A Success Story in Southwest Georgia

Once dotted with vacant buildings, Bainbridge is now bustling with residents, retail, businesses, and restaurants. Decades of planning, partnerships, and persistence have transformed the city’s core into a thriving destination. Discover how leadership, vision, Georgia Cities Foundation loans, and the Renaissance Strategic Visioning & Planning program made Bainbridge a model of rural revitalization.

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Article | Tourism

Welcome to Pelham: How International Students Became Tourists for a Weekend

Every year, around the last weekend in March, the South Georgia city of Pelham’s population of 3,600 enjoys a bump thanks to the city’s decades-long participation in the Georgia Rotary Student Program.
Grant and Award Opportunities | Insurance & Risk Management

GMA Safety and Liability Management Grant Program

The GMA Safety and Liability Management Grant Program provides funding to help eligible members of GIRMA and GMA’s Workers Compensation Self-Insurance Fund (WCSIF) reduce workplace injuries and liability risks.
Viewpoints

Guided by Yesterday, Leading Forward Today

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” That sentiment feels especially true in city government, where every ordinance we pass and every budget we approve is shaped by lessons learned.

Upcoming Events

Jul
24
Disaster Preparedness-Phase III Beyond the First 72 Hours (Transition to Recovery Efforts)
Jul
31
Disaster Preparedness-Phase IV Post Disaster (Long-Term Recovery and Resource Navigation)
Aug
07
GCCMA A.I. Bootcamp for Local Government Leaders
Cartersville
Aug
13
GCCMA A.I. Bootcamp for Local Government Leaders
Dublin
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In the Spotlight

Article | Infrastructure

NLC Releases 2025 State of the Cities Report

July 18, 2025
Economic recovery, infrastructure, housing, public health, and public safety emerge as the leading priorities shaping America’s cities in 2025.
Viewpoints

Georgia’s Cities: The Engines Keeping the Peach State Prosperous

July 09, 2025
Data show Georgia’s 537 cities are small in size but deliver outsized economic impact.

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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City Spotlight

Ochlocknee, located in GMA's District 10, was incorporated in 1877 and is located in Thomas County. The city's name comes from two words in the Apalachee language: "okee" meaning water and "Lagana" meaning yellow. The northern Ochlocknee River, including the city limits, runs through clay-rich soil, which gives the river its muddied yellow appearance.

Fun Fact: Ochlocknee is most known for its Old South Day festival, celebrated on the second Saturday of November since 1976. The festival centers around the Herring's Old Cane Mill and features tasty southern food, arts and crafts, small rides and a parade.