The Gray Downtown Development Authority looked over 2024 finances and discussed new projects for 2025 at its January meeting.
Chairman Sherri Rollins called the Jan. 13 meeting to order, and the financial report was first on the agenda. Rollins said the major project for last year was the renovation for the ice cream shop, which had been successful in bringing more foot traffic downtown.
Main Street Manager Ashley Roberson, who serves as secretary for the DDA, reported that the financial report for 2025 only had income so far. She said there were no major expenses pending.
Roberson presented the Butler Hall update and stated seven dates had been booked since the last report, and there were seven additional tours scheduled. The manager said a Bridal Open House is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8, and local vendors would be setting up at the event.
DDA member Bert King asked if they were getting their money’s worth from the subscription to The Knot website, and Roberson said it does generate a lot of leads.
Rollins asked for an update on the building at 102 E. Clinton Street. Roberson said city employees had been helping with the demo inside, which included taking down the temporary walls. She said the Jones County Development Authority had requested an expense estimate.
The plan for the building that was purchased by the city last year is to make it an economic development hub, containing offices for Main Street Gray, JDA and the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce.
Roberson said all the agencies were on board with splitting the expenses.
Rollins said she was glad the project was moving forward, which will have all the economic development offices centrally located.
Roberson said a change in the Hotel/Motel Tax distribution had been approved. She said 40 percent of the collections would be used for tourism as required. The remaining 60 percent would be used to put a full-time administrative staff member in the joint office.
The manager said there is no date set for construction, but the roof has been repaired. She said the rest of the renovation is mostly cosmetic.
“We want to create a large conference room. Other than that, it’s mostly office space.”
Rollins said she felt it was a great plan.
“This has been talked about for years,” she said.
Roberson said a sign would be needed for the new complex, and they are looking at possible buffers for the surrounding area.
For the Main Street Gray report, Roberson said she had met with downtown businesses to discuss the 2025 event calendar. She said the Galentines event in February is always a good shopping day for downtown businesses, and the plan is to go back to Fridays on Main.
The manager said they are looking at some Second Saturday events, and the Hometown Spring Festival was scheduled for the last Saturday in April.
She said they may look at some adjustment in the times for the Not So Scary Grayberry trick-or-treat event for the benefit of downtown businesses.
Roberson said it is hoped the downtown streetlights would be installed soon. Rollins explained that some of the holdup was because of locating city waterlines.
The manager said she was wrapping up the accreditation documents for 2024 to be submitted to Georgia Main Street and Main Street America.
For her chairman’s report, Rollins said they are continuing to look for a good location for a large dumpster downtown. She said the hope is to make it convenient but almost invisible.
“We have a lot of people looking to come to Downtown Gray, especially small businesses,” she said.
DDA member and Councilman David Tufts said the goal is to make it easier for businesses and people to move to Gray.
