[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6241856,"mediaKeyId","3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db","parentId",3252562,"title","DDA schedules FY26 budget discussion; Care for Kids grant on radar","audioSeconds",370,"startMs",3300000,"endMs",3670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db&start=3300&end=3670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db/thumbnail_3300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241856/Dawsonville/Dawson-County/Georgia/DDA-schedules-FY26-budget-discussion-Care-for-Kids-grant-on-radar","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241856-6ecd66c7e96c5b209df51114c299f9a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413175&Signature=Mg4rGPa72CJUcXHrwK80zQwpcELmgkCK5FIfp~u7hgtBhJHWHyBe0eq6oFltdkhJ0LouUhBQ4I8Q-WezdDpmuiE2NTZa-u5JRqq3e4A2CyXSA92oPpkj58u7uFTh8tb3S7l9bhevIiEsyL3ROlzH87dhbg3FO3xSQbZ~dl-V1LkArQ2AmawN3HsSlEAfTGhgL7rkGfEYM2JC2haHn-12CjONw94J7K~YR3g8QcVGMfz0IfY-sN1OLIkHWvgg6po49q8pOP~l7Mk4XGsy486WACFgx5Y6Y2FSAgr2XOGizgPJ1w2t0k76vuhpx-tA85nbWbRUpVOHl57x-XG4QdtYTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-09T15:39:56Z","article","The Downtown Development Authority discussed fiscal-year 2026 planning and grant intake at its May 8, 2025 meeting. Staff said the city’s proposed contribution and the DDA’s FY26 budget will be reviewed by City Council and that the DDA should plan to revisit budget allocations once council sets funding levels.

Staff outlined the timetable for budget review: the DDA will see the budget at the next City Council meeting, a public hearing will follow, and the council’s second June meeting is when the vote would occur. Board members agreed to postpone substantive allocation decisions until the DDA knows the exact FY26 funding level.

Staff also notified the board that a grant application from Care for Kids has been submitted. Edmonson emphasized that because the DDA’s current-year grant funds have been expended, new grant requests can only move forward if and when FY26 funds are received. The board and staff discussed the need to be strategic given multiple anticipated applications and the DDA’s limited annual grant capacity.

No motions to allocate FY26 funds or to commit DDA grant money were made; the board instructed staff to place a budget discussion on the next DDA agenda so members can consider allocation scenarios after council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Downtown Development Authority Meeting Thursday, May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The DDA discussed the FY26 budget schedule and the potential $50,000 city contribution at the May 8 meeting; board members agreed to defer detailed allocation discussions until actual FY26 figures are available and were notified that a Care for Kids grant application has been received but cannot be acted on until funding is confirmed.","taxTitle","Dawsonville, Dawson County, Georgia","taxId",56678,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6241861,"DDA director updates Dawsonville on marketing, murals and workforce and grant prospects",303,702000,1005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db&start=702&end=1005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db/thumbnail_702000.jpg","/articles/6241861/Dawsonville/Dawson-County/Georgia/DDA-director-updates-Dawsonville-on-marketing-murals-and-workforce-and-grant-prospects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241861-342cef7a19b417d47a4b198c5026f095/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413175&Signature=b4IOErSJpxGhOPTLVuAfvJUFEIPg3VBRT4~~xt5PFNxy7QSNfp9t9jNjWx9gR8~ruCEUW3eOb-bi7tg4epBq1fEb5xrJnDzLUMd0gBwDcrEVLP9eO3la4cjtqEp2I5FelB9EANHt2BCZwkngMaE3YVSsBTRNI6MPBs1FaomOYVHmTC7~hTwhmKcoZ-vfi3OPT3pQMlvbTBFnA6QVHPoCKK~OHQq7pQ~q9V2Hgz6et4F-X3NQea8GRabJKl4WI63bSfJ7COb6qt-uAJCHVdqAk8AgJGm2s9bsv-rr96CdBgEuHm93-OCX1M9bWiSEMLLWgB1E5OoyiKHg7oKELgD7uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Downtown Development Director Amanda Edmonson briefed the Downtown Development Authority on May 8 about ongoing marketing, events and grant activity, including advertising placements, a mural maintenance estimate, workforce-development outreach and incoming grant applications.

Edmonson said the DDA placed a multi-week ad package with Dawson County News (a $2,520 ad running four weeks) and has placed ads with Mountain Traveler and Lake Living. She reported the net DDA investment for a recent joint advertisement after billing was about $270 and noted earned-media coverage from Dawson County News and Neighbors of Dawsonville.

On public art, Edmonson said the DDA received a conservation/refresh quote of $5,000 from Audie Murrell to touch up the original mural and an RFP process is being prepared for a larger “Stories of Dawsonville” mural project that would require Council approval before an RFP is released. Edmonson said a social-media post was used to solicit community fundraising for a mural option but no individual donors had yet committed.

