Historic Hayesville celebrates 10 years

  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Guests included partner organizations, businesses and volunteers for the celebration held Aug. 10 at the Historic Courthouse/Beal Center in Hayesville.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Guests included partner organizations, businesses and volunteers for the celebration held Aug. 10 at the Historic Courthouse/Beal Center in Hayesville.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Sandy Zimmerman holds the plaque from HHI for coordinating the Hayesville Small Town Main Street and over 10 years as volunteer.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Sandy Zimmerman holds the plaque from HHI for coordinating the Hayesville Small Town Main Street and over 10 years as volunteer.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Gary and Deborah Nichols returned from Alabama for the celebration. Deborah wrote the initial STMS application.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Gary and Deborah Nichols returned from Alabama for the celebration. Deborah wrote the initial STMS application.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Larry Davis was honored as volunteer working with HHI, CCCRA and CCHAC partner projects.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Larry Davis was honored as volunteer working with HHI, CCCRA and CCHAC partner projects.
    Sherry Adams of the N.C. Department of Commerce returned as guest speaker.

    Sherry Adams of the N.C. Department of Commerce returned as guest speaker.

    By Sandy Zimmerman

    Guest Writer

     

    The Town of Hayesville was designated as a North Carolina Small Town Main Street community in 2013 by the N.C. Department of Commerce Main Street and Rural Planning Center. The year of 2023 marks the 10-year celebration to recognize the journey by volunteers to administer the program and succeed on downtown projects.

    Hayesville is in the Main Street America Affiliate ™ Accredited program and meets all National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.

    Sherry B. Adams, program manager with N.C. Main Street from the N.C. Department of Commerce and Rural Economic Development Division was the program coordinator for Hayesville 2013 through 2014. Adams returned as guest speaker for the celebration on August 10 at Beal Center.

    Adams’ presentation highlighted the past 10 years with focus on the program at a local level by building public and private partnerships to spur economic development, achieve measurable results such as investment, business growth and job creation while also recognizing historic preservation.

    Guiding principles from Main Street include public-private partnership, identifying existing assets, change and implementation, all of which she recognized with Hayesville’s success.

    Historic Hayesville, Inc. was recognized as the nonprofit arm of STMS working with local partners Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, Clay County Historical & Arts Council, Town of Hayesville and the Clay County Chamber of Commerce to build a stronger community through preservation based economic development around the historic town square. Additional community partners include American Legion, VFW, Clay Lodge No. 301, Lions Club, Master Gardeners, Moss Memorial Library, Clay County Sheriff’s Office and other groups that support HHI projects.

    The Economic/Vision Statement that guided HHI and partners was reviewed along with Hayesville’s journey by the numbers.

    • The downtown statistics report from the first year was compared to the 2023 numbers including public investment of $32,000 in 2013 then increasing to a total of $7,821,817 in 10 years.

    • Private investment has gone from zero the first year to $11,610,626 for a cumulative investment total of $19,432,443 with the past fiscal year report.

    • Volunteer hours totaled 1,555 in 2013 then grew to a cumulative total of 52,651 hours to make a value of $213,111 from volunteer hours which could be considered as matching funds for grant applications.

    • New businesses total 28 and 25 businesses have expanded so those numbers have helped to create 118 new full time jobs since 2013.

    The numbers may seem small for a big area but not for Hayesville with a population of 438 within the town limits and the statistics collected from the same area margins.

    HHI Board of Directors established early plans for the celebration to include partner organizations, local businesses and volunteers. Organizations were honored and businesses were recognized by the number of years in downtown followed by HHI volunteers for years of service as part of local STMS success.

    Dinner was provided by local restaurants including Anejo Grill, Angelo’s Pizza, Black Dog Tavern, Chevelle’s 69, Copper Door, Epic Catering, Hayesville Brew, Hayesville Grill, Hayesville Q, JoJo’s Cookies & Bakery, Mariolino’s, Nocturnal and SMM Farms. Wine and beer was served by Eagle Fork Vineyards, Shooting Creek Vines, Laughing Dogs Brewing and Nocturnal Brewing to compliment various food selections.

    Appreciation goes out from the STMS leaders and HHI Board of Directors to everyone involved with creating or attending a memorable evening and to all who have participated in the long journey to achieve on-going and future goals for our unique little town of Hayesville.