Atlanta, Ga. (November 20, 2024) – The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced that Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Hartwell have joined the 18 other cities recognized as Georgia Exceptional Main Street (GEMS) communities by the Office of Downtown Development. This designation highlights these communities’ unwavering dedication to the Georgia Main Street Program’s principles of downtown revitalization, economic growth, and innovation.

The GEMS status is awarded to cities that demonstrate exemplary commitment to advancing their downtowns’ economic development while preserving local culture. This designation reflects the significant strides these communities have made in promoting sustainable growth, fostering a vibrant business environment, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Each of these cities have demonstrated its own unique cultural heritage and strong community values. 

GEMS communities represent some of the most successful Main Street programs in the state, providing inspiration and guidance for other cities looking to achieve similar success. “These Main Streets have exceeded expectations by making a lasting, positive impact on their communities while embracing the Main Street approach,” said Jon A. West, Director of the Community Development Division at DCA. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Hartwell for their leadership and commitment to excellence that led to this designation.”

With this new designation, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Hartwell will serve as model cities, setting a high standard for others to follow in achieving downtown progress and prosperity.

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older, historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Its network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share a commitment to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org. 

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About the Main Street Approach

The Main Street 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. Since 1980, the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to downtown revitalization has been used by more than 100+ communities statewide to create more than 90,000 net new jobs and stimulate a $10.5 billion private-public investment.

 

About the Department of Community Affairs 

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) partners with communities to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low and moderate incomes buy homes, rental housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness. For more information, visit dca.georgia.gov.