Main Street Manager Outlines Projects, Progress At Ambassador Meeting
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Main Street Director Chris Goodwin shares project updates at the July 1 Chamber meeting.
WATER VALLEY – Water Valley Main Street Director Chris Goodwin was the featured speaker at the July 1 meeting of the Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, offering an overview of the local organization’s work, funding sources, and recent projects.
Goodwin began by explaining that the Water Valley Main Street Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and part of the statewide Main Street Mississippi program.
“The idea behind Main Street is that a healthy and vibrant Main Street is necessary for cities to thrive,” Goodwin said. He traced the origins of the movement to the decline of downtowns in the 1950s and 1960s, as malls and big-box stores pulled shoppers away from traditional commercial corridors.
Goodwin noted that the City of Water Valley contributes $25,000 annually to help fund the local association.
“That pays for one part-time employee — that’s me,” he told the group, adding that the organization relies heavily on its nine-member volunteer board to carry out its mission.
In addition to local support, the Water Valley Main Street Association has received significant grant funding in recent years, including two federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants — one for $100,000 and another for $61,000.
Another recent grant came from the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, which awarded $20,000 to assist with the Pocket Park project.
“That $20,000 can be used for purchasing items for the park,” Goodwin explained at the city’s July 1 meeting. “Their expertise in helping us in what should be done in that space is also part of the package.”
The Pocket Park, located at the corner of Wagner and Main, was purchased by the Main Street Association in February after a successful $60,000 fundraising campaign. Once improvements are completed, the property will be deeded to the City of Water Valley.
Goodwin also reviewed the annual events organized or supported by the Main Street Association, including the Casey Jones Music Festival, the New Year’s Eve Crappie Drop, and the Fall Art Crawl.
