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Elizabeth Elliott with the Department of Community Affairs designated Bainbridge as a Georgia Exceptional Main Street (GEM) City at the City Council meeting on Thursday night.

Elliott is the historic preservation planner for the office of Downtown Development and Department of Community Affairs. Elliott works with over 118 cities across Georgia and has the pleasure of helping with the Main Street Program as well. 

Main Streets dedicate themselves to the growth of the historic district, while providing a balanced path towards revitalization and a focus on economic development, with a context on historic preservation.

Cities dedicated as Main Street America cities undergo an assessment process, where they are graded in 10 standards. During the assessment, the Department of Community Affairs identifies cities and communities that have gone above and beyond in these standards and names them a Georgia Exceptional Main Street City.

“It is because of Downtown Bainbridge’s commitment to excellent and stable leadership that I am here tonight,” Elliott said. “I want to congratulate the City of Bainbridge on being designated as a 2020 GEM community.”

Over the past three years, Downtown Bainbridge has seen over $1.5 million in private and public investments happening downtown with 24 new businesses and 111 net new jobs created, Elliott reported. 

Elliott commended the City on bringing over 7,000 guests into town for public events and dedication to rebuilding the heart of the community.

Elliott recognized Bainbridge’s new GEM community status with a gateway sign and said she cannot wait to see what the future holds for a city as incredible as Bainbridge.

Mayor Edward Reynolds thanked Downtown Development Authority Director, Amanda Glover for her hard work in making this possible. Glover is excited about this honor and is hoping to order additional signs to put at all the “Welcome to Bainbridge” gateway signs.