Demopolis accepted into Main Street program
News came Wednesday that Demopolis is one of four cities in the state accepted into the Main Street Alabama project.
Rhae Randall Darsey, who has spearheaded the project since its beginning, said the program will kick off on Tuesday, June 28, when officials from Main Street Alabama and news crews come to Demopolis for the official announcement.
The first stage will be to start training for the people who will volunteer to become involved in the revitalization of the city’s downtown business district. The area roughly is bordered by Capitol and Franklin streets and Cedar and Commissioners avenues. A spur of Commissioners extends to the City Landing in the plan.
Initial steps also include setting up the organizational structure of the 501 (c)(3) and 501 (c)(6) designations.
“There are different things that happen every year” during the partnership with Main Street Alabama, Darsey said. Milestones include a “huge market research campaign” and a rebranding campaign, she continued.
The other cities chosen to become part of Main Street Alabama this year are Leeds, Talledega and Lafayette. Demopolis is the second community in the Black Belt to be chosen, the first being Marion. “There’s a huge concentration of cities in and around the Huntsville area and around the Birmingham area,” she said.
To be accepted as a Main Street city, Demopolis had to complete a 24-page detailed application. In addition Darsey and city leaders gave an oral presentation. A lot of the application was narrative and required statistical information and, “we had to convince them that it was doable and sustainable.”
She believes one of the selling points were videoed comments from middle schoolers who have never seen the vibrant downtown experienced by their parents and grandparents.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “From everything I’ve heard, they really looked at community support.”
The first major project for Main Street Demopolis is setting up an office. The Marengo County History and Archives Museum has granted space above the museum, but Darsey said it needs a lot of work. Painting, carpentry and repairs need to be done, and the office needs a source of air conditioning. She is looking for volunteers to help get the work done.
Darsey said the goal set for the first year was to have two new businesses locate downtown. Already Dr. Britney Anderson plans to open her practice in July, and, if all goes well, at least two other businesses will be in place.
The interest in the city’s downtown has grown ever since word went out that Demopolis was applying for the Main Street program. Darsey has heard from many people and businesses who would like to open in the area. Some of them are “off the wall,” she said, but all of them would add to a lively, energetic business district.