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Byhalia organizes for Main Street
• Public input welcomed By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer Citizens of the Byhalia area are encouraged to be a part of the planning for Byhalia Main Street Association. Kent Mathis, a member of the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce, is helping organize the charrettes. “After
talking with business owners, residents, and the various political
parties for the past several months, I am excited to see this program
coming to our city,” Mathis said. “I have toured several other cities
that have taken part in the Main Street program and have come to an
understanding that results are directly related to the amount of
participation we see from the community. I encourage everyone to come
to the meetings and help us make Byhalia all it can be.” The
town will meet with the planning committee to hold charrettes August
31, Sept. 1-Sept. 2. The meetings will take place at The Flame/Byhalia
United Methodist Church. Mississippi Main
Street-sponsored charrettes operate on four key components – market
assessment (helps understand the economic development factors affecting
Byhalia/Marshall County); branding and marketing (aid in communicating
its unique message); design and planning (enhance the physical
appearance and function); and implementation strategies (ensures the
recommendations of the plan include a roadmap to turn them into
reality). Each of the four components
corresponds to one of the Four Points of Main Street – economic
restructuring; promotions; design; and organization. It is the
participatory nature of the planning sessions that makes the charrettes
effective. Citizens, business owners, elected
officials, and Byhalia Area Chamber of commerce members help guarantee
the program will turn up what the community values and that the
community buys in and implements the program. Some
potential topics that may be discussed, according to chamber of
commerce executive director Sarah Sawyer, are enforcement of town
ordinances, the city park, Brunswick Downtown Park, street lighting
with brands and banners, and the Old Byhalia High School with focus on
the Byhalia Arts Council and use of the auditorium. Other items that
may be discussed are downtown building facade, recruiting businesses,
the walking track park, the outside stage and the playground,
Mississippi Highway 309 and turning lanes in front of Byhalia schools,
improved entrances to the town, clean-up of businesses and residential
property, signage, downtown parking, tourism, sidewalks, town image and
marketing, and community events. Those who want more detail may contact Mathis, kent.mathis@ubs.com or 901-415-3060. Planning locations will be announced. The
Byhalia charrette schedule begins Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 12:30 p.m.
and continues all day Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 1-2. The
Byhalia charrette team will hold public meetings Tuesday, August 31, at
6 p.m. at town hall and Thursday, September 2, at 6 p.m. For a complete schedule or more information, contact the chamber of commerce, 662-838-8127.
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