Heflin, along with Columbiana, Montevallo and Wetumpka, has joined a statewide effort to build stronger communities through effective downtown revitalization.

Main Street Alabama, a non-profit organization that uses a national model with a 30-year track record of success, selected the towns through a competitive application process.

According to Mary Helmer, President and State Coordinator for the program, Main Street Alabama will immediately begin providing each town with intensive board development, training with work plans and goals, market analysis with economic development strategies, targeted technical assistance, and quarterly training related to downtown development. “When a community is ready for Main Street, as these four are, our economic development program works,” Helmer said. “It brings jobs, dollars and people back to historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.”

Helmer added that the interview panel was impressed by the presentations each made that demonstrated a love of their downtowns, a vision for what they could be, and the drive to make it happen. She noted that Heflin not only had a good understanding of the Main Street Four Point Approach® but the community excitement, which was displayed by the large contingent from Heflin, and creativity in their oral presentation made them stand out in the field of applicants.

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