CITY OF STARKVILLE SELECTED TO JOIN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

CITY OF STARKVILLE SELECTED TO JOIN MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

JACKSON, Miss. -- On Thursday, Sept. 9, the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) will officially designate the city of Starkville as a Main Street Community. The designation ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership (GSDP) office (200 East Main Street) in downtown Starkville.

Starkville will become the 50th Main Street Community in Mississippi and the only community designated for 2010. Speakers at the designation will include: Mike Armour, Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Office of the Governor; Bob Wilson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Main Street Association; Parker Wiseman, Mayor of Starkville; and Joy Foy, Director of Asset Development of the Mississippi Development Authority.

"The City of Starkville is in an ideal position to join the Main Street program," Wilson said. "We look forward to working with the current city, university and county leaders as well as other local and regional partners who are investing in downtown Starkville to make it an even better place to live, work and play for residents, students, alumni and visitors."

Jennifer Gregory, Vice President of Tourism for the GSDP, will oversee the Main Street program and Robyn Cain will serve as the Starkville Main Street Program Coordinator. Jan Miller, MMSA Central District Director, has conducted training for committees based on the Main Street Four-Point Approach® - Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. Miller and MMSA staff will work with Gregory and Cain and the Main Street committees on workplans to revitalize and promote downtown Starkville. A Main Street Resource Team will also conduct a design program in Starkville and give recommendations for a long-term master plan for the downtown.

The Mississippi Main Street Association is an econommic development program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Development Authority with many strategic partners. MMSA provides several membership levels and works in more than 70 cities and towns in Mississippi to provide training and technical assistance to the local revitalization programs. Since 1993, MMSA has provided more than $4 billion in public and private re-investment back into Main Street communities. For more information, visit www.msmainstreet.com.