Alicia Ledbetter has been named the new Executive Director of the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation. After a comprehensive search process, the One Sumter Board of Directors is pleased to announce Ledbetter will take the helm of the organization on October 3rd.

As One Sumter’s third Executive Director, Ledbetter brings a fresh perspective and approach to the position that Chairman Alex Saratsiotis believes will guide the work of the foundation in the right direction as they work collaboratively to fulfill the goals of the GROW 2024 plan. He states, “We are excited to welcome Alicia as One Sumter’s newest Executive Director. We are confident that under Alicia’s direction One Sumter will continue to serve as a catalyst for growth in Sumter County.” Saratsiotis continues, “Her positive energy and belief in the opportunities that exist for Sumter County’s future are just what we are looking for, and we believe she will be a good fit working across the community’s economic development team.”

The Board of Directors is hosting a welcome reception for Ledbetter on Tuesday evening, October 4th, at the Wolf Creek Plantation Tasting Room at The Windsor Hotel, where she will meet the community’s leadership and One Sumter donors from the outset of her tenure. An early priority of her work will be to reach out to One Sumter’s donors and community partners to connect them with the work and progress that has been made over the last year, including the $25.1 Million grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget to implement giga-bit enabled broadband service countywide, in partnership with the Sumter County Board of Commissioners and Pineland Communications, as well as securing the services of Better Way Grocer to provide a mobile grocery unit to those facing food insecurity in Sumter County, targeting high-poverty areas with limited access to the transportation needed to access quality foods.

Ledbetter shares her enthusiasm for the work One Sumter has already accomplished and looks forward to taking an active part in leading the organization forward. “I am really excited about this opportunity to make good things happen in my community, and I am grateful to the Board of Directors for trusting me to take on this important position.” She continues, “I have a personal passion for empowering others and working to make the future better than the present, and I believe the work of One Sumter will allow me to do just that in a direct and meaningful way.”

Ledbetter most recently served as the Director of the Child Advocacy Center at The Gateway Center in Cordele. She maintains a Master of Social Work from Albany State University and a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Georgia Southwestern State University.

One Sumter represents pledged contributions of over 120 private business and industry partners, public sector entities and individual donations from residents throughout Sumter County. With our GROW 2024 Strategic Plan dedicated to address four, key priority areas: 1) Economic & Community Development, 2) Education & Workforce Development, 3) Leadership Development & Regional Sustainability, and 4) Entrepreneurship & Talent Development; One Sumter is dedicated to partnering across all segments of the community to meet stated goals and objectives of the five-year plan.

For more information about One Sumter Economic Development Foundation, please visit www.onesumter.org.