COVID-19, ITS IMPACT ON OUR WORK, AND CONCERN FOR OUR CLIENTS
As we all navigate the current global pandemic, we at Georgia Downtowns have our clients and work community on our minds and in our hearts. 
  • While our on-site work is suspended, we are committed to our current clients and the work to be done;
  • For new or returning clients, we are available by phone for initial consultations; and
  • We are available for contracted consultations, via retainer or by the project.
​​Our Main Street communities are strong and are equipped to get through this and Georgia Downtowns will be there as a partner in their recovery.

​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

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Joel Cordle has 35 years in economic development, city government, and cultural arts program management. For ten years he was the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program for the City of Dahlonega. He is proud to have led Dahlonega in winning the ultimate national honor, the 2016 Great American Main Street Award, from the National Main Street Center, and the state award, the 2010 Award for Excellence in Downtown Development, from the Georgia Downtown Association. For 16 years, Joel served as the Arts Division Administrator for Athens-Clarke County Government. Joel is a certified senior downtown professional and a past president of the Georgia Downtown Association, where he continues to serve on the board as a corporate member. Georgia leads the US in downtown revitalization, and Joel is proud to be a partner with local and state leaders for downtown preservation and prosperity.
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​Alice Sampson has a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Georgia and is a former faculty member at the University of North Georgia (UNG) where she served 15 years as professor, director, and associate dean in the College of Education. For ten of her 15 years, she was the founding director of the Georgia Appalachian Studies Center, a community engagement center. Alice also served the university’s president as the project manager for the REED Initiative, producing and facilitating a yearlong series of community meetings focused on economic development trends and community needs. Alice is a professionally trained meeting facilitator and process planner. As a lifelong educator and now downtown advocate, she believes that healthy downtowns are key to community vitality and place-making.

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

Georgia Downtowns services are tailored to meet our client community's needs and include
  • Design, facilitation, and production of annual and five-year strategic planning retreats; 
  • Strategic plan reporting, which can include data collection and analysis;
  • Town hall meetings and community visioning sessions; and
  • "Downtown 101," a half-day workshop, with an overview of the models for Main Street Programs and Downtown Development Authorities and their boards, including a discussion of fundamental definitions and their purposes, roles, and responsibilities, 
​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.   
​
We love Georgia and we love its downtowns!

A downtown success story, ​and Joel helped!

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Click to watch a short video about a Great American Main Street in Georgia.
Our Georgia City Clients
  • Albany
  • ​Calhoun
  • Canton
  • Cartersville
  • Clarkesville
  • College Park
  • Commerce
  • Cordele
  • Cornelia
  • Dahlonega
  • Dawsonville
  • Douglasville
  • Dublin
  • Greensboro​
  • Hahira
  • Hampton
  • Jefferson
  • Kingsland
  • McDonough
  • Millen
  • Monroe
  • Newnan
  • ​Stone Mountain
  • Sylvania
  • Tybee Island
  • Valdosta
  • Vidalia
  • 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.