The 2024 Georgia Downtown Conference, held in the charming city of Thomasville, brought together downtown development leaders and enthusiasts from across the state. This year’s conference resulted in an engaging, insightful conference concluding with an awards ceremony. Outstanding contributions to downtown development were honored in various categories, showcasing the creativity and resilience of Georgia’s downtown programs.

Awards Ceremony Highlights
The awards ceremony was the highlight of the conference, with more than a dozen downtown organizations and individuals recognized for their innovative projects, community-driven initiatives, and lasting impacts on their cities. Each award category highlighted key aspects of downtown development, from design to economic transformation, with nominees demonstrating how thoughtful revitalization can drive sustainable progress and community pride.

Here's a closer look at some of the major awards presented during the ceremony:

Organization

Premier Partner: Thomasville
This award recognizes creative joint ventures between a downtown organization and another local, community entity or entities (public or private).

Main Street Hero: Dr. Jeffrey Paine - Gainesville
This award recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual toward revitalizing a downtown.

Best Creative Fundraising Effort: Toccoa Downtown Development Authority
This award recognizes a creative and successful way to secure funding for the downtown or a specific event.

Promotion

Premier Special Event: Hahira & Lawrenceville
This award recognizes a downtown organization that has created a first-time and/or premier-quality event that generates traffic for the downtown and/or serves as a fundraiser. 

Creative New Event: Lawrenceville
This award recognizes a downtown organization that has created a quality event, generating traffic for the downtown and/or serves as a fundraiser.

Outstanding Promotional Campaign: Lavonia
This award recognizes a downtown organization that has developed the best effective public relations piece, promotional campaign or social media promotion. Projects may include printed publications, graphic images, products, signage (directional/billboards), websites, e-newsletters, or social media tactics. It may also include image ad campaigns or image events such as a display.

Design 

Best Placemaking Project: Thomasville & Monroe
This award honors a downtown organization that has implemented attractive and sympathetic improvements for a public area in the historic district. Projects can be any scale (small to large) and may be public or privately funded. 

Best Façade Rehabilitation: Tifton
This award will recognize a quality façade rehabilitation project costing $10,000 or less or over $10,000.

Best Public Improvement Project: Canton
This award is given to a municipality or downtown program that has designed and implemented attractive and sympathetic improvements for its district.

Economic Development

Best Adaptive Reuse: Canton
This nomination should address the economic impact of how a historic building has been returned to productive use (including adapting it to a new use) while maintaining architectural integrity. 

Outstanding Community Transformation / Downtown of the Year: Bainbridge
This overall award goes to a downtown program that has achieved a successful, preservation-based downtown revival.

A Look Ahead
As the conference concluded, attendees left inspired by the shared innovative ideas and success stories. From small towns making big changes to urban centers maintaining their momentum, it was clear that downtowns across Georgia are rising. The awards ceremony highlighted achievements and served as a beacon of inspiration for others to continue pushing boundaries and investing in their communities.

Those interested in attending next year’s conference can look forward to being in beautiful Downtown Gainesville!

For more information about the Georgia Downtown Association, visit www.georgiadowntownassociation.org.