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Local leaders go on revitalization tour
"We were approached by several community members and asked what could be done to be better prepared to receive economic benefits," said Wiley Blankenship, CGEDA president. "I suggested that they look at communities that had been successful in aspects not related to industrial recruitment." "These assets including parks and recreational facilities make their communities more attractive when competing for industry and jobs," he added. The trip, sponsored by Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority (CGEDA), gave participants the opportunity to see, firsthand, the positive effects of community involvement in the revitalization of a downtown area and the related impact on the economy and quality of life in a successful city. "Some of our communities could be affected by the Thyssen Krupp project," Blankenship said. "A trip like this is a great opportunity for a community to go see what may need to be enhanced to make it a better place to live." Participants included: Sharon Jones, Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership Leadership Team; Faye Cotton, mayor, City of Coffeeville; Linda Vice, director, Alabama Tombigbee Tourism; Mr. and Mrs. Wiley Salter, board member, CGEDA; Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kennedy, councilman, Monroeville City Council; K.T. Owens, president, Monroe County Tourism Board; Emilie Mims, Executive Director, Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce; Julie Adams, office manager, CGEDA; Tina May, clerk, City of Coffeeville; Joe Skipper, Skipper Insurance, Jackson; Gina Skipper, educator and arts council member, Grove Hill. After a lunch presentation by Rick Paler, Executive Director of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, tour participants visited sites in historic downtown Decatur including the Princess Theatre for Performing Arts. The Princess, a turn-of-the-century art deco theatre, was recently restored and is now used as Decatur's performing arts center. Executive Director Lindy Ashwander led a tour through the historic theatre, which originally served as one of the town's livery stables. Another stop along the tour was the Carnegie Visual Arts Center. This historic building, which served as Decatur's original library, has been newly renovated and converted to Decatur's only visual arts and education center. This building was erected in 1909, and was funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie. It served as the library until 1976 and was subsequently renovated in 2001. Laura Phillips, Executive Director, and Kim Mitchell, Vice- President of Board of Directors, discussed public, private partnerships and the art center's role in the community. Next was a brief stopover at the Decatur/Morgan County Chamber of Commerce building to meet with John Seymour, President/ CEO. Seymour accompanied the group to see Rhodes Ferry Park and other new development along the banks of the Tennessee River. The tour stopped at the River Walk Marina as Seymour discussed retail, commercial and residential development on the river. The group departed for home after a visit to Historic Downtown Hartselle. The town is a prime example of how a small, rural Alabama community has developed their main street area with restaurants, antique shops and other stores. Blankenship said he hoped community leaders were able to apply some of the good things happening in Decatur and Hartselle to their own communities. He hopes local communities will focus more strongly on developing their quality of life. "We all feel our community is the very best," Blankenship said. "When you're saying the very best, you've got to question who you're comparing yourself to." "We need to look at our local infrastructure and work to provide a better quality of life, which will strengthen selling ourselves as a region to a prospect." Blankenship said he was very pleased with the trip and the feedback he received from participants. He added that if asked, another such trip could be planned for leaders. "Coastal Gateway is committed to help our communities develop into a better product to attract people," he said. "If other communities want to visit successful communities across the state, we will be happy to accommodate and give them the chance to do so." Faye Cotten, Mayor of Coffeeville had the following to say about the trip: "The attitude of all the people in Decatur really inspired me. You could see the pride they have in their town. It was awesome to see what they have accomplished by working together. No individual took credit for the work, it was a team effort. I admire the citizens of Decatur for their achievement. "If every town in Twin Rivers and Coastal Gateway pulled together like Decatur and used every resource available, there's no telling what we could become." Sharon Jones, Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership Leadership Team was also pleased with the trip. "In Clarke County, we've got to find people with passion. In Decatur, we heard that from every person we spoke with. Every project there had a passionate person involved.
We've had great ideas after this trip and hope to spread them around."
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