Initiatives at Georgia Southern. “BEACON brings that together. It gives us a clear, shared starting point to understand our strengths and opportunities.”
Funded primarily through grants, BEACON isn’t a program or campaign. It doesn’t launch projects or run initiatives. Instead, it’s a public-facing platform that makes local data easier to access and explore.
Dr. Candice Bodkin, Assistant Professor of Public Administration and Co-Director of the Institute of Vibrant and Engaged Communities, helped guide the dashboard’s structure. “We wanted to make the data feel useful, not overwhelming,” she said. “We wanted to show how areas are connected—for example, how early learning can impact long-term economic growth or even public safety. It’s about helping people see the bigger picture.”
Sean Fox, CEO at Pioneer Design and Marketing, led the development of the dashboard’s design and functionality. “We built BEACON to be easy to use,” he said. “All of the data is interactive, so users can explore graphs, compare data with surrounding counties, and find relevant resources—all in one place.”
While BEACON doesn’t create or manage any programs, the partner organizations that support it plan to use the data it presents to inform their own work. Each group will continue making its own decisions—but now with a shared foundation of public information.
“It’s really about giving everyone access,” said Dr. Marrero. “It’s not about one group or one solution. It’s about giving people a clearer picture of where we stand and how we can move forward, together as a community.”
The dashboard will be updated twice a year to keep the information current. Partner organizations have already started taking a closer look at the initial data—identifying areas of strength and others that may need more attention.
“We’ve laid the groundwork,” said Dr. Ashley. “Now it’s time to look deeper—to learn from the data and use it to guide where we focus next.”
Looking ahead, BEACON may also expand to include tools like a community asset map and links to shared resources across the five focus areas.
The goal remains simple: to be a trusted source of local data that helps residents, leaders, and organizations stay informed, ask smarter questions, and move forward together toward a thriving tomorrow.
