Who We Are

MISSION STATEMENT

Americus Main Street is dedicated to fostering a robust central business district with a creative cultural experience and living environment. We encourage a vibrant inclusive business climate, promote unique special events, and design the historic core as an inviting location for the community and its visitors.

VISION STATEMENT

We envision downtown Americus as a thriving city center for residents and visitors alike, where its diverse shopping, dining, living, and entertainment options create a vibrant community of choice for all.

THE MAIN STREET STAFF

9N3A8221

Qaijuan J. Willis

Main Street Director
qwillis@americusga.gov
(229) 924-4411 Ext 247

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Jennifer English

Program Coordinator
jenglish@americusga.gov
(229) 924-4411 Ext 235

MAIN STREET BOARD

Angela Smith, Chair
Georgia Southwestern State University
angela.smith@gsw.edu

Ivy Oliver, Vice Chair
Oliver Farm
ivy.v.oliver@gmail.com

Divya Patel, Treasurer
Windsor Hotel
sales@windsor-americus.com

Dawn Daniels-McNear
Habitat for Humanity
ddanielsmcnear@gmail.com

Charmaine Edge
Code Black ATL
codeblackatl@yahoo.com

Hank Hart
Kinnebrew Co.
hankhart42@gmail.com

Adair Hoffman
Three’s Company Too
adair759@yahoo.com.com

Courtney Minix, Secretary
Pointer Mercantile
pointermercantile@gmail.com

Yorka Ralwins
Forsyth Carousel
gallery.rag@gmail.com

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD

Charles Crisp, Chair
Property Owner and Developer
charlescrisp@bellsouth.net

Eshonda Blue, Secretary & Treasurer
Innovative Senior Solutions
blue-wright@innovativecaregiving.com

Deborah Pless
Habitat for Humanity
djohnsonpless@habitat.org

Hank Hart
Kinnebrew Co.
hankhart42@gmail.com

Brandon Vann
New Era Land Company
bvann@neweraland.co

Rick Whaley
Citizens Bank President
rwhaley@cboa.com

OUR COMMITTEES

PROMOTION

Promoting Main Street takes many forms, but the ultimate goal is to position the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and the hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics. This can be done through highlighting cultural traditions, celebrating and preserving important architecture and history, encouraging local businesses to market cooperatively, offering coordinated specials and sales, and hosting special events aimed at changing perceptions of the district and communicating to residents, investors, businesses, and property owners that this place is special.

ECONOMIC VITALITY

Revitalizing a downtown or neighborhood commercial district requires focusing on the underlying Economic Vitality of the district. This work is rooted in a commitment to making the most of a community’s unique sense of place and existing historic assets, harnessing local economic development opportunities and creating a supportive business environment for small business owners and the growing scores of entrepreneurs, innovators, and localists alike. With the nation-wide growing interest in living downtown, supporting downtown housing is also a key element of building Economic Vitality.

ORGANIZATION

A strong organizational foundation is key for a sustainable Main Street revitalization effort. This can take many forms, from a standalone nonprofit organization, to a program housed in a municipality or existing community development entity. Regardless of the organizational type, the focus is on ensuring that all organizational resources (partners, funding, volunteers, etc.) are mobilized to effectively implement the Community Transformative Strategies.

DESIGN

A focus on Design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical elements of downtown while capitalizing on the unique assets that set the commercial district apart. Main Streets enhance their appeal to residents and visitors alike with attention to public space through the creation of pedestrian friendly streets, inclusion of public art in unexpected areas, visual merchandising, adaptive reuse of older and historic buildings, more efficiently-designed buildings, transit oriented development, and much more.