2026 Georgia Downtown Conference

The 2026 Georgia Downtown Conference, hosted by the Georgia Downtown Association (GDA), will take place in Rome, Georgia. This annual conference aims to educate individuals on issues affecting downtown development at national and statewide levels, reinforce existing downtown development efforts, and facilitate planning for future initiatives. It serves as a conduit to promote downtown and economic development through public awareness, governmental relations, and education. The event attracts over 300 downtown professionals from across the state for networking, learning, and growth through a variety of session topics and tours. The conference fee includes admission to the Opening Session, Awards Ceremony, Conference Educational Sessions/Workshops, Refreshment Breaks, a Silent Auction, and program materials. A highlight of the conference is the Georgia Downtown Awards Ceremony, which celebrates outstanding achievements in Georgia's traditional downtowns. Key topics include Basic and Advanced Downtown Development Authority (DDA) training, Certified Downtown Professional (CDP) training, Main Street 101, and Historic Preservation training, along with discussions on funding, land use, economic development tools like Tax Allocation Districts, and branding strategies.