The Gray Downtown Development Authority reflected on the accomplishments of the past year while looking toward an exciting new year at its recent meeting.
Chairman Sherri Rollins called the Dec. 9 meeting to order, and the financial report was first on the agenda. Rollins said revenues are coming in, and there were no significant expenses for the past month.
Year-to-date revenue for Butler Hall was just under $90,000 with rental income on schedule for the West Clinton properties, managed by the DDA.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson, who manages Butler Hall, said the venue had nine events in December and three scheduled in January. She said Butler Hall already has 21 dates booked for 2025.
“We expect more calls after the holidays,” Roberson said.
DDA members adopted the 2025 budget that included estimates of over $150,000 and $104,000 in expenses.
The terms for Rollins and DDA member Rick Childs that are up Dec. 31 were unanimously approved for renewal. The city council approved the renewals at their Dec. 2 meeting.
Authority members discussed officers for the new year, and Rollins was once again the unanimous selection for chairman.
Member Alan Childs was reapproved for vice president, and Cecil Ethridge agreed to remain secretary-treasurer for another year.
The discussion moved to 102 E. Clinton St. The city bought the building last year, and the DDA has been managing it. The long-term purpose for the building is for it to be torn down to make room for a new City Hall complex.
Roberson said she and Jones County Development Authority Executive Director Haley Watson have been working together to assist the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce while the board looks for a new director.
Roberson said they have worked well together and have realized the importance of the entities working together going forward, along with the new chamber director. They proposed using the East Clinton Street building as a hub for economic development. Their idea is to move both of their offices and the chamber director’s office there to make it easier for all three to work together.
Roberson said the plan is for them to share a large conference room and split expenses.
The Main Street director had proposed the idea to city council at its committee meeting last month, and they were receptive. She said there would be two and maybe three other offices in another portion of the building that could generate rental income.
The DDA members were receptive to the idea, and member David Tufts, who also serves as a city councilman, noted the details would need to be worked out.
Roberson said the idea was also proposed to the Jones County Board of Commissioners, and they agreed. She said they were interested in having more office space at the W.E. Knox Center.
Rollins said the concept of those boards working together had been discussed for years.
“Working together will help all of us,” she said.
The chairman also pointed out that the DDA would have rental space available at the Gray Station Depot building.
Roberson said the timing was ideal with the new community branding effort underway.
“I’m going to love getting to work on it,” she said.
The director said the goal for the brand is to have it ready to unveil at the Jan. 17 chamber dinner.
Rollins remarked that the Hometown Christmas Market went well.
“It was the Hallmark Christmas everyone has been looking for,” she said.
Roberson said the Jones County High School outdoor wrestling match was well received.
“It was a good day,” she said.
Rollins noted that the poles for the decorative downtown streetlights were going up, and she was hopeful they would be installed in January.
The chairman said she was grateful for Gray’s City Council.
“They have been wonderful. We started slowly, but have been building. We had a big dream, and by working together, it’s happening,” she said. “We don’t want to be Atlanta; we want to be Gray; a safe community were everyone just enjoys life. Businesses want to come here, and they want to be downtown.”
