James May-June 2023 web - Flipbook - Page 23
here’s no question in my mind that the city of
Canton is on the map as an innovative community with a vibrant and energetic historic downtown, an exceptional quality of life for those who
call it home and a myriad of opportunities for
visitors to enjoy. Guiding all of this is a “Roadmap for
Success” developed by Mayor Bill Grant and the Canton
City Council. It rapidly became a blueprint, not just for
Canton, but for other communities to use to find a path
to revitalization.
“The roadmap is really a community plan because
it originated with our citizens and their vision for how
Canton should move forward. It helps us identify how
our citizens want to live, work, play, and serve in our
community,” Grant says. “We have a lot to offer with
our amazing parks, Etowah River excursions, trails,
shopping, extraordinary dining reputation, celebrated
historical heritage, and enviable proximity as the ideal
midpoint between the city of Atlanta and the mountains of North Georgia.”
The “Roadmap for Success” is built on eight tenets
that include creating great neighborhoods, enhancing
historic downtown Canton, advancing regional eco-
nomic success, and improving infrastructure for future
demands. Other goals of the roadmap are to celebrate
the diversity of the community, sustain the natural environment, connect residen ts to parks and recreation,
and to lead with excellence.
“The response has been extremely positive,” the
mayor continues. “Our constituents are very proud of
our roadmap because they helped author the plan, and
it belongs to them. I have never seen our citizens and
businesses so excited, engaged, and optimistic about
the current and future states of Canton. It is really just
an incredible time to live, work, play, and serve in what
we call the ‘Coolest Small Town in America!’”
community history & character
Grant calls it a transformational time. Canton has a
rich and diverse history that has
been appreciated and preserved as the city has grown.
Similar to Canton’s success
today, much of its early
growth was centered on its
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