Downtown Blakely, GA

09/06/2026

📣 Comprehensive Plan 10-Year Update — Community Vision Survey

Residents, business owners, farmers, educators, faith leaders, and other community members are invited to participate in the Early County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Kickoff Meeting. This is an opportunity to help guide the vision for the county's future and ensure local voices are reflect...

08/29/2026

Once again, we are thrilled to have our community represented in South Georgia LEADS, a regional economic/community development leadership program!

Congratulations to Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Blakely board member, Mayor Travis Wimbush!

South GeorgiaLEADS (SGL) is proud to announce its 2026–2027 Regional Leadership Initiative class — bringing together professionals from across South Georgia for an eight-month experience centered on regional understanding, collaboration, and leadership.

Through monthly sessions held in communities throughout the region, participants will gain firsthand insight into South Georgia's assets, explore shared regional challenges, and build relationships that extend beyond county and organizational lines.

Meet the 2026–2027 class:

Jessica Adams, Jemm Farms
Claudia Allmond, Colony Bank
Peyton Avrett, Georgia Power Company
Kristina Cheek, Magnolia Governmental Affairs
Katherine Council, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center
Charles Fairbrother, Concrete Enterprises
Tyler Fields, Valmont Industries, Inc.
Perry Ford, City of Albany, GA
MarLeigh Foy, New Hire Solutions
Mallory Griffin, Ocilla-Irwin Development Authority
Katie Beth Hall, Colquitt Regional Medical Center
Edward Hulett, City of Fitzgerald, GA
Lauren Lane, Wild Adventures Theme Park
Jennifer McCranie, Dorminy Medical Center
Ashley Miller, Turner County Development Authority
Kayla Myers, Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce
Amanda Nava Estill, Southwest Georgia Regional Commission
Kenyetta Nesbitt-Simmons, Simmons HR & Talent Advisory
Kvonne Oliver, Valdosta City Schools
Amanda Rabon, City of Cairo
Tina Ramsey, Pinnacle + Synovus
Jennifer Ray, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Jessica Rios, Southeast Non-Profit Housing.
Jerry Sanders, SUMTER COUNTY SCHOOLS
Savannah Sanders, Valdosta State University
Tanya Thomas, Coastal Plain Area Eoa Comm.
Sidney Walker, City of Americus, Georgia
Arthur Wigfall, Retired Federal Employee
Travis Wimbush, City of Blakely

The program runs from August 2026 through March 2027, with sessions taking participants across the region for interactive workshops, community and industry visits, leadership development, and direct conversations with regional decision-makers. Topics will include workforce and economic development, regional communication, public policy, tourism, community identity, and long-range planning.

The Regional Leadership Initiative is made possible by Sustaining Sponsor Georgia Power and Presenting Sponsor Colony Bank, along with additional regional partners whose investment strengthens leadership development across South Georgia.

08/27/2026

What a wonderful opportunity for someone wanting to invest in Historic Downtown Blakely! One of our most historic properties!

08/18/2026

Small business owners: Join our final webinar in our Access to Small Business Capital series on Wednesday, August 19 at 3 p.m.

Join us for Business Plan Basics — the workshop that takes you from concept to confident. Whether you're starting from scratch or finally ready to put your vision on paper, this hands-on session will walk you through everything you need to build a solid business plan.

Register now: https://savingplaces-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kq3aVYfGQlGNtAAvQT72Qg #/registration

08/16/2026

08/15/2026

We will see you tomorrow in Downtown Blakely! ❤️

We can’t wait August 15, 2026 brings back the Downtown Blakely Farmers Market!! We invite you to join us and enjoy the morning in Blakely shopping and dining.

08/06/2026

The members of American Legion Post 11 extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Blakely approve the resolution and to Mayor Travis Wimbush for signing the proclamation officially designating Blakely as a Purple Heart City.

This designation is a meaningful tribute to the brave men and women who were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We are proud to see our community recognize their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to our freedoms.

We look forward to joining our community on August 7, 2026, National Purple Heart Day, as we celebrate this historic milestone and honor all Purple Heart recipients.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this recognition possible. Together, we will continue to remember, honor, and support those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

“Honor the Sacrifice. Remember the Heroes.” 🇺🇸💜

07/24/2026

"Sometimes challenges create new opportunities and we now have an opportunity to engage in more direct and intentional conversations about what we want our future to look like."

That's Blakely Mayor Travis Wimbush, reflecting on life after the Georgia-Pacific mill closure. A former mill worker himself, Wimbush is now leading his city through a major economic transition, without cutting services or raising taxes.

👉 Read more about Early County's path forward at southgeorgiamag.com/after-georgia-pacific.

🗞 View the entire inaugural issue at southgeorgiamag.com/summer-issue-2026.

07/17/2026

The Downtown Development Authority of Blakely/Main Street Blakely will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, July 20, at 5:30 pm, in the Bynum Conference Room of the Chamber-Development Authority Building, 214 Court Square.

All meetings are open to the public.

Agenda in comments.

05/29/2026

🇺🇸 For more information on the local historic preservation commission and historic district for the City of Blakely, please visit: https://downtownblakely.com/hpc/

Each May, communities across Georgia celebrate Historic Preservation Month. It’s a time to reflect on the places that shaped us and the responsibility we share in protecting them. Historic preservation is not just about saving old buildings. It is about stewardship carefully managing the identity ...