Smithville, one of 12 communities selected to participate in Tennessee Downtowns, a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts, has done an impressive job distributing grant money and seeing to the rehabilitation of the downtown area, according to project officials.
Executive Director of the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce Suzanne Williams made application for the Tennessee Downtowns Program on behalf of the city of Smithville and later for the $15,000 grant available only to communities in the Tennessee Downtowns Program.
The Tennessee Downtowns Program Steering Committee members - Steve White, chair; Alan Webb, Mark Ashburn, Wade Smith and Chamber Director Suzanne Williams – have been working for almost two years on this state initiative.
After months of attending training events, webinars, and late night meetings, the committee decided that dividing the grant money to accommodate two large projects would have the potential to make a more significant impact.
Project 1 would promote exterior improvements to downtown buildings.
By investing a minimum of $1,000 in exterior improvements, downtown property owners were eligible to receive $500.
Fortunately, the 16 applications that were submitted equaled the number of available grants, so no one was turned down.
Mini-grant recipients included The Flower Box, Cantrell’s Men Store, Cantrell’s Ladies Clothing, Attorney Keith W. Blair, Attorney Frank Buck, Thomas G. Janney, Henrietta Hale, Attorney Jeremy Trapp, Grannie’s Goldmine, Alan Webb, Attorney Gayla C. Hendrix, Richard Williams, Attorney Vester Parsley Jr., Annette Greek, Attorney J. Hilton Conger, and Gail H. Webb.
Project 2 would bring an attractive new structure to downtown - a new open-air stage located at Evins Park located across from the Smithville Post Office - to be used for outdoor concerts, performances, and other community events for the public to enjoy and use.
Steering Committee members were excited to partner with the Evins Foundation on this project.
Architect Gaius Overton designed the unique, hewn-beam structure that will add to the charm and beauty of our downtown area.
Local sculptor/wood artist of Beech Hollow Studios, William Kooienga, is also lending his expertise and talents to the project.
The city of Smithville prepared and leveled the ground and Smithville Electric dug the foundation for the large wooden beams to be placed.
“The stage will be a welcome and beautiful addition to the county,” said Tennessee Downtown Committee chair Steve White.
Continued community support will be needed to help complete this huge undertaking.
“We will be asking for volunteers in early 2013 to help finish it,” said White. “We think it’s important for this to be a community project where lots of people and organizations have a part in its completion and success.”
The Smithville Rotary Club donated $1,000 to help with the costs. The new open-air stage is slated to be finished by this spring.
Tennessee Downtowns Program Manager Amy New, Kathy LaPlante from The National Main Street Center, and Carla King, executive director of Main Street McMinnville attended the mini-grant check presentation to support the work that has been accomplished in downtown Smithville thus far.
New commented that out of the 22 Tennessee Downtowns Program communities in which she has worked, the Smithville program has accomplished more than any other with the $15,000 grant.
The amazing results have been documented in a video presentation showing the before-and-after pictures, as well as the new downtown businesses, ribbon-cuttings, community improvement awards, 10 new directional signs to downtown, and the new Smithville logo.
If anyone would like to view the presentation, stop by the chamber office in the DeKalb Courthouse, room 201.
“The National Trust Main Street Center applauds Smithville for embracing the revitalization of its downtown commercial district, and we look forward to hearing many more success stories here and across the state as a result of Tennessee Downtowns,” said Kathy LaPlante.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with the Open-Air Stage project, being on one of the new Tennessee Downtowns Program Committees, or making a donation to the downtown revitalization efforts, call the Chamber of Commerce office at 597-4163.