Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Toccoa Downtown Tree Planting Completed


The City of Toccoa was one of seven recipients of the Georgia’s Growing Green Program. In March, 86 trees were planted in downtown Toccoa as part of the program and will be maintained for the next year. The grant was funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Georgia Forestry Commission and Toccoa received $25,787 to plant the trees.


The grant trees were planted along Doyle, Boulevard, and Tugalo Streets. Additional trees were planted at Doyle Street Park. The trees were planted in ways to supplement the dogwoods planted by the Toccoa Woman’s Club 40 years ago. Around 60 of those dogwoods had died, so the funding was used to replace and maintain these heritage dogwoods.


Trees planted include 59 dogwoods, 12 trident maples, 6 red oaks and 9 white oaks. The trees expand Main Street Toccoa’s urban forest to include popular walkways to downtown shopping and restaurants as well as along seating and play areas in Doyle Street Park. The trees make downtown Toccoa more pedestrian friendly.


The primary purpose of the grant is to create jobs as well as enhance the environment in Toccoa. Eberhardt Landscaping of Hartwell, Georgia purchased and planted the 86 trees March 11-16.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Toccoa-Stephens County More Ready Than Ever for Film and TV Productions

The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office will host the designation ceremony for Georgia’s newest Camera Ready Communities, including Toccoa, today at the State Capitol. Governor Nathan Deal will designate 73 Georgia counties Camera Ready at 10am.

Being named Camera Ready means T-SC has in place a program that provides film and television production companies with easier, faster and better access to local resources and location information. The T-SC Chamber of Commerce is the primary local contact for production companies as the Camera Ready liaison. They partner with Main Street Toccoa and the Development Authority to identify local resources, from locations and hotels to businesses, such as caterers and dry cleaners.

Camera Ready will help to ensure we can stay ahead of the competition by meeting the very specific local needs production companies have. There are a wealth of locations, talent and assets in our community and in our state that production companies can use to everyone’s advantage. Camera Ready is one more way we’re making sure they do.