Main Street Grants

Rural Business Development Grant

The City of Toccoa is pleased to report that it has received a Fiscal Year 2021 Rural Business Development Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. Grant funds will be utilized to continue the beautification, tourism, and quality-of-life upgrades at the Lake Toccoa Recreational Park and event facilities.

“Our vision for Lake Toccoa is to promote this location throughout our community and beyond as an opportunity for passive and active recreation. Families can take walks together, hobbyists can fish, and couples can enjoy a picnic beside the picturesque lakeside facilities,” said Mayor Terry Carter. “The United States Department of Agriculture has sent its staff down to personally witness the work going on at Lake Toccoa, and they have decided to invest in our vision. We encourage residents to come by and see the work being done. There will be a walking trail all the way around the lake, greater amenities, and more. There is no park like this anywhere else in Northeast Georgia.”

Grant Funding for Historic Ritz Theatre

The City also received grant funding from the Georgia Council for the Arts to fund Season Four of the regionally-renowned Night at the Ritz event series. This is the fourth year in a row that Georgia Council for the Arts has funded this event series.

Funds will be used to bring high-quality acts to the Historic Ritz Theatre on a regular basis. This grant award allows Main Street Toccoa to charge ticket prices at below-cost, allowing residents of Northeast Georgia to experience the arts at a reasonable price.

In Fiscal Year 2020, Night at the Ritz was able to bring thirteen different shows to the Historic Ritz Theatre, which brought over 3,000 individuals to Downtown Toccoa. The Night at the Ritz event series has seen an increase in attendance every year since it began.

“We are thankful to the Georgia Council for the Arts for their continued investment in the Historic Ritz Theatre,” said Mayor Terry Carter. “They see the value of the Ritz as both an economic anchor for Downtown Toccoa and as a beacon for the arts throughout Northeast Georgia. We look forward to sharing with everyone what Season Four has to offer.”

For more information about the grant award or the upcoming Night at the Ritz event series, please contact Christian Hamilton at 706.898.5777 or chamilton@cityoftoccoa.com