Nine Georgia Cities Named 2026 Visionary City Award Honorees

Nine Georgia cities have been named 2026 Visionary City Award honorees by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend, recognizing their commitment to listening to residents, collaborating with partners, and turning ideas into action.

Meet the 2026 Visionary Cities

Article | Public Safety

Supreme Court Clarifies Standard for Emergency Home Entries

On January 14, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in Case v. Montana addressing when police may enter a home without a warrant during an emergency. The decision settles a longstanding debate among courts about what standard officers must meet before conducting warrantless entries to help someone in crisis.
Updates

Carrollton Hosts Georgia Cities Foundation Heart and Soul Downtown Workshop

The city of Carrollton recently hosted the Heart and Soul Downtown Workshop. The workshop provided participants with the opportunity to view the city's Renaissance Strategic Visioning Plan (RSVP) and projects, with city officials discussing their downtown revitalization efforts, success stories, and lessons learned.
Article | Governance & Policy Making

Newly Elected Official Orientation Checklist

The Newly Elected Official Orientation Checklist outlines the key information, materials, and steps cities can prepare to help newly elected officials understand how the city operates and serve effectively from the start.

Upcoming Events

Feb
03
2026 Firefighter Recognition Day
Atlanta
Feb
11
District 9 Clerk Lunch & Learn 2026
Vidalia
Feb
12
2026 Winter Training
Griffin
Feb
12
A Guide to Municipal IT Budget Planning in 2026
View Full Calendar

In the Spotlight

Viewpoints

Advocacy to Stewardship: Representing Our Communities Well

January 22, 2026
"When we approach advocacy as stewardship, we reframe the conversation from lobbying for special treatment or defending turf to honoring our responsibility to the people who call our cities home."
Viewpoints

Is Unity Possible in Contentious Political Times?

January 22, 2026
"Many of our leaders—past and present—have called for unity, only to abandon the idea when it becomes inconvenient or politically risky. Yet we often vote against the very thing we most need: strong leadership that helps us come together."

Smart Solutions for City Success

Empowering City Leaders with Knowledge and Skills

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute offers city officials a comprehensive learning experience, covering everything from municipal finance and budgeting to ethics and data literacy. Designed to enhance leadership and expertise in local government, this program is a partnership between GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government—equipping officials with the tools they need to serve their communities effectively.

Learn More

City Spotlight

Buford, located in GMA's District 3, is in parts of Gwinnett and Hall counties and was incorporated in 1872. The city was named after railroad president Algernon Sidney Buford and was once known as the "New York of Gwinnett" and the "Leather City."

Fun Fact: Buford gained international fame for its industrial spirit. At its peak, the Bona Allen, Inc. tannery produced world-renowned saddles, shoes, and leather goods that even caught the attention of Hollywood.