Main Street Report: 2023 Will Be A Fun And Busy Year
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Water Valley Main Street Association Director Alyssa Benedict attended the first Main Street Legislative Day as the Mississippi State Capitol on March 3. She is pictured with Representative Tommy Reynolds.
WATER VALLEY – Water Valley Main Street Association (WVMSA) director Alyssa Benedict was among dozens of Main Street representatives attending the first Main Street Legislation Day at the Mississippi State Capitol last week to celebrate Main Street’s positive impact on communities and small businesses across the state.
Benedict reported strong support from lawmakers across the state ranging from Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Phillip Gunn to Senator Ben Suber and Representative Tommy Reynolds.
“Representative Reynolds and Senator Suber have been huge advocates,” Benedict shared about the support from local legislators. “Both were at the Legislation Day in support of Main Street.”
Earlier in the month Benedict provided a detailed report to city officials for projects and events scheduled this year.
“We are really excited about what is coming up,” Benedict told city alderpersons during the Feb. 7 meeting.
The lineup starts with the Water Valley Wine Down, scheduled on March 30.
“This is a like a spring open house, a sip-n-shop,” she explained.
Main Street Movie Nights will start this spring in the Pocket Park in collaboration with Main Street partner Joe York. The Summer Sunset Series is returning this year in partnership with TIN (This is Noteworthy) and Dial Back Sound. The concerts will be held at the bandstand in Railroad Park. The Art Crawl is scheduled in the fall and will include more student involvement with assistance from Main Street’s Arts Council. In December, Main Street will have the Cookie Stroll as part of the Chamber’s annual Christmas in the Valley events.
Next Benedict reported that two community work days are scheduled this year, one in the spring and another in September.
“We are excited about that and have some big plans to get some things done downtown,” Benedict said.
Benedict also provided updates on grant-funded projects starting with the Depot Project. Last year WMSA was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area for work at the Casey Jones Railroad Museum and depot building. The total cost of the project is $15,000 and includes upgrades for the museum ranging from adding interactive and visual exhibits to digitizing historical documents.
“I met with Grant Thompson and the Lions Club and the project is moving forward. Bobby Turnage is our point person on our board for that,” Benedict shared. The Water Valley Lions Club leases a portion of the city-owned depot.
Benedict reported that work will soon start on a rebranding campaign in a partnership between Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area and the Mississippi Main Street Association as part of a “Grow, Revise & Share’ community branding grant project to benefit Main Street communities in the Hills region of Mississippi. Ben Maldrow with Arnett Maldrow and Associates will spend two days in the city on April 25 and April 26.
“He will spend two days working with us on rebranding not just the Main Street Association, but city branding for our whole community,” Benedict said. The rebranding project will include input from a task force of people from the community.
“We want people who have been here a while to get involved with this,” Benedict explained.
Next on Benedict’s update was the $100,000 revitalization grant WVMA received last year that will fund a streetscape project in the city. Benedict said the proposed work will be sent for state approval, and work will begin.
Benedict also provided a list of board members who were nominated by the membership of the association. Executive board members include Lee McMinn, who will serve another term as president, Hallie Thomas will serve as vice-president, Tavi Toles as treasurer, Charlie Dyer will serve as co-treasurer, Sierra Dexter will serve as secretary and Bonnie Cox will serve as the city representative.
Returning executive board members include Jaime Harker, Bobby Turnage and Lauren Stokes. New board members are Monique Horan and LaShon Polk.
