The City of Douglas has been nationally recognized with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Excellence in Community Advancement Award, an honor celebrating public‑private partnerships that spark transformative retail and mixed‑use development. This award celebrates initiatives that drive economic opportunity, enhance community well-being, and create lasting value through innovative development strategies.
The Douglas Square and Tax Allocation District (T.A.D.) project was submitted for the award in the Redevelopment/Revitalization category in the Rural classification. The collaboration behind the Douglas Square/Tax Allocation District, was a project that brought together the City of Douglas, Coffee County, the Coffee County Board of Education, the University System of Georgia (USG), South Georgia State College (SGSC), the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), JBS Capital, Perlis Nease, and The Jones Company. Their united efforts have produced a visionary development that is reshaping growth, investment, and opportunity across the community.
“We are honored to receive the Excellence in Community Advancement Award from ICSC,” said Mayor Tony Paulk. “This recognition highlights Douglas’s strong commitment to partnerships and planned developments that continue to strengthen our community and region.”
As an award recipient, the City of Douglas and the Douglas Square/T.A.D. project will be honored at the Advancing Retail in Communities event during ICSC LAS VEGAS, receive a commemorative award plaque, and be featured in Commerce + Communities Today as well as on ICSC.com.
