This program goes beyond basic driver education by giving teens practical experience in a controlled environment — helping them learn how to react to hazards, improve vehicle control, and make safer decisions on the road.

📅 Next Class: June 20–21, 2026📍 Hosted by Rome Police Department and Richard B. Russell Regional Airport

Course Includes:• Classroom instruction• Hands-on driving exercises• Real-world safety techniques

Requirements:• Teens ages 15–19• Must have a Learner’s Permit and 30 hours of seat time• Parent or legal guardian must attend

Training Locations:📍 Classroom: Rome City Municipal Court375 Technology Parkway🕗 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

📍 Hands-On Driving: Richard B. Russell Regional Airport304 Russell Field Rd NE

Hands-On Schedule:Saturday: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PMSunday: 7:45 AM – 12:15 PMSunday: 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

⚠️ Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited to 45 students.

This training helps prepare teen drivers for the unexpected and supports our mission of keeping Rome’s roadways safe for everyone.

Registration information is available here.

Friday, Rome firefighters were hard at work handling routine upkeep at the plaza — the very space they helped bring to life through their own fundraising efforts.

From left to right: Mac Earle, Jamie Kelley, Nick Tucker, and Colby Trotter taking care of the details that keep this space looking its best.

The Rome Fire Department not only raised the funds to build the plaza, they continue to personally maintain it — preserving a place that honors service, sacrifice, and community.

It’s just another example of the pride they take in serving Rome — on and off duty.

❤️🔥 #CityOfRomeGA #RomeGA #CommunityPride

The Georgia Municipal Association will formally announce Rome’s renewal during the GMA Annual Convention in Savannah, June 26–30, 2026. The designation recognizes cities that intentionally foster environments where residents, elected officials, and city staff work together in a spirit of professionalism and mutual respect.

Rome first earned the City of Civility designation as part of its broader initiative to encourage constructive communication, community involvement, and thoughtful leadership. The recertification confirms that the City continues to uphold those standards and values.

“This recognition reflects the culture we strive to maintain every day — one rooted in respect, collaboration, and service to our community,” city leadership shared.

The City of Civility designation is valid for two years, with Rome’s next renewal scheduled for 2028.

The City of Rome remains committed to creating a community where civility is not simply encouraged, but practiced.

From the early morning start at Public Works to the final stop at City Hall, the tour provided an in-depth look at the people, facilities, and operations that serve our community every single day.

Throughout the day, commissioners visited:

• Public Works (Street, Engineering, Traffic, Solid Waste & Garage)• Water & Sewer Operations and the Filter Plant• Tourism and Transit• Cemetery operations• Police Department• Fire Administration• Wastewater Treatment• Landfill• Planning, Building Inspection, Code Enforcement, Human Resources & Community Development (Carnegie Building)• Downtown Development• City Hall departments including the City Clerk, Finance, OTS, Purchasing & Water Billing

This behind-the-scenes tour offered a comprehensive view of the essential services that keep Rome running — from infrastructure and public safety to economic development and community planning.

We appreciate Commissioners Fisher and Hixson taking the time to meet with staff, ask thoughtful questions, and see firsthand the dedication of our employees. Strong leadership begins with understanding, and Friday was a meaningful step in building that foundation.

We look forward to working together as we continue serving the citizens of Rome.

Join us for the Mount Berry Trail Park Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, March 12 at 3 p.m., located at 130 Coligni Way.  

Pump Track Coming Soon to Ridge Ferry Park

The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing strong economic results for Floyd County. The report shares that visitor spending reached $149.9 million, continuing an upward trend for the local tourism industry.

According to direct visitor spending data, visitors spent $149,900,000 in Floyd County during 2024—the most recent year with available data. Travel and tourism generated a 0.7% year-over-year increase in total impact. In addition, the local tourism industry supported 1,535 jobs across the service and hospitality sectors.

