Georgia Main Street Program

Congratulations to Downtown Monroe, Georgia Main Street’s June 2026 Downtown of the Month! 🎉

Located in the heart of Walton County, Monroe has long been a center of community life, commerce, and local pride. From its historic courthouse square to its beautifully preserved downtown buildings, Monroe continues to honor its past while building an exciting future.

As a 2026 GEMS community, Downtown Monroe is a strong example of leadership, organization, and commitment to the Main Street Approach. Their momentum is clear: in 2025, Monroe welcomed 377,294 attendees through 54 promotional events, supported 1,273 volunteer hours, and reported more than $17 million in public and private investment downtown.

With new and expanding businesses, building rehabilitation projects, public improvements, and a strong sense of place, Downtown Monroe is where history and momentum meet.

We are proud to celebrate the people, partnerships, and progress that make Monroe such a standout in Georgia’s Main Street network! 👏

Fox Gives will open the 2026/2027 Single-Year Grant application portal on Monday, June 8, 2026, with funding available in all four grant categories. 🎭✨

Thinking about applying? Make plans to attend one of the June workshops first! In-person workshops will be offered in Winterville and Marietta, with a virtual option also available.

Applications are due Friday, July 31, 2026, so now is the perfect time to learn more, ask questions, and get prepared. 🗓️

A big thank you to Fox Gives, Georgia Council for the Arts, the City of Winterville, and the Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre for helping make these opportunities available.

Learn more and register here:
https://www.foxtheatre.org/the-fox-single-year-grants

Congratulations to Gainesville-Hall County on receiving a 2026 Excellence in Rehabilitation Award from The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation for the Walton Jackson Building.

Built after Gainesville’s devastating 1936 tornado, this Art Deco downtown landmark reflects the city’s resilience and recovery. Its rehabilitation preserved standout historic features like the marble exterior, green accents, steel trusses, brick walls, and heart pine details while adapting the space for new commercial and community uses.

Now home to local businesses, a gallery, and a meeting venue, this project is a great example of how preservation can support downtown activity while honoring a community’s story.

Downtown Gainesville