Cartersville was one of 12 Communities Honored by DCA for revitalizing downtowns

Accepting the award from Evan Thibeault of Department of Community Affairs was Cartersville Main Street Program Manager Tara Currier.

March 04, 2014

ATLANTA – Twelve communities around Georgia were recently recognized for statewide excellence in improving their downtowns through the nationally-based Main Street program. The City of Cartersville, the Main Street manager in Blackshear, and Main Street programs in Americus, Douglas, Hartwell, Lavonia, Macon, Madison, Metter, Milledgeville, Moultrie and Woodstock all took home honors for various aspects of their programs.

“Georgia’s Main Streets are the jewels of our state and play a critical part in economic development,” said Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GDCA), which houses Georgia’s Main Street program. “Establishing a vibrant and flourishing downtown speaks volumes about a community’s commitment to economic growth for its citizens and its businesses.”

The awards were handed out at the 35th Anniversary Banquet for the Georgia Main Street Program, held Feb. 26 in Douglasville. Winners were determined based on economic development performance indicators the programs submit each month. 

Economic Development:
Award of Excellence in Economic Development Woodstock Main Street
Street Greatest Number of Business Expansions & Relocations Douglas Main Street
Exceptional Leadership in Financial Packaging Moultrie Main Street

Organization:
Best Community Planning Initiative City of Cartersville
Greatest Volunteer Support Lavonia Main Street
2014 Emerging Leadership Award Tommy Lowmon, Blackshear Main Street

Promotions:
Award of Excellence in Promotions Macon Main Street
Most Events Held in a Downtown District Americus Main Street
Highest Attendance at Downtown Events Metter Main Street

Design:
Georgia Historic Preservation Division Award of Excellence Milledgeville Main Street
Award of Excellence in Design Madison Main Street
Most Public Improvement Projects Hartwell Main Street

“Our Main Street cities have had countless successes over the 35 years of the program, and it was extremely hard to single out just a few,” said Billy Peppers, Director of the Office of Downtown Development for GDCA. “We congratulate not only these 12 winners, but all 96 Georgia cities in the Main Street program as well as the 19 preparing to enter it, for their hard work and dedication to excellence.”

The Main Street program is a national, community-based development initiative in which public and private entities collaborate to revitalize downtowns. One of the largest and most successful Main Street networks in the country, Georgia’s program is a key part of DCA’s mission to partner with communities in creating a climate for economic development success. Since Georgia joined the national Main Street program in 1980, the state’s Main Street communities have created 58,000+ net new jobs, nearly 12,000 net new small businesses and $3 billion in public and private investment in 96 downtowns across the state.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach® is a proven methodology that empowers communities to utilize their distinctive assets, such as their independent businesses and historic character, to revive their commercial districts, strengthen local economies and increase civic engagement. Since 1980, the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to downtown revitalization has been used by more than 2,000 communities nationwide to stimulate more than 235,000 building rehabilitation projects and create 475,000 jobs.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GDCA) partners with communities to help create a climate of success for Georgia’s families and businesses through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, GDCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement plans, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions and promote volunteerism. GDCA also helps low- and moderate- income Georgians with issues regarding home ownership, rental housing and homelessness prevention. For more information, visit the GDCA website at www.dca.ga.gov.