Town Center Community held its fourth annual State of the District at the Governors Gun Club in Town Center, Ga. on Oct. 28. The event, hosted by Town Center’s Community Improvement District (CID) and its non-profit placemaking partner, the Alliance, brought together industry leaders, community members and key stakeholders to discuss the district’s 2026 vision and celebrate the winners of the 2025 Townie Awards.

 This year’s program explored how the strategic reinvention of retail and commercial properties can strengthen neighborhoods, drive innovation and foster more resilient, inclusive communities. Key topics included the role of partnership and collaboration in redevelopment, how underutilized large-scale properties can become transformational assets, and national and regional trends in placemaking, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse.2025 Townie Award Honorees

This year’s awards program honored leaders who have been a part of Town Center Community’s rich history and have made significant contributions to Town Center’s success, including:

Townie Award Honorees

• Town Center Champion – Cobb County Precinct Commander Major W.A. Mitchell and his team of officers at Precinct 1
• Commercial Champion – Ecologie Vintage 

“Our event this year underscores the importance of redevelopment for the long-term success of our community,” said Tracy Styf, executive director of the Town Center Community Improvement District. “As we look to the year ahead, we’re eager to position the district as a regional destination for mixed-use development and look forward to working with all partners to make our vision a reality.” 

Highlights of this year’s program included a fireside chat featuring Ellen Dunham-Jones, professor and director of the Urban Design Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Sarah Nurmela, Mayor Pro Tem from the City of Westminster, Colorado, and director of planning and development for the Town of Erie, Colorado, along with a community update from Tracy Styf.

“Town Center proves what’s possible when collaboration meets commitment. As we move into 2026, updating our Master Plan will be a key step in shaping how we grow and thrive over the next decade, ensuring Town Center continues to evolve as a place where people want to live, work and connect,” noted Britt Fleck, vice chair of the CID board of directors.

During the event, Town Center Community announced more than $130,000 has been raised for the Lanie Ship Hoover Fund, which supports future trail, park, and greenspace projects in the Town Center area.

This year’s Presenting Sponsor was:

Kennesaw State University

This year’s Gold Sponsors included:

Capital City Public Affairs

Council for Quality Growth

Croy Engineering

Kimley Horn

Son & Son’s

This year’s Silver Sponsors included:

Brightview Landscapes

Cobb Chamber

Cooper Carry

Croft & Associates

Dentons

Denyse

LGE Credit Union

Pond & Company

Rainey & Vaughan LLC

Stantec

Vulcan Materials Company