Community leaders and officials with Lanier Technical College gathered Monday to talk about the school's role in Dawson County.

Russell Vandiver, interim college president, said community input "could help set the tone for the next five years and beyond."

Vandiver said the school's five-year strategic plan should "make good sense and outline exactly what we want to do and how we want to go about doing it."

Officials and school board members asked community leaders for their opinions on school initiatives, such as job training and economic development.

"We feel like having input locally will make a difference," Vandiver said. "We don't want to do all the talking. We want to hear your input.

"We want to hear your thoughts about what direction we need to be going in throughout all of our campuses."

Along with its campus in downtown Dawsonville, Lanier Tech has locations in Forsyth, Oakwood and Jackson County, as well as a Winder-Barrow facility.

According to its Web site, Lanier Tech strives to "meet the changing educational and technological work force development needs of the community by providing adult education and technical training."

Vandiver said providing that type of training "is what we're all about."

"We're trying to help to improve skills, arrange programs, do things that make good sense, so people can go out and get jobs," he said.

College officials plan to hold additional meetings across north Georgia as a strategic plan is finalized.