Downtown Development

On September 21, 2022, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board was activated by Resolution of the City Council. For more information, click here. As part of this action, the Council established the geographical area of the DDA. Click here to view the DDA map. 

The DDA is a dependent component of the City of Watkinsville with a Director that serves the DDA Board, but who is a fulltime city employee and reports to the City Manager. 

The Downtown Development Director is responsible for directing the city's Downtown Development program. The Director manages all administrative operations, develops and implements strategies and programs to retain and recruit businesses for the purpose sof economic restructuring, develops marking materials and programs to promote Downtown businesses, entertainment opportunities, etc., plans and coordinates special programs and events focusing on Downtown usage, commerce and development, the recruitment of volunteers, preparing press releases, and ordering supplies and materials, and establishes and maintains relationships with business leaders, community groups, and Downtown partners.

Kate PattersonKate Patterson
Downtown Development Director

kpatterson@cityofwatkinsville.com
Phone: 706-621-2803
Address:
191 VFW Drive
P.O. Box 27
Watkinsville, Georgia  30677

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration (2001) from the University of Georgia.

Professional Experience: Patterson is an experienced organizational executive, non-profit leader, has real estate experience, and most importantly has a heart for service and small towns. Specifically, her experience includes time as a board member of Bethel Haven, Inc. and as a Governor’s appointee to the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Committee. She and her husband Alex are also deeply involved in Leadership Georgia, having been class members in 2011 and program chairs in 2015, allowing her to visit many Georgia communities and learning valuable lessons from those experiences.  

Personal Information: She and her family reside in South Oconee County.

She was hired as the Downtown Development Director in December 2022 and began work on January 9, 2023.