Braselton Downtown Development Authority Seeks New Board Member

While the town of Braselton has made its mark in the Georgia history books since its incorporation in 1916, the Downtown Development Authority for the municipality has set its sights on making some history of its own with a beautiful renovation project at the heart of town.

Established by special state legislation, the DDA is an independent authority founded for the purpose of planning, organizing and financing projects that will revitalize and redevelop Braselton's commercial business district. The DDA focuses on the historic commercial downtown business district and works to market a positive image for the town.

If you are a taxpayer who lives in the town of Braselton or a taxpayer who lives in Barrow, Gwinnett, Jackson or Hall counties and owns a business in the Braselton Downtown Development Authority area, you may be interested in filling an open space at the entity’s board of directors’ table.

If selected, as a DDA board member, you will be expected to attend one board meeting per month that typically last 60 to 90 minutes. You will also be required to dedicate five to 10 hours per month outside of board meetings to conduct DDA business. DDA board members must also commit to the completion of eight hours of state-mandated training on the DDA's operations, roles and responsibilities within the first 12 months of appointment. All approved or mandated travel, training and education expenses will be covered at no cost to the individual board member. It is recommended that board members have a somewhat flexible work schedule, as some DDA activities, meetings and trainings may occur during normal business hours. Every effort will be made to alleviate inconveniences when possible.

In the event you are unable to devote the necessary time, energy and enthusiasm to the DDA, the town of Braselton asks that you not apply for board membership. According to the online application, “It is crucial that the DDA be a strong, committed, and viable organization — we need a Board of Directors with that same character if we are going to achieve our goals. If you are unable to commit to Board service at this time, there are still many other ways in which you may help revitalize our Historic Downtown through numerous special projects and committee activities. We hope that you will still continue to be involved, be supportive, and volunteer … just let us know!”

On the other hand, if you love to volunteer, have a deep and abiding interest in downtown Braselton and want to help shape its future, being a DDA board member is a wonderful way to serve your community.

Applications for the open DDA seat can be downloaded here and are being accepted at Braselton Town Hall through the end of the business day Monday, June 4. Please direct questions to Town Manager and Clerk Jennifer Dees at jdees@braselton.net or 706-654-5720.

What changes would you like to see in the downtown Braselton area? Tell us in comments. 

Check back every Friday for a new City Spotlight on Braselton.