Dawsonville DDA reports Amicalola EMC grant, downtown map ad and renovation support

Amanda Edmonson, director of the Downtown Development Authority, reported on multiple downtown marketing and capital-improvement items at the authority's Nov. 6 meeting.

Edmonson said the DDA purchased advertising in the Dawson County 2026-27 map and has reviewed a draft. She reported that a designated grant deposit and an Amicalola EMC grant have been posted to the DDA account. She also said grant funds were used to assist renovation work at Tim Cosley's I Got Your 6 coffee property and that the tenant or business appears to be near a soft opening.

Staff described a proposed monument sign concept that the DDA would fund in part with the Amicalola EMC grant. Edmonson told the board that Georgia Department of Transportation standards require signs located near a right of way to be breakaway or otherwise crashworthy so that, in the event of a crash, the sign is less likely to cause fatal injuries. Staff said the DDA found a fabricated product (described as fabric and stucco) that meets the GDOT requirement and that the material can provide an acceptably realistic appearance. The board discussed the need to obtain GDOT permission and property-owner consent for placement outside the right of way; staff said they are also exploring alternative locations with high traffic counts if the preferred corner is not feasible.

Edmonson also described a proposed wall-beautification project and said staff will seek professional opinions and possibly a survey to assess structural integrity before undertaking pressure washing, painting or other work.

No formal board action was taken on the monument sign or the wall project at the meeting; staff said the projects are in active project-management stages and will return with additional details if feasible.