From strategic planning to community input to project planning, Georgia Downtowns services are tailored to meet our client community's needs. Our work is based on the new Main Street Refresh model that emphasizes transformation strategies and the National Main Street Four Point  Approach®. As your downtown partner, we collaborate with you to gather community and leadership input, analyze data, identify needs, design effective action strategies, and produce transformational outcomes.  

​Right now, Georgia Downtowns is ....

Sharing testimonials;
  • Facilitating community visioning sessions;
  • Building strategic work plans for Main Street organizations across the state​; and
  • Expanding Georgia downtown businesses through project finance planning.​
We are also...
  • Training downtown leaders in Main Street best practices;
  • Advising Georgia downtown leaders on project funding;
  • Visiting with our downtown friends.

We'd love to visit with you!​ ​​ ​

​Who We Are

Joel Cordle, principal, served ten years as the executive director of the Dahlonega Main Street Program and Downtown Development Authority. He also worked five years as a professional downtown consultant with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and 15 years as the cultural arts manager for Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. In 2010, Joel served as the president of the Georgia Downtown Association and in 2016, led the City of Dahlonega in winning the prestigious Great American Main Street Award.  He is a highly experienced downtown professional and developer who knows downtowns and Main Street. He currently serves the Georgia Downtown Association as an ex-officio board member for 2018. (bio).
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​Alice Sampson is a trained meeting facilitator, strategic planner, and educator. As a former professor and teacher, she is passionate about community-building, public input, and planning. Alice is the founding director of the Georgia Appalachian Studies Center and served as the project director of the University of North Georgia's REED Initiative, the university's guidebook for community economic development for the northeast region of the state. She loves visiting downtowns in Georgia and currently serves on the Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission (bio).

Georgia Downtowns works with governments and their agencies to revitalize downtowns. 

​     Now scheduling projects for 2020. ​

A downtown success story, and Joel helped!

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Click to watch a 4-minute video about a Great American Main Street.in Georgia.
Our Georgia City Clients
  • ​Calhoun
  • Canton
  • Clarkesville
  • College Park
  • Cornelia
  • Dahlonega
  • Dawsonville
  • Greensboro
  • Hampton
  • ​McDonough
  • Millen
  • Monroe
  • Newnan
  • ​Sylvania
  • Tybee Island
  • Valdosta
  • Washington
Let's talk. Schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation. ​

Awards

While serving as the Main Street and Downtown Development Authority director, Joel helped the City of Dahlonega acheive the following awards and designations:
  • Great American Main Street Award, by National Main Street, 2016
  • Award for Excellence in Downtown Development, Georgia Downtown Association, 2010​ ...
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​Our Georgia Downtowns partners and colleagues.