Melissa Jones, a native of Millen, recently accepted the position of region planner with the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Development Center (RDC) in Baxley.

The RDC grants professional advice and assistance to its member governments in the areas of comprehensive planning, local government administration and management, and community and economic development. The Regional Development Center provides services to 17 counties and 63 cities, serving a population of about 275,000.

Jones is a 2001 graduate of Jenkins County High School. She attended Georgia Southern University (GSU) from 2001 to 2005, graduating with a bachelor of science in public relations. In 2007, Jones graduated with a master of public administration from GSU.

Before employment with the RDC, Jones served as the prevention outreach coordinator for the Department of Human Resources for three years.