Mississippi Main Street Association Meetings Booked at MC

Mississippi Main Street Association

Promoting hometowns across the Magnolia State, Mississippi Main Street Association leaders play a key role in developing their communities.

Many of the officials with the 35-year-old organization will travel to Mississippi College to attend an economic summit on June 12.

The meeting that Wednesday is booked at Anderson Hall, with Donovan D. Rypkema of PlaceEconomics serving as keynote speaker. Rypkema is an expert with a private sector firm offering three decades of experience analyzing economic impacts of historic preservation.

Activities begin with an 8 a.m. registration along with coffee for visitors at the large meeting room in the B.C. Rogers Student Center.

The 2019 Economic Vitality Summit on the Clinton campus is aimed at professionals involved in preservation-based historic commercial district revitalization. Officials with communities, both big and small, will share ideas at the 5,000-student university.

That includes leaders like Mississippi College graduate Tara Lytal, director of Main Street Clinton. Her group is the non-profit arm of the Mississippi Main Street Association. The organization helps strengthen Olde Towne and businesses along Clinton Boulevard. The group partners with the business community, property owners and Clinton residents.

Main Street Clinton is part of the MMSA that includes 50 cities such as Cleveland, Columbus, Biloxi, Philadelphia, Corinth, Picayune and Batesville. Its community leaders seek to revitalize downtowns. MMSA is part of the National Trust Main Street Center birthed in 1977. The group has spread to thousands of USA communities.

Mississippi Main Street Association events include an awards luncheon at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson on June 13. There will be awards presented in the categories of organization, promotion, design and economic vitality. Special honors will go to people in public and private sectors.

Summit meetings will also be scheduled at the Olde Towne Depot in Clinton to kick off the conference June 11 starting at 1 p.m. Other meetings are planned for June 12 at the William Winter Archives & History Building in Jackson.

Located just a few feet away from the Brick Streets of Olde Towne Clinton, Mississippi College has forged strong partnerships with its vibrant hometown in Hinds County.

Tickets to the awards luncheon are $45 per person. People are advised to make reservations by May 31.

For more information, go to the Mississippi Main Street Association website at www.msmainstreet.com or call 601-944-0113.