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Dalton renews Main Street MOU through 2026; Greater Dalton presents investor update
Summary
The council approved the annual Main Street Memorandum of Understanding with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Downtown Development Authority, and a Greater Dalton representative presented a multi-year investor update and recent community survey results.
Dalton City’s mayor and council on May 19 approved the annual Main Street memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Office of Downtown Development and the Downtown Development Authority, renewing the city’s commitment to the local Main Street program through June 30, 2026.
Under the three-party agreement—city, the Downtown Development Authority and DCA—the city agrees to appoint a governing entity to serve as the program board, employ a full-time paid downtown manager, provide local financial support and help the board create an annual work plan and public engagement schedule. The council approved the agreement by motion and voice vote.
A Greater Dalton representative presented an “investor update” report summarizing roughly seven years of downtown- and housing-related projects, including work tied to the 2018 housing study, a 2023 housing needs analysis and elements of the downtown master plan. The presenter referred council members to photographs and to survey data from October 2024 showing community perceptions of recent progress.
“The city's been an incredible partner in this work,” the presenter said, thanking elected officials and staff for support and noting the report covers projects and investments across the downtown area and the Norfolk Southern property.
City staff said the MOU requires the downtown board to assist the downtown manager with an annual work plan, hold regular public engagement and conduct at least one planning retreat per year. If approved, the agreement runs through June 30, 2026.
No formal fiscal appropriation was reported at the meeting beyond staff noting the city provides direct and indirect financial support for Main Street activities. The council did not attach additional conditions to the MOU.
