Main Street Toccoa Awarded Best Creative Fundraising Effort Award at the 2024 Georgia Downtown Conference

Pictured, from left, Downtown Development Authority Board Member Hayli Brewer, Main Street Manager Kristen Deal, and Georgia Downtown Association Vice President/City of Hartwell Economic & Community Development Director Jason Ford

Main Street Toccoa has been recognized with the Best Creative Fundraising Award at this year’s Georgia Downtown Conference, celebrating their innovative and successful approach to securing funding for their Tugalo Street Greenspace Engraved Brick Campaign.

The Best Creative Fundraising Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate exceptional creativity and success in their fundraising efforts, whether through unique events, partnerships, or campaigns. Main Street Toccoa’s recent initiative, the Tugalo Street Greenspace Engraved Brick Campaign not only met but exceeded expectations, securing critical funds for the completion of the downtown park.

Toccoa Main Street Director Kristen Deal stated, “This campaign was a direct reflection of our community coming together over a shared goal, to beautify and enhance our downtown. We received incredible support from the people of our community, across all sectors, who share the vision of making Toccoa a great place to live, play, work, and grow. The Tugalo Street Greenspace will make a generational impact upon the downtown infrastructure of Toccoa.”

The Georgia Downtown Conference is a premier gathering for downtown development professionals, providing a platform for sharing ideas, strategies, and success stories. The Best Creative Fundraising Award is a key recognition that honors the most effective and imaginative fundraising efforts that have made significant impact on the local community. 

The award was presented on August 28 in Thomasville, where Main Street Toccoa was commended for their innovative approach and the tangible results of their fundraising efforts.

This recognition underscores the importance of creativity in securing the financial support needed to drive downtown revitalization and development, Deal said. 

The Georgia Downtown Association (GDA) is a non-profit statewide organization that connects communities and professionals that are committed to downtown vitality. GDA provides accredited training programs for downtown development professionals, advocates for Georgia’s downtowns, and educates private and public sectors on the economic benefits of a thriving downtown. GDA also hosts the annual Georgia Downtown Conference to offer top-notch educational training and networking opportunities.