Tourism contributed significantly to public revenue, generating $12.2 million in state and local taxes. Without this revenue, each Floyd County household would need to pay an additional $332 annually to replace the taxes generated by tourism activity.

Beyond overall tourism impact, the report highlights 2025 economic contributions from sports, group travel, and events directly assisted by the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism. These efforts produced $25,960,564 in economic impact.

Major events driving this impact included the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show, USTA Southern Tri-Level Tennis Championships, Georgia Elite Classic, and multiple tennis tournaments.

• Tennis and Pickleball events accounted for 47% of the impact
• Forum River Center events contributed 21%
• Other sports events represented 18%
• Events represented 11%

“With every visitor who comes to Rome, we see a ripple effect that strengthens our community and fuels economic growth,” said Lisa Smith, Executive Director for Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism. “Tourism brings opportunities—supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life for everyone.”

Looking ahead, the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism is excited to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026 and continue attracting sports, groups, meetings, and events that generate economic benefits for the community.

2024 Economic Impact of Tourism analysis is provided by the Georgia Department of Economic Development through the Travel Impact study, prepared by Tourism Economics, It is based on multiple data sources, including the U.S. Census, STR, Longwoods International, Georgia Department of Revenue sales tax data, and employment and wage data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for 2025 will be available in Fall 2026.2025 tourism economic impact figures are provided by the Georgia's Rome Office of Tourism and represent only events, sports, meetings, and activities where the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism provided direct planning, coordination, or assistance.

View the full 2025 Annual Report

For more information, visit RomeGeorgia.org or call 706.295.5576.

We understand some community members have questions about the new irrigation system at Stonebridge Golf Course. Here’s the full story:

- The current system is 33 years old — well past its typical lifespan of 20–25 years- Replacing it now prevents costly repairs and ensures the course stays playable and safe- Stonebridge has been profitable for 6 straight years, including $85,000 in profit last year during a record-breaking season with 40,000+ rounds of golf

 Why not just raise fees? Increasing fees could lead to fewer golfers, which would hurt revenue and the course’s ability to sustain itself. Keeping Stonebridge affordable helps maintain its success and benefits the entire community.

🎥 Watch the video below to learn more about why this investment is the smart choice for Rome!

The City of Rome is proud to be named as a 2026 Visionary City Award honoree, presented by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) in collaboration with Georgia Trend. The award recognizes initiatives that demonstrate thoughtful planning, strong partnerships, and a commitment to improving quality of life.  Selected in the Large Cities Category, Rome was honored for the revitalization of Banty Jones Park, a once-overlooked neighborhood space transformed through resident engagement and cross-sector collaboration. Guided by input from more than 175 residents, the city reimagined the park as a safe, accessible, and family-friendly gathering place.  Larry Hanson, CEO and executive director of GMA, said, “Rome’s revitalization of Banty Jones Park shows how listening to residents and investing in public spaces can strengthen neighborhoods and build trust. This project reflects the power of community-driven design.”  “The revitalization of Banty Jones Park represents what Rome is all about— working together to create spaces that strengthen community connections,” said Rome City Manager Sammy Rich.  “Being recognized as a Visionary City affirms our commitment to inclusive planning and investing in projects that improve quality of life for everyone.”  This project was made possible through collaboration and shaped by the voices of the Banty Jones neighborhood,” said Bekki Fox, Rome’s Community Development Director. “By working with residents and partners, we were able to transform an underutilized space into a vibrant park that will serve as a community gathering place families for years to come.  The beautiful park offers open areas for play and gatherings, a new splash pad surrounded by a small amphitheater, modern playgrounds, pavilions, scenic boardwalk, and restrooms. Banty Jones Park is located at 212 E 13th Street and is open daily for leisure use. 

