Holtz Institute Helps Strengthen Small City Leadership

For city officials serving small communities, the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute has been a lifeline, helping them navigate their roles, despite limited staff and resources.

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Judy Powell (second from left), a councilmember from Leesburg, says training helps her stay current.
Article | Elections & Redistricting

U.S. Supreme Court Significantly Reshapes Voting Rights Act Redistricting Standards

A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling has made it harder for cities to use racial demographics as a primary factor in drawing district and ward maps, even when those decisions were intended to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
Updates

Georgia Main Street Network Surpasses $1.01 Billion in 2025 Community Impact

The Georgia Main Street Program, recently announced that 101 designated communities statewide reported more than $1.01 billion in public and private reinvestment.
Events

GMA Annual Convention

Registration is open for GMA's 2026 Annual Convention, June 26–June 30 in Savannah. Join city officials from across Georgia for four days of education, networking, and celebration of Georgia cities shining bright.

Upcoming Events

May
12
GMCA Webinar “Setting up Records Areas & Digitizing Records”
May
18
2026 Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute
Athens
May
21
TIUT: Retirement Member Self-Service Portal
Jun
09
Certified Downtown Professional Certification 06/2026
Douglas
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In the Spotlight

Viewpoints

Georgia's Cities: Different by Design

May 06, 2026
"Georgia's strength has never come from uniformity but instead from ingenuity, the drive of its people, and the variety of the places we each call home. Our cities are the incubators of new ideas and job creation, and shape the neighborhoods, parks, and downtowns that define our quality of life, but no two are the same."
Grant and Award Opportunities | Wellbeing & Public Health

Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust

The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust was created in 2022 to manage and distribute up to $1.3 billion from multiple opioid settlements over an 18-year period. These private funds — not taxpayer dollars — support prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, education, law enforcement, and research across Georgia. Deadline: May 23, 2026

Smart Solutions for City Success

Empowering City Leaders with Knowledge and Skills

The Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute offers city officials a comprehensive learning experience, covering everything from municipal finance and budgeting to ethics and data literacy. Designed to enhance leadership and expertise in local government, this program is a partnership between GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government—equipping officials with the tools they need to serve their communities effectively.

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Person receiving training certificate.

City Spotlight

Bowman, located in GMA's District 5 in Elbert County, was incorporated in 1907. The town was named after Thomas Jefferson Bowman, who is credited with designing the railroad route that helped shape the community. Bowman is known for its historic character, particularly its ties to the 19th-century Elberton Air Line Railroad.

Fun Fact: Bowman hosts two popular annual festivals--the Big Iron Crank-Up each April and the Bowman Fall Festival every October.