On workforce development, Edmonson said a community-run program under consideration (involving commerce partners and the school system) carries an estimated community fundraising target of about $15,000; she described that amount as a planning estimate and said a local match would be needed if pursued. Edmonson also said the DDA is researching a Levitt Foundation grant that supports community concerts but would require a local match if applied for.

Edmonson and staff also alerted the board that several grant applications are on the horizon: one application from Care for Kids has been submitted and the SIP (an entity referenced in the packet) is preparing an application; additional requests may arrive once the fiscal year opens. She emphasized that grant awards would be considered after funding is received and that the DDA has spent its current-year grant funds.

No formal funding decisions were taken at the meeting. Board members asked staff to include these items on the DDA’s July agenda for further discussion once FY26 funding figures are available from the city budget process.","Downtown Development Director Amanda Edmonson reported May 8 on marketing placements, a $5,000 mural conservation/refresh quote, outreach by local media, an estimated $15,000 community workforce program and several incoming grant applications including one from Care for Kids; the DDA discussed how available FY26 funding could be allocated.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6241866,"Jackals Media Group outlines turnkey concert series for Dawsonville park",2198,1099000,3297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db&start=1099&end=3297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3252562-9f50e3cb238ab46b7a937810cb6218db/thumbnail_1099000.jpg","/articles/6241866/Dawsonville/Dawson-County/Georgia/Jackals-Media-Group-outlines-turnkey-concert-series-for-Dawsonville-park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241866-6827d3cccf538f68d74439e5143b3aa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1776413175&Signature=n~-I8L5D1~jFaXlIFbZsVnQdo1uUXXFmpSbRgC0Z9qQRVXbs~BDi4rFHQC4PKXMpj0qaMGrdCLfDaYQe3~2-3JoyGbWurTnieC6SAVOcDE7OzZL2I7WLKT0DyYAH2UG0ARrFKRtt6L~kjMtTLaSn9BN45ruuAiAh7N2tPHZgtG4eceHhRYa6FEA8w0ye~vOt2Rv4CNnrdOJdVnS~jLfptjJWK83QdlHHaI~RY4v9QrlvFVi~6qRhtBl0DTCy2DZ4j4xC0OTCtkkJg8vDDSoCndpAitd3-UgFpe~ItHY4GaguqafxLIkw-J5zJ38QmCqnjp3GP8eVqKXDSNYsw7DzzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jackals Media Group representatives presented a turnkey plan for a downtown concert series at the Downtown Development Authority meeting on May 8, 2025, proposing two main concerts with opening acts, sponsorship tiers and production services for Main Street Park. The group said it would handle artist booking, sound, stage, LED video wall and sponsor coordination while sponsorship revenue and a potential city contribution would cover costs.

The proposal emphasized economic and community benefits: increased foot traffic for downtown businesses, sponsorship revenue, vendor opportunities and a multi-year plan that could seed future infrastructure such as an amphitheater. Presenter Steve described the approach as not only “bringing the music” but also helping organize local businesses as logo sponsors and building promotional material and video for future seasons.

Details presented to the DDA included a two-concert pilot, a sponsorship-driven budget and production options. The presenters said band fees in their proposal are typically about $1,000 for the acts they book; higher-profile tribute acts can cost $5,000–$6,000. The plan would use an LED video wall for sponsor logos and provide full sound, lighting and an event manager supplied by the vendor. The presenters described stage options (portable trailer stage or modular stage sections) and vendor-tent layouts; they also said sponsorship checks would be made payable to the municipality or designated authority, not to the vendor.

City staff and DDA members questioned logistics. City Manager Bob Bowles said public-safety needs would depend on programming and alcohol sales: “If we have alcohol … we’d probably have to have our deputy and maybe 1 or 2 other off duty deputies.” He also said the sheriff’s office has been consulted and EMS presence would likely mirror arrangements used at other town events. Parking would rely on an existing agreement with the Board of Education to use school lots for event parking.

DDA members asked about timing, scale and sustainability. The presenters said Alpharetta’s program—where they run multiple events and build sponsorship each year—served as the model and that Dawsonville’s size makes it a candidate to replicate a smaller, community-focused series. The vendors advised starting smaller and scaling up, and they described outreach steps: creating flyers, contacting local businesses for sponsorships, and activating downtown storefronts with promotional materials.

No formal action, contract or city funding commitment was made at the meeting. DDA and city staff said they would consider the proposal and, if the council directed, draft agreement language for council review and potential partnership. DDA members and city staff also discussed coordinating sponsors, finalizing music selection, and meeting logistics such as trash pickup, port-a-johns/bathroom cleaning, traffic control and handicapped access.","Jackals Media Group presented a proposal at the DDA meeting on May 8 for a downtown concert series featuring two summer events, a sponsorship-led budget, production services and local vendor coordination; the DDA discussed logistics, public-safety needs and funding but took no formal vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DDA schedules FY26 budget discussion; Care for Kids grant on radar

DDA director updates Dawsonville on marketing, murals and workforce and grant prospects

Jackals Media Group outlines turnkey concert series for Dawsonville park