President's Welcome
On behalf of the Georgia Downtown Association and its board of directors, I would like to extend a warm welcome! 2023 will be an exciting year filled with even more organizational improvements. We are hard at work crafting the Certified Downtown Professional program, getting ready for an unforgettable conference in Canton, Georgia, and working to solidify more behind-the-scenes organizational structures. We recognize that the past few years have been a struggle for many of our downtown communities throughout the state. However, we will continue to make GDA a solid organization to support all our member communities.
As President, I feel honored to represent the small towns throughout Georgia. In my current role as Community Relations and Project Director for Warren County, I have the privilege of leading Hometown Warrenton, Inc. - our Main Street program - as its Executive Director. Warrenton is a small city with close to two thousand residents. Through countless efforts over many years, Warrenton is striving to develop our town and maintain a level of vitality. Seeing the transformation of Warrenton and other towns throughout Georgia brings me great satisfaction and is a constant reminder of the positive impact we can make in our local communities.
GDA is a non-profit statewide organization that connects communities and professionals committed to downtown vitality and promoting the economic redevelopment of Georgia's traditional downtowns. We offer accredited training programs for professionals in downtown development, advocate for the interests of downtowns, and educate both private and public sectors on the economic advantages of thriving downtowns. Furthermore, GDA hosts the annual Georgia Downtown Association Conference, which this year will take place in Canton, GA. As an attendee, you can expect high-quality educational training and networking opportunities. We are excited about the strength of this year's conference and invite you to attend.
The board is committed to advancing and expanding our organization and will always appreciate assistance from its members. The membership application, among other helpful information, can be found on our website. You can find the "Join Today" button at the top of most pages. As a member, you will have access to professional development certification, networking events, mentorship opportunities, achievement awards, public policy monitoring, and educational opportunities. Our membership is not just for downtown professionals in our state, but also for city officials, corporations, students, and vendors who share our goal of promoting revitalization and stability in Georgia’s downtowns.
As the President of the Georgia Downtown Association, it is my commitment to ensure the growth and prosperity of all downtown communities within the state of Georgia. I am dedicated to collaborating with the dedicated leaders within these communities to achieve our shared goals. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Jeffrey@HomtownWarrenton.org or by phone at (706) 465-9604. I also invite you to explore the rest of our website and learn more about the services and support provided by the Georgia Downtown Association.
On behalf of the fifteen representatives from around the State of Georgia serving as your Board of Directors, we are excited to see what we can accomplish this year and how we will collectively impact Georgia's downtowns. Together, we look forward to working towards meaningful and lasting changes that will benefit our communities.
