April 23, 2009
Come to A Taste of Toccoa and sample food from area restaurants from 5-8 p.m. in Historic Downtown Toccoa.
Full Press Release:
A Taste of Toccoa event showcases newly restored Historic Downtown District
Don't miss this popular outdoor festival of food. Downtown streets in Toccoa are expected to be walking-room only on the evening of April 23, as thousands venture their way to enjoy great food, fun, and live entertainment and music. A Taste of Toccoa is celebrating its 19th year as a fun-filled family event, and the backdrop has never looked so good. Downtown Toccoa is capturing the attention of the state and nation.
From 5 to 8 p.m. area restaurants and caterers will be serving sample-sized portions of their most popular dishes. Some 25 restaurants will be participating in the event including Shirley’s Sole Food Caf?, visited by Food Network Star Alton Brown and featured on the Food Network. New to this year’s line up is gourmet Italian food from Gregory’s at the Bus Stop and old-fashion home-style meats and vegetables from BJ’s Family Restaurant.
With great food, entertainment, and activities, this event is sure to please the entire family. Entertainment includes the Precious Minutes Dance Class, BG Steppers, Rhythm Academy, and local bands. Activities include the Jurassic Adventure, sand art, rock climbing wall, swing ride, moon bounce, Eurobungee, train rides, chuggy choo-choo, Ferris Wheel, and pony rides.
A Taste of Toccoa began in 1991 as the first event sponsored by the Toccoa Main Street Program. There are now 20 annual events in downtown Toccoa. Since that time the program has successfully championed downtown revitalization through economic restructuring, aesthetic appeal, community promotions and fundraising efforts.
Downtown Toccoa was once covered by crumbling concrete canopies erected in the early 1970’s, but in 2005 Toccoa Main Street implemented the removal of the canopy mall. To gather the necessary funds, Toccoa partnered with six state agencies that provided $1.3 million, with local funding of $552,000, for the project.
This year’s A Taste of Toccoa will be the first since Doyle Street was opened to traffic. The newly renovated downtown area was designated a Historic District last year and is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
During the canopy removal and street re-opening project, private interest in downtown increased. In 2008, thirty-three storefronts were renovated (under the guidance of the GA Mountains RDC Historic Preservation Planner), 11 new business located in downtown, 17 new jobs were created, and 28 part-time jobs were created. Private investment in downtown Toccoa during this time was $3.5 million.
Using funds from private investment, fa?ade grants, and low-interest construction loans, work progressed at an amazing rate. Working with the City of Toccoa and downtown business owners, the Historic Preservation Planner formulated design plans for each building in order to maintain a high degree of quality while effectively managing construction costs. Property values are now increasing, and more people are showing interest in restoring neglected buildings in the historic district.
Toccoa’s revitalization efforts have not gone unnoticed. Toccoa Main Street was selected by The National Main Street Center as a top 10 Great American Main Street and awarded the Excellence in Downtown Development by the Georgia Downtown Association.
