Gray Downton Development Authority members had several visitors at their April meeting, and their presentations were first on the agenda.
Brian Wall was the first speaker. He has assumed the duties of president of the Jones County Touchdown Club and introduced Jones County High School Football Coach Justin Montgomery. The coach talked about his priorities using the acronym for TOUCH: Truth, Ownership, Unity, Community and Honor.
“Honor does not mean much in a lot of places, but it’s still a big deal in Jones County,” he said. “At the end of the day, what we want to do is develop good people.”
Wall announced the Touchdown Club was bringing back the reverse raffle fundraiser May 10. He said 300 tickets will be sold for $125 each.
Entrepreneurs
DDA members heard presentations from the three finalists for the JCHS Young Entrepreneur competition. The finalists are Alexa Williams, Mekenah Woods and Alana Worthington.
Williams’ business is Award Winning Halters and Supplies. She started selling halters only for lambs but is expanding to dog halters and leashes. Alexa is a JCHS senior.
Wood’s business is Kenah’s Creations, specializing in homemade, all-natural whipped body scrubs and lip scrubs. Mekenah is a JCHS sophomore.
Worthington’s business is AW’s Petsitting LLC. She started her business in 2023 and will come to the customer’s home or board pets in her home. Alana is a JCHS junior.
All three of the competitors are members of the FFA Lamb Show Team.
The presentations were practice for the finalists, who will have their final competition May 6 in the W.E. Knox Civic Center Auditorium.
Business meeting
DDA Chairman Sherri Rollins opened the meeting, beginning with the financial report. She said finances were on budget, and all the bills were paid. The Gray City Council agreed to pay for renovations to their building at 102 E. Clinton St. at their April 7 meeting.
Rollins said she had gotten quotes for downtown dumpsters, including concrete pads, a concrete block/brick enclosure and gate. The estimated cost was $12,000. The businesses using the dumpsters will be Cone Crazy, Bloom, Trinabell’s Diner and Butler Hall.
She said the businesses will split the monthly cost of the dumpster service.
Board member Cecil Ethridge made the motion to proceed with the project, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Main Street Director Ashley Roberson gave the marketing report. She said five events had been booked at Butler Hall since the last meeting. The director said there were five events in April and 11 scheduled in May.
Roberson said she is already getting calls for bookings in 2026.
Rollins said one of the available suites had been leased in the 102 E. Clinton St. building, and there had been interest in the remaining suite.
She said the building would house offices for the DDA, Main Street Gray, Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce and Jones County Development Authority.
“It will be a combined welcome center so we can jointly align and do bigger and better things,” the chairman said.
She said the exterior of the building would be painted and new signage added.
Roberson said the painting would start next week, then renovations would start for inside.
Rollins said it will be another great project.
The director talked about the Main Street events for the weekend, which includes closing downtown streets for the Friday night concert and Saturday Spring Festival. The chairman commented that the new restaurant opening downtown has been something the community has been asking for, a family-style, sit-down restaurant featuring home cooking. She added she expects it to be a huge asset.
In her ending remarks, Rollins stated interest in bringing back the façade grant to assist downtown businesses with their signage.
The next meeting of the DDA is scheduled May 12.
