University of Georgia Public Service and Outreach congratulates the city of Hartwell for winning Outstanding Community Transformation/Downtown of the Year at this year’s Georgia Downtown Association conference.
The award is the result of the efforts of multiple partners and community leaders who have worked for years to improve the area. Businesses like Southern Hart Brewing that opened in 2018 and has served as an anchor for the downtown square. Nonprofits like TORCH of Hartwell that are committed to the transformation and revitalization of Hart County and have built Railroad Street Park up from nothing but a gravel railroad bed. And the Downtown Development Authority, which has been so critical in the planning for the area and helping businesses capitalize on the variety of programs available to historic downtowns through its Main Street program.
UGA’s Archway Partnership is proud to be one of these partners. Archway has worked on a number of downtown projects identified as critical to revitalization efforts by the community. Hart County has been an Archway community since 2008 and, through Archway, University of Georgia students and faculty have worked on more than 50 projects that have had a significant impact on downtown, from workforce development efforts to park designs. Last fiscal year, the Hart County Archway Partnership had a return on investment of more than $4.8 million, with $4.4 million worth of community improvement grants in partnership with Archway.
No one has had a front row seat to the downtown transformation in Hartwell more than Jason Ford, the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. Ford and the DDA helped to push through the Rural Zone designation, something that has had a big impact on local investment into downtown redevelopment and has helped property owners have the flexibility to make improvements. Property owners can receive tax credits for a variety of investments, including job creation activities and…
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