Holly Springs Joins Main Street Program

Holly Springs is one of 19 Georgia cities selected to join the Main Street Start-Up Program, according to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GDCA).

The program provides technical assistance to cities looking to develop their downtowns. Twenty-five cities applied to the 2014-2015 program, the largest group of applicants the programs history. Collectively, they represent $1.8 million in available local downtown program funding.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring people and business to downtown Holly Springs,” said Jennifer Stanley, with the City of Holly Springs. “It’s an honor to be selected for this prestigious national program, which will allow us to leverage our many existing downtown assets. We’re looking forward to working with GDCA toward full certification.”

The program focuses on four core areas: design, organization, economic restructuring and promotion.

The other cities joining the program are:

• Albany
• Cairo
• Porterdale
• Ashburn
• Chamblee
• Ringgold
• Auburn
• Grayson
• Stockbridge
• Avondale Estates
• Hinesville
• Swainsboro
• Ball Ground
• Sylvester
• Bowdon
• Lawrenceville
• Braselton
• Perry

These communities will  join 96 other cities across Georgia in the Main Street program. GDCA will provide substantial technical assistance to these communities, including help with board and leadership development, the creation of two- and five-year work plans, development of program budgets and preparation of each to meet the 10 standards set forth by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Georgia Main Street Program,” said Billy Peppers, Director of the Office of Downtown Development. “Georgia was one of the first states in the country to be a part of the national Main Street program, and because of this, Georgia’s downtowns have seen more than $3 billion in impact since 1980, along with the creation of more than 58,000 net new jobs. Georgia’s downtowns are truly open for business.”