The Georgia Downtown Association and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs announced the winners of the annual outstanding revitalization awards. Presentations took place during the annual Georgia Downtown Conference October 7-9, 2009 in Roswell, GA. Among those recognized was the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, recipient of the 2009 Best Image Building Campaign Award. This innovative program— the Downtown Savannah Brand & Marketing Campaign—was developed through a partnership with the City of Savannah and is aimed at reintroducing Greater Savannah residents to the renaissance that has occurred in Downtown Savannah.

SDRA Chair, Philip Cooper, and Program Manager, Paul Featheringill accepted the award on behalf of SDRA and the Marketing and Creative Team—Ralph Zezza, sponsorship chair; Sharifa Abdul Wahid and Ashley Bowersox, Marketing/Economic Development Committee co- Chairs; Bret Bell, City of Savannah; Karl Strauch, Coastal Marketing Group; Cari Clark of Clark Creative; and Melanie Simon, Simon, Public Relations. And, the sponsorship team of Brian Foster, Kenny Hill, Rhett Mouchet, Maria Lancaster, Stratton Leopold, Ruel Joyner, Greg Parker, Corabett Thomas, and Michael Meeks.

As the premier conference on downtown revitalization in the state, this event promotes downtown and economic development through public awareness, governmental relations and education. The conference provides an opportunity for downtown and community development professionals and state and local leaders to grow their knowledge regarding programs, activities and tools to aid in revitalization efforts.

The Georgia Downtown Awards were established to recognize individuals, downtown programs and/or businesses that have demonstrated unique efforts in making a difference in their downtowns.

The award categories are based on the 4-Point ApproachTM of downtown revitalization as developed by the National Trust’s Main Street Center and focus on Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring.

The conference theme this year was “Find It All Downtown” which focused on the very reasons tourists and natives alike a drawn to their historic downtown districts... shopping, dining, art, music and more.