By Sandy Zimmerman
Guest Writer
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The monthly Small Town Main Street/Historic Hayesville Inc. meeting included a welcome by (L - R) Tommy Davis, Stu Jenner and Mayor Harry Baughn for a presentation by new Clay County Chamber Director Laura Kleiss Hoeft (center) which included partner updates.
The HHI Board of Directors held their September 28 meeting at Hayesville Town Hall with plenty of space for COVID guidelines and room to share information beneficial to STMS, the Chamber of Commerce and community. Partner projects were discussed including the annual Shop Small Shop Local event in November to support businesses during the upcoming holiday season. The HHI Board meeting convened with an approved agenda including a budget review and committee reports after Ms. Hoeft left.
Project Manager Tommy Davis reviewed progress on rehabilitation of the Old Town Hall and surrounding grounds. Construction and materials expenses for the building are within budget projections to date but additional funds may be needed for it to be open by Spring 2022 for use by students from Clay County Schools. The HHI Board met with property partners Clay County Communities Revitalization Association and Clay County Historical & Arts Council officers in 2020 to rename the space Hayesville Heritage Park which includes projects from all three groups. A location name was needed to identify the address for electrical and other services as well as provide location information for visitors.
The annual Steins & Wine event date changes were discussed for next April or May and will be announced as soon as contacts are completed for available vendors. Proceeds from the event will go toward completion of the Old Town Hall.
Additional topics on the agenda were HHI website updates for local Fall events and Small Town Main Street as the lead organization for the Shop Small Shop Local promotion scheduled each year during the Thanksgiving weekend. Promotional materials are supported annually by American Express for local businesses to participate and more details will be available at the October STMS/HHI meeting.
An Economic Vitality Committee for downtown Hayesville is under renewal as part of the STMS/HHI work plan with assistance from the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center. Participants and partners will meet soon to explore incentives and other economic tools to assist new and existing businesses.
HHI is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and administrator of the Hayesville Small Town Main Street program. Visit historichayesvilleinc.com or e-mail historichayesvilleinc@gmail.com for more project details or to volunteer.