Main Street Program

"A healthy, viable downtown is crucial to the economic health and civic pride of the entire community."

-National Trust for Historic Preservation

The Main Street Program began in 1990 to facilitate the revitalization of downtown Toccoa. The Mission Statement of Main Street Toccoa is to improve Toccoa’s quality of life by strengthening downtown’s role as the community’s heart. The Vision Statement of Main Street Toccoa is: Toccoa Main Street is a nonprofit organization formed to make the downtown district the economic and cultural center of the community. The overall objective is to improve the viability and appearence of the downtown district and to stimulate long-term reinvestment through business recruitment and retention, all within the context of historic preservation. Main Street Toccoa has been accredited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation since 1999.

Recent honors include the 2009 Great American Main Street Top Ten Semi-finalist from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the 2008 Excellence in Downtown Development Award from the Georgia Downtown Association, and the 2009 Excellence in Rehabilitation Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Main Street Toccoa's Ritz Theatre was recently awarded the coveted 2017 Chairman's Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation for renovation work done at the Historic Ritz Theatre.

Toccoa’s Program is based on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s recommended four-point approach to downtown redevelopment within the context of historic preservation.

The DDA

The Downtown Development Authorities Law of 1981 created a seven-member board of directors which was reactivated in 1990 and appointed by the City Commission. The DDA, a volunteer organization, has overall responsibility of the Main Street Program. Four of the directors must be owners of downtown businesses. The DDA provides advocacy and support for program efforts to:

• Provide public education on downtown’s value to the community and its place in the city’s heritage
• Stimulate downtown economic activity through focused recruitment and support of existing businesses
• Focus attention on downtown’s assets through joint marketing and by linking downtown activities with other community activities
• Recruit volunteers for downtown redevelopment and coordinate their efforts.

The DDA meets the second Friday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in City Hall. Board members chair one of the four committees that comprise the Main Street Program. Toccoa’s committees are based on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s recommended four-point approach to downtown redevelopment in the context of historic preservation. The Main Street Program's professional staff includes a Main Street Manager.