Elba, Fort Payne and Jasper named newest Main Street Alabama Cities
Main Street Alabama is pleased to announce Elba, Fort Payne and Jasper as newly Designated Main Street communities. They join Alexander City, Anniston, Athens, Birmingham, Decatur, Dothan, Gadsden, Eufaula, Florence, Monroeville, Opelika, Oxford and Selma, and will begin work on revitalizing their downtown commercial cores utilizing the proven Main Street Four Point Approach® focusing on Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring.
Communities desire the Main Street Approach for several different reasons. Some have lost their sense of identity through rapid growth while others have experienced devastating economic blows and see their downtown as an opportunity to attract new residents, grow their economic base and promote a unique quality of life.
Mary Helmer, State Coordinator of Main Street Alabama, stated, “Main Street Alabama is thrilled to begin work in these newly designated communities. Each selected community understands the importance of their downtown to their city as an economic development tool and to develop a better quality of life for its citizens.
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The selection team was impressed by the applications and onsite presentations that demonstrated a love of their downtowns, vision for what they could become, and the drive to make it happen. We will start work in these communities immediately and capitalize on the support and enthusiasm the leaders have developed during the application and interview process.”
Communities were selected through a competitive process and demonstrated both the need and the ability to successfully implement the Main Street philosophy. We look forward to working with them as they focus on the revitalization of their downtowns. These communities will receive immediate onsite technical assistance from Main Street Alabama to develop a comprehensive strategy based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring.
Main Street Alabama will continue to bring on new communities all across the state annually. New city application workshops are held each January with applications due in early May. Communities may become involved with Main Street Alabama at any time utilizing the Downtown Network program to support those interested in the revitalization process.
Main Street Alabama focuses on bringing jobs, dollars and people back to Alabama’s historic communities. Economic development is at the heart of our efforts to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.
