Hogansville and Thomaston Named 2024 Visionary Cities by the GMA and Georgia Trend

GMA and Georgia Trend look at enhanced livability and economic vitality as the primary award criteria. Hogansville and Thomaston exhibited excellence in civic engagement, innovative problem-solving, inclusivity, cross-sector collaboration, and the development of sustainable, long-term community initiatives.

Hogansville

In Hogansville, the restoration of the Royal Theater, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been a catalyst for downtown revitalization. It’s providing new opportunities for cultural engagement and economic growth.

Constructed in 1937, the Royal was once the largest movie theater north of Columbus, with nearly 900 seats. After years of having served as City Hall, Hogansville set about restoring the theater to its original purpose in 2018, as part of a Downtown Master Plan. The Royal reopened in late 2024.

Hogansville Mayor Jake Ayers commented, “There’s something about taking these old buildings that are falling apart and bringing them back that is so inspiring.”

Thomaston

The Visionary Cities Award celebrated the Pathways Internship Program in Thomaston for its ability to help attract graduates to a role in public service, especially key administrative and public safety positions. The program provides an 8-week paid internship and a college-level work-study opportunity to high school, college and graduate students.

The aim of Pathways is to prepare local students for civic leadership by giving them exposure to various departments within the municipality, fostering tomorrow’s decision-makers, problem solvers, and change agents in the community. Now in its second year, applications for the program jumped from 30 in its first year to more than 90.

“For us it’s all about growing our workforce and cultivating civic engagement at the grassroots level,” said Danielle Jefferson, human resources director for Thomaston.

Previous Participant Visionary City winners include Covington in 2024, Camilla, LaGrange and Norcross in 2023, Acworth, Covington, Lawrenceville and Moultrie in 2022, Douglas and Griffin in 2021, and Adel, Hogansville, Marietta and Thomasville in 2020.