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The Texas Main Street Program is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and it is just three weeks before the Texas Main Street Managers from all over the state converge on Paris.
Cheri Bedford, Paris Main Street Coordinator, has been working closely with Jill Robinson, the assistant state coordinator for the Texas Main Street Program, along with Suzy Harper, Becky Semple of the Visitors & Convention Council, and Matt Coyle of the Main Street Advisory Board, putting finishing touches on the agenda for this group’s three-day annual training.
The Paris Main Street Program is a 17-year-old program sponsored by the City of Paris designed to face the critical challenges of the revitalization of downtownParis.
This objective is achieved by partnering with an advisory board that tackles revitalization with a “Four Point Approach” — a national model used successfully throughout the United States.
It consists of organization, design, economic restructure, and promotions through volunteers in the community.
New Main Street managers are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday morning for a new managers training, followed after lunch by the annual meeting that begins with a welcome from Paris Mayor Will Biard and interim city manager Gene Anderson.
That will be followed by presentations from Kyle Burroughs, principle of Terracon Environmental Engineering firm; Kim Lacey, grant writer for Municipal Development Services; and Paul Denney of Denney Architects in Paris.
Denney will discuss the restoration of Paris’ Grand Theater and utilization of a Brownfield Grant.
Other speakers on the Annual Training agenda are Jeanna Scott from the City of Paris; Arvin Starrett, speaking on “The Value of Architectural Design Standards for the Historic District”; and “Bringing Kids Back Downtown,” a discussion led by Debb Fleming, Socrates instructor at Crockett Intermediate School, and Casey Rogers, information technology instructor at Chisum Elementary School.
Also on the agenda is a tour of four downtown lofts whose owners share their visions in sustainability and reusing and rehabilitating old space for new ideas.
There also will be tours with Lynn Deal at the Sam Bell Maxey House; Glen and Sarah Gambill at the Union Station, which is home to the Lamar County Historical Museum, Transportation Museum and the Paris Economic Development Corporation.
Bobby Walters and Patsy Davis will lead Historic Trolley Tours.
There will be a reception sponsored by Suzy Harper on Wednesday evening at Crabtree’s restaurant, the historic gas station that has been rehabilitated into a meeting place.
The Gibraltar Hotel will be open and available for pictures.
Dinner Wednesday evening will be at the Hole in the Wall restaurant, catered by owner Drew Crawford.
Following dinner, the Main Street Program will be hosting a concert at That Guy’s Coffee listening room, where Cas Haley, a Paris native and runnerup on Season 2 of the “America’s Got Talent” program, will entertain.
Thursday, there will be a re-created presentation of “The Art Walk” by local artists and galleries that will allow them to demonstrate their talents.
Visiting Main Street managers will have time to walk around Paris and experience the city and its architecture.
Thursday evening, the managers will visit the Harper Farm, providing another opportunity for them to experience magnificent displays of the rehabilitation of old structures.
On Friday, the day will begin with a talk by State Rep. Erwin Cain, followed by a discussion panel made up of cities that are designated as cultural arts districts and/or certified retirement communities.
Sally Wright, and the Lamar County Leadership 2009/2010 class will share fund-raising ideas, including details on last year’s successful “Dancing with the Stars” fund-raising event at the Love Civic Center in Paris.
“The City of Paris and Paris Main Street are proud to have the opportunity to showcase our gracious hospitality to other Main Street Managers and to the Texas Historical Commission Main Street Program,” said Cheri Bedford, the Paris Main Street coordinator.
“This training is sure to be a booming success due to the great involvement from the many wonderful volunteers who love our town,” she said.
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