The City of Douglas and The Jones Company have been honored with the ICSC Excellence in Community Advancement Award, presented during the ICSC Las Vegas Reception on Monday, May 18, 2026, at the Wynn Las Vegas – Musigny. This international award recognizes exceptional public‑private partnerships that lead transformative retail and mixed‑use development. It highlights initiatives that create economic opportunity, strengthen community well‑being, and deliver lasting value through innovative development strategies.
“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. Congratulations are extended to all our citizens for supporting the leadership team behind the Douglas Square Project. We are grateful for every business that has chosen to locate in Douglas and Coffee County. May God continue to bless the City of Douglas and Coffee County.”
The Douglas Square District project was entered into the Redevelopment/Revitalization category under the Rural classification. This initiative represents a broad collaboration among the City of Douglas, the Coffee County Commission, 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, The Jones Company, Phillips Partnership, Stellar Contracting, Buxton Construction, and JBS Capital Investments. Through their collective efforts, this partnership has delivered a forward‑thinking development that is transforming growth, investment, and opportunity across the community.
As an award recipient, the City of Douglas and the Douglas Square project were recognized internationally during the Advancing Retail in Communities event at ICSC LAS VEGAS. A short video highlighting the Douglas Square project was shown prior to Mayor Paulk’s acceptance remarks. The City of Douglas and The Jones Company received a commemorative award plaque and will be featured in Commerce + Communities Today as well as on ICSC.com.
