AMORY – Reaching its five-year anniversary, Amory Main Street Inc. observed the occasion with its annual meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Cadence Bank.

Amory Main Street outgoing board president Len Pinkley praised city and county officials for their support of the organization that works to revitalize downtown Amory.

He reported that Amory Main Street has about 80 members and the goal is to increase that number to 200 this year.

Main Street manager Jim Dye, who came on duty just seven months ago, also updated the membership on what’s happening throughout Amory. He pointed out that there is plenty of change occurring in downtown Amory. “Controlled change is good for a community,” he said. He also noted that Amory Main Street is an organization that is involved with more than just four downtown blocks. “It’s the entire business community,” he said.

The organization functions through the work of three committees: Economic Restoration, Promotion and Design.

Dye said his personal goal in the coming year is to launch an aggressive Shop at Home campaign because it’s vital to the life of Amory to maintain its retail community. ‘Sales tax is what drives this town, not property taxes,” he said. “I at least ask you to shop Amory first.”

In the past year, Dye reported that there were 12 new businesses that opened: Walgreens, Sherwin Williams, Dollar Tree, EMT Home Repair & Painting, Stafford’s Christian Supply and Gifts, French Group Insurance, The Respiratory & Diabetes Center, Lifeline Diabetics, Dana’s Petals & Lace, The Salon, It’s All About You, and Medco Solutions LLC.

Dye also said there were two more new businesses about to open on Main Street and negotiations were under way with two others.

Incoming officers for the coming year were approved for Amory Main Street: Judy Baxter, president; Jean Pinkley, vice president; Michael Freed, secretary; and H.L. Robinson, treasurer.

Three new members of the board of directors also were approved: Beverly Hamilton, Stanley West and Merri Sanderson.

Awards

Several awards were handed out at the meeting last Tuesday night, including two for facade renovations to businesses: Merri Sanderson with her business at The Bend, the former Wilson Mfg. building on Main Street; and T.K. Moffett for his restoration of the Park Hotel on Main Street across from city hall.

Carla Glasgow was not present to accept an award to her for Commitment to Downtown. This award was given for her vision and leadership in getting a renovation started on a block of businesses in Vinegar Bend.

The Volunteer of the Year award went to Lynn Dye, wife of manager Jim Dye. According to Len Pinkley who made the presentation, Lynn works at all hours to help with anything that Amory Main Street does. “She’s given hundreds of hours to our cause,’ Len Pinkley said. “Purely wanting to help.” Pinkley called her “the woman behind the man.”

Dye said she and Jim moved back to Amory because they knew it was where they were supposed to be.

Also recognized by Amory Main Street was the late Malcom Roberts, owner of Roberts Jewelry who passed away last month. His wife and mother were presented a plaque of recognition of Roberts who always showed hospitality and warmth to everyone he met.

Upcoming Main Street projects

Dye updated the membership on projects that were coming up soon.

- Amory will participate in Trash & Treasures Along the Tenn-Tom with downtown sidewalk sales and a flea market on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

- Christmas Open House in Amory is set for Saturday, Nov. 14.

- Two new painted billboards have been commissioned to be painted. A Welcome to Amory one on the side of the Amory Food Pantry building and the restoration of a Coca Cola billboard on the building beside Charlotte’s Carpet. These will be funded through grants and donations from local paint companies.

- A new sign will be erected in Vinegar Bend.

- A green space will be created in the parking lot behind the Panda Buffet restaurant with trees and other landscaping.

- Seasonal decorations will be put up in downtown Amory.

- A full-time certified grant writer will be available to Amory Main Street.

In closing the meeting, newly elected board president Judy Baxter, owner of Amory Lawn & Pool, said she grew up in a small town in Arkansas that is literally dying now. “It’s no longer attractive and there are no new businesses. It breaks my heart,” she said.

Baxter has been in Amory 27 years and said she has found it to be a place full of wonderful people. “There are people here who care about this town,” she said. “Main Street is about all of Amory, from Gilmore to Community Bank and beyond.”

Baxter said for a small town, “Amory really has it going.” She pledged to work hard as president to see plans for progress in Amory come to fruition this year.