Katelyn Umholtz | The Valdosta Daily TimesMayor John Gayle announces Valdosta's newest distinction as a Live, Work, Play city during First Friday last week. 

VALDOSTA — Valdosta was one of nine Georgia cities awarded the distinction of a Live, Work, Play city.

City officials made the announcement during Valdosta Main Street’s First Friday event Feb. 1. Mayor John Gayle, City Manager Mark Barber and Valdosta City Council member Sandra Tooley each gave a speech before local band 2South played on a small stretch of McKey Street.

“Our Main Street has been unbelievable in promoting the Live, Work, Play theme,” Gayle said. “We’re very proud of this award. It will give us statewide recognition, and it will make others aware of Valdosta and its downtown.”

The award was given by Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend Magazine for downtown restoration, historic tax credits, creating industry jobs, employment, city collaborations and schools.

Other cities include Avondale Estates, Senoia, Carrollton, Tifton, Toccoa, Canton, Duluth and Lawrenceville.

Cities were divided into three categories — small city, medium city and large city; Valdosta was in the large city category with Canton, Duluth and Lawrenceville. Except for Valdosta, the other large cities are part of metro Atlanta.

Valdosta was also the largest and southernmost city of the nine that received the Live, Work, Play award.

“This award is also a testament to our amazing community — all the businesses, organizations and the people such as yourselves that make this a great place to live, work and play,” Barber said. “More importantly, we all call it home.”

Downtown Valdosta falls into Tooley’s district. She said the award reflects downtown’s growth — for example, six new businesses recently opened.

She said her constituents and the Valdosta community can expect more downtown growth in 2019.

“Each and every one of you are going to be part of change,” Tooley said. “Valdosta will grow and downtown will grow right along with it.”

City gets quality of life nod

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.