Connie Tabor with the city of Toccoa is the 2021 Starr Award recipient. Connie is no stranger to GMA, and Georgia Downtown Association, as she has served her hometown and state for more than 30 years. Connie served as a catalyst for numerous new businesses with $36 million public and private investment, hundreds of jobs, over 80 facades restored including the Historic Ritz Theatre, and implemented 50 annual events in downtown that attract thousands of people each year. She spearheaded one of the largest efforts for Main Street Toccoa to remove the concrete canopies erected to mimic a mall type environment in the 60's which closed the main street in downtown and turned it into a pedestrian mall. Downtown businesses at the time felt like a mall type environment would increase business, but it in turn accelerated the downtown's decline. She worked hard over time growing grassroots support and finally approval was given to start the canopy removal project. She began working relentlessly to restore the downtown to its historic look. Through her efforts, the city secured $1.4 million from several state and federal agencies to begin removal of the concrete canopies.