Atlanta, GA. (July 9, 2025) – The Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Office of Downtown Development announced today that the City of LaFayette is the newest community to be designated a Classic Main Street. With this recognition, LaFayette joins a growing network of communities across the state committed to downtown revitalization through a comprehensive, preservation-based approach.

The Office of Downtown Development oversees Georgia’s Main Street Program and serves as the state coordinator for the Main Street America (MSA) program. Founded in 1980, Main Street America is a national network that includes 41 state-level coordinating programs. For over 45 years, MSA has focused on revitalizing historic downtowns through place-based economic development and community preservation using the “Main Street Approach,” which emphasizes design, economic vitality, promotion, and organization.

The Classic Main Street designation represents a significant milestone for LaFayette, recognizing the city’s dedication to building a strong local program focused on long-term success and community-led development. “LaFayette has demonstrated that it is ready to take the next step in its downtown revitalization journey,” said Cherie Bennett, Director of DCA’s Office of Downtown Development. “The Main Street Approach™ offers a practical, proven framework that can be tailored to any community’s unique needs, and LaFayette is embracing it with the energy, collaboration, and commitment we love to see.”

Over the past four years, LaFayette has laid a strong foundation by establishing a local Main Street board, completing training, and outlining a clear plan of work aligned with the Main Street Approach. The city’s leadership, along with dedicated community stakeholders, have already begun to implement projects focused on economic vitality, quality of life, and public-private investment in the downtown district.

“We’re excited to welcome LaFayette into the Classic Georgia Main Street family,” added Bennett. “This designation isn’t just about where they are today—it’s about the vision they’ve cast for the future. We’re looking forward to walking alongside them as their program grows and their downtown continues to thrive.”

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About the Georgia Main Street Program 

The Georgia Main Street Program has been helping to revitalize historic commercial districts for more 40 years and is one of the five original states to implement the Main Street Approach™. Today, its network is comprised of neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Through statewide coordination, the Office of Downtown Development ensures communities have access to the training, guidance, and tools they need to create meaningful change in their downtown districts—regardless of size or geography. For more information about the Georgia Main Street Program or how to become a Classic Main Street community, visit georgiamainstreet.org.