Community revitalization group set to start work
By Arthur McLean Editor

The Thomasville Revitalization and Community Development Corporation will be conducting a door-to-door needs assessment in the MLK Jr., 6th Alley, Griffin Avenue and Choctaw Corners communities, starting around April 26. starting around Barbara Hudson, who is heading up the effort, is asking for volunteers to help conduct the survey.

The idea behind the development corporation, a nonprofit organization, is to help the economically depressed neighborhoods of Thomasville revitalize themselves themselves through community neighborhood action.

The idea for Thomasville came after a number of city leaders toured neighborhood revitalization work that is ongoing in Birmingham.

Hudson said she was surprised to see how things had declined for the black neighborhoods in Thomasville after she returned from time living away from Thomasville.

While downtown merchants banded together and got the city to seek grants to revitalize downtown, other areas were left alone. With much improvement work now complete, investment is returning to downtown.

Hudson said it's now time to look at other depressed areas of town and lend them a helping hand as well.

"I see this as a way to create new and dynamic communities," she said. "Think of the great things

"I see this as a way to create new and dynamic communities."

-Barbara Hudson that have been done down town, and they've made a big improvement, but not much has happened in other communities in town."

Originally, when there was talk of the community redevelopment program, it was attached to the discussions surrounding the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act and it was believed that the corporation would be able to apply for funding through the GO Zone to help with community revitalization projects, but that now seems to not be the case.

Despite the setback, Hudson is optimistic, saying the corporation can be a neighborhood driven community development effort to help the lower income areas of Thomasville.

"Help us, and you help yourselves," Hudson said. "It's been done in other areas with reasonable success, now it our turn."

To help with the survey, contact Hudson at 334-636-0518, or Alberta Dixon at 334-636- 2877.

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