About Us
The Columbus Main Street Program kicked off on August 9, 1985, at a joint meeting with Downtown Columbus Unlimited. On October 29-31, Columbus hosted a National Main Street Center Resource Team. The program immediately functioned as an arm of the City of Columbus with Paul Coggin as Main Street Manager. From its inception, the Columbus Main Street program worked closely with the downtown merchants association, Downtown Columbus Unlimited with the goal of eventually merging the two programs as a free standing corporation. Paul was, at the same time, instrumental in the founding of the Mississippi Downtown Development Association, which was accomplished in June 1986. It has since changed it's name to Mississippi Main Street Association.
After Paul Coggin's untimely death in 1991, George Irby became the Main Street manager and the process resumed of merging Main Street and Downtown Columbus Unlimited. This process was chaired by Holt McMullin as a project of Greater Columbus, Inc. and culminated in July 1992, with transfer of the Downtown Columbus Unlimited charter to become Main Street Columbus, Inc. Later that year, Jennifer Hanson was employed as the Main Street Manager. The committee structure was reformed and the first effort to increase membership and financial support was made. In August 1994, Jennifer moved to a new job in Jackson and Nell Thomas became the Main Street Manager. After Nell took a job at WCBI - TV Martha Lee Porter became our first full-time manager. Jan Miller became the manager in 1999 and continued to build a very successful Main Street program. Jan left in 2006 to take a position at MUW. Laura Quinn became the Main Street Manager in September of 2006 and resigned in October of 2007 to spend more time with her family. Amber Murphree is currently the Main Street Manager and has been since October of 2007.
Main Street is a non-profit public private partnership receiving funds from the City of Columbus, Lowndes County, Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, Market Street Festival and Membership participation. We work through a 22 member volunteer board of directors and much of our work is done through committees. Currently our working committees are design, promotion, membership, governmental, economic restructuring, merchant and festivals.
Main Street has been instrumental in the adoption of a historic preservation ordinance, and adoption of a tree ordinance. The Main Street program purchased a building on 5th Street North next to BancorpSouth. The Main Street Program has been instrumental in the following projects and events in Columbus; Columbus Christmas Parade, Wassial Fest,Farmer's Market Revitilization,Lighting of the City Christmas Tree, Afternoon Tunes, Noon Tunes, Sounds of Summer, Market Street Festival, Columbus Day Celebration, New Years' Eve Ball Drop & Block Party, Riverwalk Project, Leadership Plaza and maintenance and downtown landscape projects and beautification.
Main Street Columbus leads the state in the number of upper level apartments with approximately 128 apartments. Downtown Columbus is enjoying a new spirit of interest and investment, there are currently several buildings being renovated and several projects under consideration.