City of Toccoa receives grant to construct new greenspace

The City of Toccoa has received a Rural Downtown Redevelopment Grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for the construction of a greenspace.

As WNEG News previously reported, the Toccoa City Commission approved the grant resolution in May to secure funding for the project.

During that meeting, City Manager Billy Morse explained that the grant would go towards the creation of a greenspace in the existing Tugalo Street Parking area.

“This is a special opportunity, this is a one-time opportunity that the Georgia Department of Community Affairs is offering for a Downtown Redevelopment Grant. The good news is that the state is going to match our 10 percent with their 90 percent, so all we have to do is come up with 10 percent for our project. What we are proposing with this grant is to create a green space, stage, and restroom facilities in the existing Tugalo Street public parking area, along with complimentary streetscape improvement in the parking lot on the opposite side of this property near the railroad on that side of that parking lot,” he said.

He added that this project was one of the goals the city had made for 2022.

Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn says they awarded this special allocation of funding to 9 agencies.

He says the award selection process was highly competitive, as 53 applications were received requesting over $104 million in funding.

He says quote, “these projects represent strategic investments in revitalizing downtown districts. Downtowns are the heart and economic centers of so many of our communities…These funds will assist in creating a sense of place and connectivity to residents, which promote the economic vitality of our downtowns.”

Toccoa was the sole community to receive funding in Northeast Georgia.

For additional information regarding the Tugalo Street Greenspace project, contact Main Street Manager Christian Hamilton by calling 706-898-5777.