TCC, City DDA Meet for Work Session

Toccoa City Commissioners look at the year ahead in downtown Toccoa with the city’s Downtown Development Authority.

The two boards met for a joint work session last Monday.

Joining the boards was Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Downtown Development Director Billy Peppers.

He said that small businesses and downtown can have more economic impact than some people understand.

Peppers said small business jobs are just as important as large industries in many ways.

“It is great when the state of Georgia lands a Caterpillar,” said Peppers.  “Those are wonderful projects, but we invest a lot to get those projects.  When we create jobs through small businesses, the investment is not nearly as high and those jobs are more secure.”

Peppers said that in Toccoa over the last 10 years, there has $22.8 million in public and private investment in downtown with 89 net jobs.

He called those significant numbers and says those results and commitment to downtown are reasons that the DCA picked Toccoa to be a part of the new GEMS program.

GEMS stands for Georgia Exceptional   Main Street.

Peppers said this program is a way for his office to push certain Main Street programs to the next level.

“What we are doing is identifying two or three key issues in your community where we can push together,” said Peppers.

The two boards also looked ahead to the events and projects coming up during the next year in downtown Toccoa, including continued clean-up efforts on Currahee Street, ongoing renovations at the Schaefer Center, and more streetscape work.