Grayson Accepted Into Main Street Georgia Program

The city of Grayson has been selected to join the Main Street Start-up Program. 

Headed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Main Street Start-up Program provides technical assistance to cities looking to improve their downtowns, according to a news release.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our downtown district," said Mayor Jim Hinkle in a news release. "It is definitely an honor to be selected for this program. I look forward to seeing its positive impact on Grayson in the future."  

Grayson is one of 19 cities to have been accepted into the program. A total of 25 cities applied for the 2014-2015 program, which is the largest group of applicants Main Street Start-up has seen. The cities joining the program include: Albany, Ashburn, Auburn, Avondale Estates, Ball Groun, Bowdon, Braselton, Cairo, Chamblee, Hinesville, Holly Springs, Lawrenceville, Perry, Porterdale, Ringgold, Stockbridge, Swainsboro and Sylvester. 

Collectively, they represent 284,503 citizens, $1.8 million in available local downtown program funding, and 10 service delivery regions of the state. 

These communities will work to join 96 other cities across Georgia in the Main Street program. GDCA will provide substantial technical assistance to these communities, including help with board and leadership development, the creation of two- and five-year work plans, development of program budgets and preparation of each to meet the 10 standards set forth by the National Main Street Center, which is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

"Speaking on behalf of the city of Grayson, I'm very enthusiastic about the many resources the Main Street Program will provide for our downtown," said Mayor-Elect Allison Wilkerson. "I look forward to working with Gail Lane, our Main Street manager, as we build upon the many assets already in Grayson through this program."

“I am thrilled to be part of the team that seeks to bring such positive progress to Grayson,” said Lane, who serves as Grayson’s Downtown Development Authority manager and has committed to the year-long training on behalf of the city. 

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; it 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. GDCA does this through its three core functions: community and economic development; local government assistance; and safe and affordable housing.