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Group sees efforts at revitalization in Decatur area
"We were approached by several community members and asked what could be done to be better prepared to receive economic benefits," said Wiley Blankenship, CGEDA president. "I suggested that they look at communities that had been successful in aspects not related to industrial recruitment." "These assets including parks and recreational facilities make their communities more attractive when competing for industry and jobs," he added. The trip, sponsored by Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Authority (CGEDA), gave participants the opportunity to see, firsthand, the positive effects of community involvement in the revitalization of a downtown area and the related impact on the economy and quality of life in a successful city. "Some of our communities could be affected by the ThyssenKrupp project," Blankenship said. "A trip like this is a great opportunity for a community to go see what may need to be enhanced to make it a better place to live." Clarke County participants included Faye Cotten, Coffeeville mayor; Sharon Jones of the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership Leadership Team; Linda Vice, director, Alabama Tombigbee Tourism; Tina May, Coffeeville town clerk; Joe Skipper, Skipper Insurance, Jackson; Gina Skipper, educator and arts council member, Grove Hill. After a lunch presentation by Rick Paler, Executive Director of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, tour participants visited sites in historic downtown Decatur including the Princess Theatre for Performing Arts. The Princess, a turn-of-the-century art deco theatre, was recently restored and is now used as Decatur's performing arts center. Executive Director Lindy Ashwander led a tour through the historic theatre, which originally served as one of the town's livery stables. Another stop along the tour was the Carnegie Visual Arts Center. This historic building, which served as Decatur's original library, has been newly renovated and converted to Decatur's only visual arts and education center. This building was erected in 1909, and was funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie. It served as the library until 1976 and was subsequently renovated in 2001. Next was a brief stopover at the Decatur/Morgan County Chamber of Commerce building to meet with John Seymour, President/ CEO. Seymour accompanied the group to see Rhodes Ferry Park and other new development along the banks of the Tennessee River. The tour stopped at the River Walk Marina as Seymour discussed retail, commercial and residential development on the river. Tami Reist, president of Convention and Visitors Bureau, met the group at Ingalls Ship Yard to discuss commercial, residential and recreational development along the river. She also addressed economic benefits and the impact of tourism on Decatur and Morgan County. Reist provided information on bass tournaments in Morgan County and the importance of the North Alabama Birding Trail in Morgan County. Reist also touched on the one of the newest tourism aspects in Decatur and Morgan County, geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers. The following day, the group came together for a breakfast meeting at their hotel. Michelle Gilliam-Jordan, director of Decatur's Community and Planning Department. Gilliam- Jordan discussed the city's role of planning downtown and riverfront areas as well as city parks. Later that morning, joined by Squee Bailey of the Convention and Tourism Bureau, the tour wound its way through historic Albany and Old Decatur and stopped over in Delano Park. The group joined Barbara Kelly and Sally Smart to discuss redevelopment of the oldest park in Decatur, recently renovated through private sector driven efforts. The group then traveled to Point Mallard Park to see bike and running trails as well as the park's ice skating rink and soccer fields. Parks and Recreation Marketing Director Julianne Lowman also directed the tour through the golf course and RV park. Tiffany Brightwell, Special Events Coordinator for the Decatur-Morgan County Convention & Visitor's Bureau, met the group at the Jack Allen Soccer Fields. These laser-graded fields have allowed Decatur to host several major soccer events. The group departed for home after a visit to Historic Downtown Hartselle. The town is a prime example of how a small, rural Alabama community has developed their main street area with restaurants, antique shops and other stores. Coffeeville Mayor Faye Cotten said, "The attitude of all the people in Decatur really inspired me. You could see the pride they have in their town. It was awesome to see what they have accomplished by working together. No individual took credit for the work, it was a team effort. I admire the citizens of Decatur for their achievement. If every town in Twin Rivers and Coastal Gateway pulled together like Decatur and used every resource available, there's no telling what we could become."
Sharon Jones of the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership Leadership Team added, "In Clarke County, we've got to find people with passion. In Decatur, we heard that from every person we spoke with. Every project there had a passionate person involved. We've had great ideas after this trip and hope to spread them around. I'm working with Coffeeville mayor, Faye Cotten, on recreational facilities in Coffeeville. We admired the acres and acres of green space in Decatur. We were also impressed that the people of Decatur and Hartselle were so willing so share their ideas and any tips they had to help us make such projects a reality in our area."
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