Boykins Main Street Initiative to focus on preservation, growth, beautification
Published 12:27 pm Wednesday, April 11, 2018
by Linda Beatty
BOYKINS
The Boykins Main Street Initiative is excited about our recent reorganization and election of new officers: President Audra Anderson; Vice President Robert Mitchell; Secretary Laura Gadd; Treasurer Linda Beatty; and new Board of Directors members Richard Francis, Margie Graziano, Spier Edwards and Barry Gadd.
The Boykins Main Street Initiative has reorganized and elected new officers. Shown above is Audra Anderson, president. — Submitted | Linda Beatty
Our focus will be on historic preservation, business growth and beautification for all of our community. Our new calendar includes events and strategies encompassing all of those focus areas. We recently held an Easter Eggstravaganza, which provided entertainment for local children at the town park that included games and crafts as well as an Easter egg hunt for two age groups.
We hope to include other special events that will be announced later, but may include: a possible tour of our town in August; a special opening of the Mini-Museum following the local Memorial Day Event at Beechwood Cemetery; and several opportunities for local producers to sell their produce at our mini- park (dates to be determined.)
We are excited about these events and others in the works.
BMSI reached out to the Franklin/Southampton Economic Development President Amanda Jarratt for guidance in creating more interest by potential businesses in our town and our organization.
Recognizing our existing businesses by helping them celebrate their start-up anniversaries is a new program. We plan to display their business name and date established on our roadside sign during the week of their anniversary as well as on our website.
We also would like to assist property owners who have vacant stores by listing the locations and contact information on our website to bring together those looking for a site with the owners of those properties in town.
Other initiatives include updating our entry signs, planters for the sidewalk areas and grants to existing business owners to improve their store fronts.
We are investigating the possibility of getting new banners installed on utility poles that will allow citizens to recognize their veterans with a banner that would include a picture and dates of service.
Just like other civic organizations, we are always looking for new members. Residents of Boykins are encouraged to consider joining or re-joining BMSI. We need new ideas and suggestions as well as willing hands to carry out our initiatives.
For more information, contact Audra Anderson at 390-1056.
