Toccoa Community Development Director Connie Tabor has been recognized for her tireless efforts in restoring her city’s historic downtown district with the Starr Award, presented by the Georgia Cities Foundation (GCF). The award was presented Aug. 9 during the GMA’s Annual Convention.
Tabor has led the city’s effort to restore its downtown since 1990, securing $1.4 million in state and federal funding and returning the area to its original aesthetic. She established an active Historic Preservation Commission for the ongoing effort, and her work has been recognized by the National Main Street Center as one of the top 10 Great American Main Streets.
Under her direction, the Historic Downtown District in Toccoa sees over 50 annual events, has been awarded 48 grants totaling more than $4.6 million in funding, and has seen over $36 million invested in public and private dollars, creating real jobs and supporting families in the community.
Tabor led the visioning team during the large-scale update to the city of Toccoa’s Comprehensive Plan in 2017 that directly influenced Main Street Toccoa being designated one of the first nine Rural Zones in the state of Georgia in 2018, a PlanFirst community in 2018, and a Georgia Trend Live, Work, Play city in 2019.
Tabor’s forward-thinking approach to downtown development has brought hundreds of jobs into Downtown Toccoa, has garnered community support for the downtown that has increased the quality-of-life in the city, and has instilled a passion for downtown development in all.
This article was originally featured in the September/October 2021 edition of Georgia’s Cities Magazine.
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