Awards and Accolades

21 Best Small Towns in America from Architectural Digest

In February 2018, Architectural Digest surveyed the U.S. to find the 21 Best Small Towns in America, Dahlonega was proudly listed as #3. Our gold rush background, outdoor activities, and stunning wineries helped us stand out from the rest of the nation.

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2016 Great American Main Street Award Winner

The National Main Street Center, Inc. selected Dahlonega, Georgia as a 2016 Great American Main Street Award® winner. The City of Dahlonega and the Dahlonega Main Street program were recognized at the 2016 Main Street Now Conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin along with Audubon Park in Orlando, Fla and Shaw District in Washington, D.C.

“The 2016 GAMSA winners have succeeded in making their towns an exciting place to live, work, play and visit through implementing our historic preservation-based methodology for downtown revitalization,” said Patrice Frey, president, and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “In each locality, the local Main Street organization has collaborated with residents, business owners, and other local partners to revitalize their district by promoting the assets that make that community special.”

Each year, the National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization with the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). Since the award’s inception in 1995, over 90 Main Street programs have been honored. Click here to view the full article on the Main Street America website.

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FY17 Excellence in Financial Reporting Award

GFOAThe Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Dahlonega by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The City of Dahlonega has received the CAFR award for nine consecutive years and is one of 2,000 cities across the United States receiving the award this year. Approximately 13% of the cities in Georgia receive the CAFR award each year, and only 1% of the cities in Dahlonega’s population category receive the award each year across the United States.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals. The GFOA established the CAFR Program in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

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Dahlonega Downtown Development Authority & Main Street Program Receives 2012 National Trust Main Street Accreditation

Georgia Main Street Program Director Cindy Eidson presented the 2012 Main Street Certification to the Dahlonega City Council and the Main Street/DDA Board at the June 4 City Council meeting. Eidson works for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the agency that annually evaluates each Main Street City’s performance. Georgia’s DCA and State Main Street Office work in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determine the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information on the national program accreditation program, visit this site.

Dahlonega’s Main Street Progam is guided by the 7 volunteer members of the Downtown Development Authority and the Mayor and City Council. The City of Dahlonega’s historic downtown was also honored in 2010 by the Georgia Downtown Association when it received the “Award for Excellence in Downtown Development” ranking it as Georgia’s top downtown of the year. Click here to read the full article.

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City of Dahlonega’s Main Street Program Receives 2011 National Main Street Accreditation

The City of Dahlonega’s Main Street Program has been accredited as a 2011 National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Dahlonega joins over 700 other Main StreetTM revitalization programs being recognized as 2011 National Main Street Programs. Each year, the National Trust Main Street Center and its coordinating program partners announce the list of accredited National Main Street Programs around the country that have demonstrated their ability to follow the Main Street methodology.

“We congratulate this year’s accredited National Main Street Programs for

meeting our established performance standards,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement and support, in addition to establishing a solid organization with sound management that is committed to long-term success.” Click here to read the full article.

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Appalachian Trail Community

The Appalachian Trail Communities Award is designed to Thank trailside communities for the decades of service they have provided to hikers, Recognize those communities who are taking extra steps to promote the asset of the A.T. in

their backyards, Communicate ways to engage the next generation of trail stewards, Support community initiatives for sustainable economic development and conservation planning.

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Preserve America Community

Preserve America Communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America’s heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment. This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Grant Program, Preserve America Presidential Awards, and other federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend you for your commitment to preserving an important part of our nation’s historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children.

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Tree City USA Community

Dahlonega, GA has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry. Dahlonega has received this national recognition since 2001. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.