Betsy Rowell

betsy rowell O NE

HUNDRED , TWENTY - FIVE

YEARS AND COUNTING !

Betsy Rowell of Hattiesburg is a two-term member of the Hattiesburg City Council. She holds membership in the Area Development Partnership and the Forrest/Lamar Republican Women Betsy is the Director of the Hattiesburg Historic District Association. She can be reached at [email protected]

34 • south mississippi scene

Hattiesburg, one of the original Mississippi Main Street communities, is enjoying a renewed commitment to revitalizing the heart of our city. As we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of our city, we have an opportunity to review a rich history and the founding of our community. It all started with a dream and a vision. The leaders today have a vision and are working to make Downtown Hattiesburg the center of culture and entertainment for our area combined with unique shopping and dining experiences. Downtown continues to be a destination for people of all ages. Downtown events such as Art Walk in the spring, fall and winter attract visitors in record numbers. Live after Five outdoor concerts in April and October are a new addition to the ever-increasing line-up of special activities for visitors to downtown. The Area Development Partnership continues to present HubFest, which brings thousands to the streets of downtown. Eaglepalooza is an outdoor street concert presented by USM and brownstone’s and is a resounding success each year with thousands of students converging on downtown. 2009 marks the 27th year of the October Brown Bag Noonday concerts offered by the Hattiesburg Arts Council, one of the longest-running events in downtown Hattiesburg. The Annual Mobile Street Renaissance Festival is now part of the Historic Blues Trail of Mississippi and joins an elite group of festivals being presented across our state this year in celebration of our Blues Heritage. Downtown is a place of high-style historic architecture originally developed in the 1890 era. “Cornerstone” buildings are being renovated for continued use into the new century. The Saenger Theater, in the heart of downtown, has been restored to its 1929 splendor. Under the management of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, programming in this facility is impressive for a community our size. Another downtown cornerstone is the renovated historic library, now the Hattiesburg Cultural Center, home to the Hattiesburg Arts Council office and gallery, the Hattiesburg Area Historical Society Museum and the HHDA office. Visitors will find a treasure of shopping, dining and entertain-

ment experiences, plus unique residential choices and choices for worship. Add to the mix government, professional services and parks and recreation. Housed in preserved architectural treasures and in new buildings are retail shops, office, studios, restaurants, galleries, cafes, a spa, salons and coffee shops. Downtown offers a blend of casual and fine dining, fine art and Mississippi crafts, antiques, live entertainment and theatrical productions, special gifts, a natural foods store a unique café, and an independent bookstore visited regularly by authors signing their works. More than 200 retail, professional and service businesses in the downtown district offer more than 20 businesses, product and professional service classifications. Unique residential opportunities-some in upper floors of renovated buildings, others in new ones- add to the downtown mix. The future is very promising, with support from city and county government as well as our Promotions

Partners and Member Partners, the Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association is confident about opportunities in year ahead.

D OWNTOWN I NVESTMENT

BY THE

N UMBERS

Y EAR 2008 Public Investment............................$6,002,651 Private Investment..........................$2,730,036 New Businesses..............................................8 Business Expansions.......................................3 New Jobs.......................................................23 Residential Development..............................17 Y EAR 2000 - 2008 Public Investment..........................$41,770,255 Private Investment.........................$33,674,397 Net New Businesses.....................................74 Business Expansions.....................................11 Net New Jobs..............................................409 Buildings Improved....................................101 Residential Units..........................................50

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