Georgia Municipal Association and the Georgia Cities Foundation will again explore the “Heart & Soul” of eight Georgia cities along the coast of Georgia on a three day bus tour in April. St. Marys will be featured on Thursday, April 20, 2012 to state agency heads, business leaders, downtown developers and philanthropists who are looking at ways cities are revitalizing and capitalizing on their downtowns.
The group will start the tour with a greeting from staff at the Kingsland Convention & Visitors Bureau and Welcome Center followed by an entertaining drive to the revitalized Theatre by the Trax for a vignette performance of the original production, “River of Life.”
The group will join local dignitaries, business owners, and military leaders for a boat tour that will highlight potential development opportunities at the former paper mill site and the St. Marys Intracoastal Gateway property. Once disembarking at the Howard Gilman Memorial Park, Councilman Jim Gant will share how the waterfront park project came to fruition and the group will end their downtown tour with light refreshments and remarks at the St. Marys Welcome Center.
The Georgia Cities Foundation has held a bus tour every year since 2001 as part of an overall effort to educate and inform state leaders on the importance of successful downtown development and its role in supporting overall economic development efforts for regions and communities. “The Foundation’s goal is to help cities through successful public-private partnerships,” said Georgia Cities Foundation President Mike Starr, “and we will show eight very good examples of cities that have been successful in creating wonderful downtowns and vibrant communities through such partnerships.”
According to St. Marys Economic Development Director Artie Jones, III “Our goal is to showcase St. Marys and the many attributes that we have to offer,” said Economic Development Director Artie Jones, III with the City of St. Marys.
“The Foundation has a proven track record of downtown development,” said Starr. “Since 2002, GCF has provided loans totaling more than $13.1 million for 75 projects in 41 cities across the state, generating more than $70 million in new private investment.” In 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation honored the Georgia Cities Foundation with its Main Street Ally award.
Other cities included on the 2012 tour are Dublin, Sylvania, Statesboro, Hinesville, Jesup, Savannah and Metter.
Approximately 50 people will participate in the tour, with some joining the tour at particular stops along the way. If you’re interested in participating please call the St. Marys DDA at 912-882-8111.
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