Downtown award winners include Commerce, Toccoa, Cleveland

ATLANTA -Cleveland, Commerce and Toccoa are among cities in Georgia recently recognized as Georgia Downtown Award winners by two statewide groups.

The Georgia Downtown Association and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs presented fifteen of the awards at the anual Georgia Downtown Conference.

The event promotes downtown and economic development through public awareness, governmental relations and education and brought nearly 200 of Georgia's downtown professionals together to develop strategies for bettering their downtown business district. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the nationally acclaimed Main Street Program as developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Center. The Georgia Main Street program is one of the original six states selected for the pilot program in 1980.

According to Billy Parrish, Director of DCA's Office of Downtown Development, " Since the inception of the Georgia Main Street program in 1980 and the Better Hometown Program in 1997, over $2.25 billion dollars has been invested in more than 100 designated Georgia Main Street and Better Hometowns with nearly 44,000 net new jobs added and nearly 9,400 net new businesses opened in designated Main Street and Better Hometowns."

The Georgia Downtown Awards were established to recognize individuals, downtown programs and/or businesses that have demonstrated "unique efforts" in making a difference in their downtowns. The award categories are based on the 4-Point Approach" to downtown revitalization as developed by the National Trust's Main Street Center and focus on Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs also presents an Outstanding Leadership Award and the Georgia Downtown Association selects one city to be honored for Overall Excellence in Downtown Development each year.

The following awards were presented:

*Organization Category

Swainsboro
Outstanding Organizational Outreach
Creative Marketplace Competition
City of Swainsboro / Downtown Development Authority

Cleveland
Most Valuable Volunteer
Cleveland Better Hometown
Tyler Dorsey

Sylvania
Most Valuable Volunteer
Sylvania Better Hometown
Dee Gurka

*Design Category

Senoia
Outstanding New Construction/Infill
Seavy Street Parking Lot

42 and 48 Main Street
Historic Development Ventures

Roswell
Sensitive Rehabilitation/Restoration
Diesel Pizza & Pub
Jim and Tara Cameron

Commerce
Design Improvement Program
Façade Grant Program
Commerce Downtown Development Authority/Main Street

*Promotions Category

Toccoa
Best Downtown Special Event
Mission Toccoa
Main Street Toccoa

Savannah
Best Image Building Campaign
Downtown Savannah Brand and Marketing Campaign
Savannah Development and Renewal Authority

Carrollton
Most Creative Marketing Piece
Dr. Adamson s Educational Placemats
Carrollton Main Street

Carrollton
Best Retail Booster
Break Away from the Chains
Carrollton Main Street

*Economic Restructuring Category

Thomasville
Best Commercial Re-Development Activity
Mitchell House
Community Development Partners, Inc.

Cartersville
Most Innovative Business Anchor
Young Brothers Pharmacy - Cartersville
Young Brothers Pharmacy

Douglasville
Best Problem Solving
Downtown Solid Waste Project