GDA is a non-profit statewide organization that connects communities and professionals that are committed to downtown vitality.

We provide accredited training programs for downtown development professionals, advocate for Georgia's downtowns, and educate private and public sectors on the economic benefits of a thriving downtown. GDA also hosts the annual Georgia Downtown Conference to offer top notch educational training and networking opportunities.

Benefits of Membership

If you are working to foster downtown revitalization or working within the field of downtown development, Georgia Downtown Association (GDA) membership provides you with access to the information and expertise you need to promote successful downtown revitalization efforts.

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GDA Award Winners


Award of Excellence - Outstanding Community Transformation/Downtown of the Year - City of Moultrie
City of Moultrie

Award of Excellence - Best Adaptive Reuse - The Mill on Etowah
City of Canton

Award of Excellence - Best Adaptive Reuse - Hotel Forty Five
City of Macon

Award of Excellence - Best Public Improvement Project - Level Grove Sidewalk Project
City of Cornelia

Award of Excellence - Best Facade Rehabilitation - The Roe
City of Monroe

Award of Excellence - Best Placemaking Project - Flaunt 2022: Let's Play!
City of Thomasville

Award of Excellence - Outstanding Promotional Campaign - Suwanee Annual Report
City of Suwanee

Award of Excellence - Creative New Event - Atlanta International Night Market - Glow in the Park
City of Suwanee

Award of Excellence - Premier Special Event - Lights! Lights! Thanksgiving Night!
City of Moultrie

Award of Excellence - Premier Special Event - The Honeybee Festival
City of LaFayette

Award of Excellence - Best Creative Fundraising Effort- Downtown Dog Stations
City of Rome

Award of Excellence - Main Street Hero - Peggy Vickery
City of Hartwell

Award of Excellence - Premier Partner - Area Children's Theatre
Hometown Warrenton

Georgia's Downtowns Are Happening

Christmas Party in the Plaza

Christmas Party in the Plaza

1 Friendship Plaza, Downtown Cartersville
December 1 3 PM
Join us for the ultimate celebration as we kick off the Exchange Club's Annual Cartersville Christmas Parade! Enjoy our annual tree lighting countdown, free pictures with Santa, and free children's books from the Bartow County School System.
Yuletide Jubilee

Yuletide Jubilee

Bainbridge, GA
December 1 5 PM
Join us on December 1, 2022 in Downtown Bainbridge for our annual Yuletide Jubilee! Get in the Christmas spirit while enjoying extraordinary shopping and dining, music and dancing, games and activities for the whole family, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree, and Santa Claus!  Bainbridge, Dec1st 5:30-8 PM
Decatur Tree Lighting

Decatur Tree Lighting

Decatur Square
December 1 7 PM
Join us for the annual lighting of the tree by Santa!  Decatur Square 7-8:30 PM.

GDA News

Downtown Edge Scholarship

GDA pays tribute to our late friend and colleague Adam Edge by announcing the Downtown Edge Scholarship

Main Street Georgia - Heartbeat Video

Video provided by our friends at the Office of Downtown Development