CITY OF GRAY
A recent presentation for the continuation of Main Street Gray’s accreditation reflected on the program’s rich history and highlighted plans for the future.
Main Street Gray Director Ashley Roberson gave the PowerPoint presentation for representatives of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Jan. 24 in the agency’s Dublin office.
She was accompanied at the meeting by Gray Downtown Development Authority Chairman Sherri Rollins, Mayor Pro Tem James Collins and DDA Member and Councilman David Tufts.
Roberson said she submits a report to the DCA each month, and the accreditation process takes place every three years. She was hired as Main Street director by Gray’s City Council in March, which made the presentation to the DCA her first.
The state program originated in 1980 as Georgia Better Hometown, and Gray was designated as a Better Hometown in 2002 under the leadership of Pat Daniels. The National Main Street Initiative was launched by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
According to the program’s website, the community programs have been instrumental in leading the state in historic preservation, small business development, increasing tourism and providing a positive road map for public-private partnerships. Housed in the Office of Downtown Development at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Main Street is a signature program for community development and revitalization in Georgia’s historic downtowns.
Main Street Gray operated with a parttime director and an independent board of directors until it was brought under the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce in 2018. The agency was restructured in March with the hiring of Roberson as its fulltime director and moving its control back under the city.
Part of that reorganization was the agreement of DDA members to serve as the Main Street Gray Board of Directors. Roberson said she was glad that change was made, and utilizing the DDA members as the board works better.
That reorganization was part of the PowerPoint presentation, which the director said she felt went well. She said she was glad for the support of board members and mayor pro tem, who attended the meeting.
“It was a good meeting, and I was excited when we left. I was happy with the feedback I received, and the meeting gave me a better understanding of the process,” she said.
Roberson said she will get the official report at the end of February. She said part of the feedback she received from the DCA officials, included the suggestion of changing the district boundaries.
She said the current boundary is the entire city limits, but their suggestion was to go back to the original Main Street district, which was from Pinewood to Washburn streets and from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Forrest Street.
Roberson was the Assistant City Clerk for the City of Gray from November 2014 until taking the Main Street Director position. She said as Main Street Director, she oversees the local program by working with local businesses, board members, the City of Gray and other entities to continue to grow Main Street Gray.
She also keeps the finances and prepares minutes for the DDA, oversees the Design Review Commission, prepares agendas and minutes for the meetings of both entities and manages Butler Hall.
Roberson said Butler Hall hosted 50 events in 2022, including the Lt. Governor of Georgia’s Business and Education Summit, and 31 events are already booked for 2023.
She explained that Main Street Gray supports downtown business and property owners by holding events downtown that increase foot traffic as well as social media marketing to educate the community about local businesses.
That included working with the city to have a crosswalk installed to promote walkability Downtown.
In the PowerPoint, Roberson stated that the greatest challenge in Gray is being a bedroom community with no downtown square.
“We are working with what we have to bring people Downtown and to bring in more business and activities for residents to realize that there are things to do in Gray. Gray is much more than just a place you sleep at night.”
