Blairsville on Wednesday was selected as Georgia’s newest Main Street City program participant.

Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Mike Beatty and Mayor Jim Conley made the announcement during a reception for Blairsville’s Downtown Development Authority.

The reception was held at the historic Union County Courthouse in downtown Blairsville.

"We welcome and congratulate Blairsville on joining the ranks of Georgia’s Main Street communities," Beatty said. "Achieving Main Street designation represents the culmination of hundreds of collective hours by many individuals and organizations in these communities."

The Better Hometown program supports communities with populations of less than 5,000. The Georgia Main Street program supports communities with populations of 5,000-50,000.

The Main Street program uses a comprehensive revitalization process originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that seeks to integrate a locally driven management strategy with a focus on the physical improvement of buildings and public spaces, aggressive promotion and image building and economic development of the downtown area.