Elizabethton holds first Main Street membership meeting Tuesday

Local businesses in Elizabethton gathered at the Coffee Company Tuesday evening to hold their first Main Street Program membership meeting, laying the groundwork and looking to the future of downtown.

New Director of Elizabethton’s branch of the program Courtney Washburn said this meeting would be the first of many.

“This is just the beginning,” Washburn said.

After months of working with businesses and Main Street representatives alike, this first membership meeting was all about how the program would work from a management standpoint, as well as nominating some of the board of directors.

This board of directors will be made up of the five chairpeople of the five subcommittees, Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, Organization and Merchants, as well as a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, two regular board members, and a representative from the city and county.

“They will make the larger policy decisions,” City Planning Director Jon Hartman said.

During the meeting, members named Frankie Bailey of the Coffee Company as President, Cathy Shoun of the Dressing Room as Vice President, Jeff Treadway of City Council and the Bonnie Kate Theater as Secretary and Joe Alexander of Alexander Insurance as Treasurer.

“In my position, you work for the results,” Hartman said. “This is very exciting.”

These next steps towards the creation of the Main Street Program in Elizabethton, he said, are part of the city’s recent growth in business, particularly in downtown.

Hartman and Washburn said they wanted to thank the Downtown Business Association, who helped Elizabethton get to this point after Main Street initially left Elizabethton.

“If it were not for them, we would not be here today,” Hartman said.

As for their official application to be a part of the national Main Street Program, Tuesday’s developments, in addition to hiring Washburn, put them about 90 percent of the way through the application process.

“Part of Courtney’s objectives are to get the application finalized,” he said.

He said this delay is partially due to wanting to wait and see what their funding is going to look like. Though the city is funding Washburn’s salary, the rest of their budget will come directly from membership fees, so until they see what those numbers look like, it will be difficult to see what they will actually look like. Further, hiring a Director and showing the national branch the number of businesses on board with Main Street might make the application process a bit easier.

Those interested in more information about the Main Street program or wish to become a member can do so by contacting Washburn at 423-213-0090 or cwashburn@cityofelizabethton.com.

SportsPlus

Local news

Carter County Long-Term Recovery Group announces partner meeting, seeks volunteers for recovery efforts

Local news

Johnson City Commission meeting rescheduled

Local news

VFW Post 2166, Second Harvest to distribute food to Veterans on Feb. 14

Local news

ETSU’s Bluegrass Program sparks global recognition

BREAKING NEWS

National Weather Service issues Hazardous Weather Outlook for portions of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southwest North Carolina

Local news

Tennessee gas prices drop four cents, remain among nation’s lowest

Local news

Carter County Sheriff’s Department reports arrests

Community

Elizabethton Senior Center Schedule

Local news

Site plan approved for $40 million higher education center

Local news

A visit to remember: Unaka Lady Rangers honor legend Eula Lee Donnelly

Local news

Elizabethton Parks and Recreation seeks community input for Cat Island Park redevelopment

Local news

American Legion Watauga Post 49 receives new charter and new members

Local news

Scouting America Troops forge ongoing partnership with Unicoi County Animal Shelter

Arrests

Carter County man charged after firing gun over truck noise

Arrests

Carter County man arrested for shooting into occupied garage

Local news

General Sessions Court

Arrests

Carter County Sheriff’s Department reports arrests

Local news

Black Jack Symphony presents Jimmy Buffet music June 21

Church News

Church Briefs

Local news

Crossroads Craftworks and Made on Elk launch Art Bar for creative night out

Arrests

Elizabethton Police Department reports arrests

Local news

Louie Greene Scholarship Fund launched to support Happy Valley High School graduates

Local news

Niswonger Children’s Hospital invites community to send Valentine’s Day cards to patients

Local news

Ross, Boys & Girls Club partner for annual fundraiser to help local kids thrive