Dawsonville has its first assisted living center, and it's located within walking distance of downtown.

North Georgia Assisted Living and Memory Care will open its doors next week to new residents and visitors alike.

"When I first heard about this, I was very excited that a business like this was coming to Dawson County," said Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Christie Haynes. "There are people that have grown up here and lived their whole life in Dawson County and then had to move away because of the lack of assisted living centers."

The center offers a staffed kitchen, private dining rooms, rotating staff, guided activities and transportation.

There are currently 32 rooms in the facility with five rooms built for double occupancy.

Dawsonville Mayor James Grogan said that the plans had been in the works for some time and that he was glad that a facility like this could be built in Dawsonville.

"It's terrible that we had to send our parents and loved ones away to find centers like this. I know because I've experienced that personally," he said. "I've lost both of my parents and both of them had to be sent away at the end. I'm glad that we have a center like this in Dawsonville."

Dawson County Commission Chair Mike Berg echoed Grogan's sentiments.

"I know [owner] Grady [Cotter] and I know that this is a good, family business," he said. "We don't have anything like this business and it's great that they are here now."

Cotter said that the city and county had welcomed the facility with open arms from the very beginning.

"We've had great support from the community from start to finish," he said. "We're about [a] week away from opening. We just have to get the final inspection from the state and we will be good to open."

The facility will also offer a memory care unit, which will offer a wing for residents with disabilities such as Alzheimer's Diseases or dementia.

"We are hoping to start our memory care unit within the next six months," Cotter said.

The center is at 181 Memory Lane, Dawsonville.

For more information, call (706) 429-5635.