Annual Holiday ScheduleThe following days are designated as official holidays for City Administration:

New Year’s Day (Jan 1)

Martin Luther King Day (Third Monday in January)  

Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)

Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) 

Juneteenth (June 19) 

Independence Day (July 4)  

Labor Day (First Monday in September)

Veteran’s Day (November 11) 

Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November) 

Christmas Eve (Dec 24)

Christmas Day (Dec 25)

City Services - Holiday Schedules

The City of Rome offers a text messaging platform designed to help residents stay informed and engaged with the latest updates from the city. With this service, residents can choose to receive alerts on a variety of topics, from city news to public safety notifications.

The following text alert options are available for residents:

• Upcoming EventsReceive notifications on upcoming events in Rome and Floyd County.Sample alert: Roflo Fest & Backyard BBQ Bash are this weekend, plus tickets to Rome River Jam go on sale tomorrow.To sign up, text Romeevents to 38276

• Rome PoliceReceive public safety notifications from the Rome Police Department.Sample alert: RPD is at 100 ABC Blvd for a potential active shooter situation. Please avoid the area at this time. Updates to come.To sign up, text Romepolice to 38276

Signing up for text alerts is easy. Simply text the keyword to 38276 from your cell phone. Your cell phone may try to autocorrect your keyword into two words, but to subscribe, the keyword must be typed as one word. It is not case-sensitive. To subscribe to more than one alert, simply text each keyword in a separate message. You can opt out at any time by texting STOP.

Prefer Email Alerts? Receive alerts via email. 

The City of Rome has partnered with CivicPlus® to implement its mass notification software. CivicPlus provides technology solutions for governments to help keep communities informed, involved, and connected. The company’s solutions are used daily by over 12,000 customers, serving 100,000 administrative staff members and over 340 million people across the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, visit the City of Rome Government alerts page

THE GEORGIA TREE COUNCIL PRESENTS ANNUAL GEORGIA URBAN FORESTRY AWARDSCity of Rome Receives Excellence in Urban Forestry Award - 2nd year in a row!

The Georgia Tree Council, a nonprofit organization with the mission of sustaining Georgia’s green legacy by partnering with individuals, organizations, and communities in raising awareness toward improving and maintaining Georgia's community forests, presented its 2025 Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards Program on November 5, 2025 at the Old Macon Mall during the Georgia Tree Conference, in partnership with the Georgia Arborist Association. This annual awards program honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in protecting and enhancing our community forests. Each award recipient received a handmade wooden bowl made from a native Georgia tree by the late artist Tom Canada.

We’re proud to announce that the City of Rome has been honored with the Outstanding Community Award by the Georgia Tree Council at the 2025 Excellence in Urban Forestry Awards!

This award recognizes Rome’s ongoing commitment to protecting, maintaining, and celebrating our community forests. From tree planting and preservation efforts to education and long-term planning, this achievement reflects the hard work of our city staff, partners, and residents who care deeply about keeping Rome green and thriving.

The Georgia Tree Council was founded in 1988 by a group of individuals who recognized the need for an organization to address urban forestry issues in Georgia. Today, GTC brings educational programs, leadership, and resources in maintaining healthy trees to towns and cities across the state. For more information on the Georgia Tree Council and its 2025 Awards Program, please call 470-905-8650 or visit www.gatreecouncil.org.

The city auditorium hosts live performances and concerts year-around. Check out the full calendar of events!

View Live Stream of Rome City Commission 2024 Meetings

Stay in Touch with City of Rome Social Media Pages

City of Rome Twitter

City of Rome Facebook

City of Rome Instagram

Watch brief videos and one-on-one sit down interviews with city staff and officials about local government and area projects impacting a broad spectrum of people in our community. 

Watch Now

By clicking “Log In” on the MyAccount bar at the top of the screen, you can create a login for the City of Rome web site or use your Facebook profile to access MyAccount.

• Once logged in,  choose the modules, features and keywords that you would like to see most often, including calendars, news items and emergency alerts.
• You can also save your favorite pages within MyAccount, to make information that matters to you most easier to find!
• Customize your own page now with MyAccount 

Notify Me allows you to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists.Receive email or text message updates regarding the information you have requested.Check it out now: Notify Me