Spirit of Athens to Host Awards Luncheon on Tuesday,
January 31, in Downtown Athens

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 31, 2012, and find out What’s Popping Downtown, in Athens.

Spirit of Athens is hosting their highly anticipated Annual Meeting and Spirit Awards Luncheon at 11:30 am, in the Rogers Center, at First Presbyterian Church on Jefferson Street, Athens. Enjoy a delicious lunch as you hear about the progress that Spirit of Athens has made in its’ quest to move downtown Athens into a bright and promising future. Awards will be presented to a few of the outstanding volunteers and supporters who have demonstrated great interest and service toward the revitalization of Athens’ downtown over the past year.  All of the community is invited to attend the luncheon, which combines the Spirit of Athens annual meeting with the awards’ presentation. This is a great way to show support for the downtown while celebrating with new friends and a few familiar ones.

2011 Spirit Awards Luncheon SOA Board President Derrick Young presents the "Friend of Downtown" award to RSVP, accepting the award is Betty Ruth

Have you been interested in finding out more about Spirit of Athens? This luncheon is a great opportunity to hear about the SOA successes and to meet and acknowledge the people who have worked diligently to keep things moving in the right direction. 

Although there will be a few guest speakers, the luncheon is planned with an emphasis on fun and food. Spirit of Athens committee members will be visible and ready to offer conversation or information. This organization plans to make Athens’ downtown the most successful downtown in Alabama.

 
2011 Spirit Awards Luncheon Director Trisha Black presented the award for "Downtown Revitalization" to the City of Athens and Mayor Marks for the superb job on the Athens Visitor Center.

Reservations for lunch may be made in several ways and the cost for the luncheon is $25 per person. Attendees will enjoy a special meal prepared by LuVici’s and may partake of a smorgasbord of treats and toppings at the popcorn bar.

Information on volunteer opportunities, membership and upcoming events will also be available.

2011 Spirit Awards Luncheon are Mac Martin, Spirit of Athens Board Member and Economic Development Chair, Diane Lehr, SOA Board Member and Organization Chair, Representative Dan Williams, Trisha Black, Spirit of Athens Executive Director, and Brent Hobbs, Volunteer of the Year for Spirit of Athens, 2011

The Spirit of Athens, led by executive director, Trisha Black, follows the National Main Street model. The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtowns and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets from historic, cultural, and architectural resources while hosting and promoting  SOA sponsored community events. It is a comprehensive strategy that addresses the issues that challenge traditional historic downtown districts. The Four-Point approach emphasizes the areas of Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Re-Structuring. All are invited to share their talents and get involved downtown. Come out and enjoy this entertaining and informative event.

Reservations for the Spirit Awards Luncheon, may be purchased online at www.athensspirit.blogspot.com  

or you can call 256-278-6436, and leave a call back message, in order to obtain payment instructions and confirm reservations,

or email tblack@athensal.us

 Seating for this special event is limited. Reservations are first come, first serve and are due no later than January 27th. 

 Diane Lehr
Spirit of Athens Board
Organization Chair
January 16th, 2012

The downtown historic district area covers a 15 block area that includes 147 buildings, over 90 of which are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. There are currently 127 businesses with approximately 650 employees.

Traffic counts according to the ALDOT on Hobbs and Jefferson Street that run through downtown Athens are between 8,000-10,000 daily.

In 2011, ten businesses opened downtown resulting in 21 new jobs. The new businesses include three law practices, two photography studios, three retail, and one facility owned by Athens State University that offers continued education classes.

An existing business extended store hours and added three part time employees to their staff. Two vacant buildings have recently been purchased and are in the renovation process. Plans for these spaces include at least two new retail businesses, office space, and two loft apartments.

Spirit of Athens has also experienced organizational success this year. With the guidance and training offered at Main Street Alabama quarterly meetings, SOA has built a supportive Board of Directors, completed an inventory of our focus area, built up resources, all of which has helped us prepare to becoming a certified Main Street program.

Last year, SOA brought Jan Miller, Director of Mississippi Main Street Program Services, to Athens to offer Main Street training to the Board and committees during a two day work shop.
In October, SOA also hosted a speaker to talk about downtown loft development.

SOA has Four distinct committees- Design- Organization- Promotion- and Economic Development

Other activities include:
-hosts the Annual Spirit Awards Luncheon that honors key supporters of SOA progress for the downtown.( Jan)
-host to every other month volunteer meet-ups at businesses on the downtown Square in order to recruit new volunteers
-Distribution of SOAP e-newsletter-
-Cooperative advertising for holiday television commercials--
-Launched no interest loan program for building facade rehabs--
-Hosts Easter Egg Hunt on the Courthouse lawn ( April) ,
-July 4 Fireworks Show,
-By Invitation Shopping Event - brought multiple local businesses together under one roof for a shopping event in order to highlight local businesses
( Nov.),
-Sipping Cider Festival - local retail businesses stayed open late for last minute shoppers and competed in a cider competition in ( mid Dec).,
-Sponsored a window decorating contest downtown enlisting the involvement of many businesses on the Square. ( Dec)
- and worked with the Chamber to organize the highly anticipated Christmas Open House ( November weekend).
-Enlisted the involvement of TRAIL - a service organization of high school students in Limestone County who have adopted the downtown - they cleaned the downtown holiday decorations, volunteer regularly for special events needs and help to maintain the clean appearance of downtown.

SOA’s committees are all active and producing results. SOA’s volunteer base also tripled in 2011, which is attributed to the results and publicity our program has generated at the local level.