Heart and Soul Bus Tour to Visit Watkinsville - come welcome them at Eagle Tavern Thursday morning
Sent: Mon, April 11, 2011 10:49:41 AM
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Starting at 6:30 AM Continental Breakfast available
7:45 AM Board Bus for Watkinsville (Bus departs at 8:00 AM)
8:25 AM Arrive in Downtown Watkinsville
9:40 AM Board Bus for Greensboro (Bus departs at 9:50 AM)
10:30 AM Arrive in Downtown Greensboro
12:30 PM Board Bus for Washington (Bus departs at 12:40 PM)
1:30 PM Arrive in Downtown Washington
2:30 PM Board Bus for Augusta (Bus departs at 2:40 PM)
4:00 PM Arrive in Downtown Augusta
5:45 PM Board Bus for Hotel Check-in
7:00 PM Reception / Dinner
News Release April 1, 2011
Contact: Aileen Harris, GMA, 678-686-6293 Cell: 770-310-1773
Heart and Soul Bus Tour to Visit Downtowns
GMA and the Georgia Cities Foundation will again explore the "Heart and Soul" of 10 Georgia cities along I-20 east and US Highway 78 on a three day bus tour in April. The bus tour, April 13-15, will show state agency heads, business leaders, downtown developers and philanthropists ways in which cities are revitalizing and capitalizing on their downtowns.
Participants will learn about downtown programs in Conyers, Covington , Monroe , Athens, Watkinsville, Greensboro, Washington , Augusta , Madison and Thomson.
"The Foundation's goal is to help cities through successful public-private partnerships," said Georgia Cities Foundation President Mike Starr , "and we will show 10 very good examples of cities that have been successful in creating wonderful downtowns and vibrant communities through such partnerships."
The 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 has a proven track record of downtown development," said Starr. "We've raised nearly $25 million for a revolving loan pool to support downtown projects valued at more than $100 million."
In 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation honored the Georgia Cities Foundation with its Main Street Ally award.
In 2010, the Foundation unveiled its Green Communities Fund loan program and was designated as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Approximately 50 people will participate in the tour, with some joining the tour at particular stops along the way.
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Aileen Harris
Communications Associate
Georgia Municipal Association
678-686-6293
AHarris@gmanet.com
ATLANTA—The Georgia Municipal Association and the Georgia Cities Foundation will again explore the “Heart & Soul” of 10 Georgia cities along I-20 east and US Highway 78 on a three day bus tour in April. The bus tour, April 13-15, will show state agency heads, business leaders, downtown developers and philanthropists ways in which cities are revitalizing and capitalizing on their downtowns.
Participants will learn about downtown programs in Conyers, Covington, Monroe, Athens, Watkinsville, Greensboro, Washington, Augusta, Thomson and Madison.
“The Foundation’s goal is to help cities through successful public-private partnerships,” said Georgia Cities Foundation President Mike Starr, “and we will show 10 very good examples of cities that have been successful in creating wonderful downtowns and vibrant communities through such partnerships.”
On Wednesday, April 13, tour participants will make their first stop in Conyers, where they will visit the Conyers Welcome Center/Depot, Olde Town Gallery & Studio and The Pointe. The bus will depart Conyers at approximately 11 a.m. for Covington. In Covington, tour participants will first visit the Newton County Historic Courthouse and then take a walking tour of downtown Covington Projects including the Lula Building. Tour participants will be treated to a taste of downtown Covington for lunch at the County Administration Building before departing for Monroe at approximately 1:40 p.m. In Monroe, tour participants will stop at the Historic County Courthouse and tour 114 and 116 N. Broad Street, Wayfarer Music Hall and the Wayfarer Hotel. Tour participants will then walk to the Childers Park and then re-board the bus for a trip to The Cotton Warehouse special event facility. The bus will depart Monroe at approximately 3:40 p.m. for Athens. In Athens, tour participants will first visit Cine’ movie theater and then take a walking tour of downtown Athens, where they will walk by and hear information about the development activities at the Georgia Theatre, Synovus Bank and the new parking deck. After checking into Hotel Indigo, tour participants will enjoy dinner at Farm 255. The bus departs Athens at approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday, April 14 headed to Watkinsville.
On April 14, the bus is scheduled to arrive in downtown Watkinsville at approximately 8:25 a.m. City officials and a band from the Malcolm Bridge Middle school will welcome the tour participants as they disembark from the bus. Participants will then visit the Oconee County Court House, the historic Ashford Manor and Patriot Park. If weather permits, tour participants will be invited to ride a wagon-pulled tractor to the Oconee Cultural Arts Center. The bus will depart Watkinsville at approximately 9:50 a.m. for Greensboro. In Greensboro, tour participants will visit the Mary Leila Cotton Mill, the Yesterday Café and Festival Hall, where they will have lunch. The bus is scheduled to leave Greensboro at 12:40 p.m. for Washington. In Washington, tour participants will ride by developments underway, including the city’s Rusher Street residential project. Participants will disembark the bus at the Fitzpatrick Hotel and then visit downtown sites including the John Horton Building and the recently renovated courthouse. The bus will depart Washington at approximately 2:40 p.m. headed for downtown Augusta. In Augusta, government and business leaders will greet tour participants at the Augusta Riverwalk. Tour participants will then see luxurious downtown living as they tour the Emporium Building, visit sustainable office and residential space at the Green Building and view the transformation of the historic Slusky Building into the corporate headquarters for R.W. Allen & Associates before checking into the downtown Marriott. Participants will conclude the evening with dinner at Bees Knees. Tour participants will depart Augusta at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 15 for Thomson.
The bus is scheduled to arrive in downtown Thomson at approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, April 15. Tour participants will tour the new Thomson-McDuffie Government Center and hear about development plans for downtown. The bus tour will depart Thomson at approximately 10:10 a.m. for Madison. In Madison, the community will greet tour participants as they disembark the bus at the Town Park Main Gate. Tour participants will then visit the Town Park Cottage, visit with 2010 Georgia Cities Foundation Renaissance Award winners Jane and Every Royal and see the couple’s James Madison Inn. Participants will also tour Madison Markets and Round Bowl Spring and Retail Front before having lunch at the Town Park Upper Patio. The bus is scheduled to depart Madison at 1:40 p.m. headed back to downtown Atlanta.
The 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 has a proven track record of downtown development,” said Starr. “We’ve raised nearly $25 million for a revolving loan pool to support downtown projects valued at more than $100 million.”
In 2008, the National Trust for Historic Preservation honored the Georgia Cities Foundation with its Main Street Ally award.
In 2010, the Foundation unveiled its Green Communities Fund loan program and was designated as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Approximately 50 people will participate in the tour, with some joining the tour at particular stops along the way.
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