JANUARY-FEBRUARY The City Council approves a Downtown

Development Authority // The 2014 Event Calendars

are released // Clarkesville Main Street receives an

“A” score from the Georgia Department of

Community Affairs

MARCH A devastating fire in downtown destroys buildings/

businesses // “Clarkesville Strong” campaign

engages community; raises funds for fire victims //

Clarkesville Mardi Gras raises over $11,000 towards

façade grant program

APRIL-MAY Clarkesville Block Party created to bring

excitement downtown in lieu of fire // Main Street

spring events in full bloom // Mountain Laurel

Festival celebrates 52nd year // $4300 in sponsorship

money secured for Main Street events // Downtown

signage project proposed

JUNE-JULY Downtown Clarkesville experiences business

boom // Friday Night Flicks sees heavy downpours //

Sidewalk Saturdays promotion created to bring foot

traffic to downtown // City approves Carl Vinson

Institute of Government to produce Downtown

Master Plan

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER The Carl Vinson Institute conducts online surveys,

multiple focus groups and a town hall meeting to

gather community input for the downtown master

plan // Main Street projects put on temporary hiatus

to focus on master plan; manager maternity leave //

A Taste of Clarkesville breaks attendance record //

Clarkesville hosts Regional Main Street Meeting

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER Annual meeting held // Clarkesville hosts County

Christmas parade // Main Street adds snow to

A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas // Preliminary

Master Plan projects and drawings released

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Clarkesville Main Street

$11,000 raised from Mardi Gras

2014 Main Street Awards Volunteer of the Year… Joey Duncan Business Partner of the Year… Habersham Event Center Golden Nail Award… Wild Berry Cottage Design Committee “Award of Excellence” … Headwaters Realty

Net Jobs Created

Downtown:

New Businesses

Downtown

95

29 Attendance at

downtown events:

13,932

Funded 13 Façade/Sign Grants for a total of $9,930

Hosted & Partnered 23 Downtown Events

-Aurora Falls Massage Studio

-Elizabeth & Company

-Wild Berry Cottage

-Daes Chapel

-Splashe Studios

-Harvest Habersham

-Circle of Hope

-The Purple Door Boutique

-The Haber-Dashery

-Clarkesville Chiropractic

-Tiny Citizens Children’s Boutique

-Main Source & Associates

-The Service Agency

Clarkesville Mardi Gras—Clarkesville Shuffle 5K—Shop the Block Party

Sidewalk Saturdays—Easter Bunny—Friday Night Flicks—March of Dimes Walk

Magical Gardens of Mauldin—Mountain Laurel Festival—Back to School Bash

Habersham Music Festival—Main Street Job Expo—A taste of Clarkesville

Capture Clarkesville Photo Contest—Trick or Treat on the Square

Habersham County Christmas Parade– A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas

$4300 secured through local sponsors

$7,259 Spent in downtown promotions

Volunteers performed 1600 hours of service

3,004 people

Clarkesville is way ahead of the curve… Danny Bivins, Carl Vinson Institute of Government

“ ”

A s we look back on the past year, and as the picture of the devastating fire that

happened in our town comes into focus, the resilience of our community may be

remembered as one of the greatest comeback stories in Downtown Clarkesville's

history.

As a Main Street Manager, this tragic event was my worst nightmare. We had come such a

long way! How do we restore the energy for downtown? How do we keep people

positive? How do we recover?

The answers unfolded before my eyes. This community proved its resilience immediately, as people came

together to help rebuild Clarkesville. Never before have I been more proud to be part of a neighborhood where

city government, downtown businesses and residents united forces to show their support- hanging Clarkesville

Strong ribbons on every door and mailbox for miles, collecting offerings to help victims, hugging, praying, and

embracing this downtown. The City of Clarkesville and its departments have worked together with property/

business owners and residents alike to develop plans for the rebuild. This community has been engaged like

never before.

Whereas there are still signs of destruction and sadness, nothing can stop Clarkesville from moving forward.

Business and downtown has boomed in what could've been the most devastating year for us economically.

Clarkesville can look forward to celebrating a rebirth, and take pride as the city that rose from the ashes.

FOUR POINT APPROACH

Organization

1 It takes the cooperation and

commitment of the entire

community to revitalize a

downtown. Clarkesville Main Street

is fortunate to have a host of public

and private entities who collaborate

on revitalization efforts, including a

committed Board of Directors, a

dedicated cadre of volunteers and

downtown partners who advocate

for downtown

revitalization.

Promotion

2 We strive to create a

positive image of the

commercial district and encourage

everyone to live, work, shop, play

and invest in our downtown. Our

signature events bring thousands of

people to downtown. Main Street

also provides marketing support to

downtown businesses, as well as

weekly e-newsletters.

Business

Development

4 To be successful, communities

must learn how to retain and

expand business to provide a

balanced commercial mix, sharpen

the merchandising skills of business

owners, and attract new businesses

that the downtown can support. The

goal of this committee is to build a

downtown district that responds to

the needs of today’s consumers,

while maintaining the community’s

historic character.

Main Street Four Point Approach

L-R: Curt Robinson, Janet Taylor, Barrie Aycock, Joey Duncan, Deborah Kilgore (Chair), Claudia Lyle,

Deana Brooksher, Mary Beth Horton (Manager),

Teresa Barry. Not pictured: Katie Ledford

The Clarkesville Main Street Program seeks to enhance community identity,

heritage and pride through the revitalization, restoration, and business

development of downtown.

The Clarkesville Main Street Program is managed by an appointed Board of

Directors and administered by a Program Manager, hired by the City of

Clarkesville.

The Board of Directors meets the

2nd Tuesday of each month at

8:30am at Clarkesville City Hall

Clarkesville Main Street Office: Mauldin House Visitors Center

458 Jefferson Street

706.754.2220

mbhorton@clarkesvillega.com

2014 Clarkesville Main Street

Design

3 Having an aesthetically

pleasing downtown is

essential to revitalization. We have

many programs designed to keep

downtown in top physical shape,

including our façade grant program

for renovations and historic

preservations, gateway signs and

seasonal banners. We also provide

input to the City and help keep the

community informed of downtown

projects.

Main Street is a program sponsored through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive strategy for revitalizing downtown and

neighborhood business districts. Each year, Clarkesville Main Street committees develop a work plan, creating action items in each of these areas of concentration.

STAR SPONSORS

Message from the Main Street Manager

Mary Beth Horton