The Downtown Development Authority selected Inspire to create a Downtown Strategic Plan designed to be a short-term road map for economic development and revitalization. The Plan focused on developing implementation strategies to be pursued within the 3–5-year planning horizon and was built off the solid community foundation currently in place within the City and the Downtown. Implementation strategies addressed activity generation, business attraction, funding, public-private partnerships, and struck a balance between retaining and accentuating the authenticity and

quality of life in, and surrounding, Downtown Watkinsville. Inspire completed this effort in cognizant of the existing Rural Zone designation that was awarded to Watkinsville in November 2023.