Demopolis’ Main Street program shines as other Black Belt communities consider joining in – including Selma

Main Street programs in the Black Belt are having a resurgence as concerned citizens look to the national nonprofit as a way to help their towns revitalize their once-booming downtowns. 

Demopolis launched a Main Street program six months ago and has already hosted three fundraising events, including a Crawfish Boil at the Town Square on Saturday that drew 350 people. The funds raised will go toward improvement projects and grants for businesses to redo their facades in downtown Demopolis. 

Demopolis is one of two Main Street programs in the Black Belt, joining the chapter in Marion that started in 2017. Main Street Alabama has 33 designated communities that report big numbers such as adding 909 net new businesses, almost 3,000 new jobs, $688 million in private investment, $96 million in public improvements and 139,177 volunteer hours in their districts collectively since June 2014. 

In its tenure, Main Street Marion touts bringing in eight new or relocated businesses, creating 147 jobs, getting $105,750 in public funds and $730,695 of private investments, according to Main Street Alabama. 

Selma is no stranger to the Main Street program. The Queen City had the state's first Main Street organization in 1983, but it became inactive about five years ago. However, the Selma City Council recently approved reviving Main Street under the Selma Redevelopment Authority and the measure will be discussed at SRA’s next meeting. 

Main Street programs follow a four-point approach: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality with strategies unique to the community and based on market-based outcome. 

“Setting achievable goals using community input and market data is critical to the revitalization of the district, but it’s also equally crucial to bring stakeholders to the table to work towards a common goal,” said Mary Helmer Wirth, Main Street Alabama president and state coordinator, told the Selma Sun for a story about Demopolis’ new program in June. 

When setting up their new Main Street program, Demopolis leaders said they wanted to capitalize on outdoor recreation. The Tombigbee and Black Warrior Rivers meet in Demopolis and has a new landing there as well as serves as a tourist attraction year-round with the annual Christmas on the River that draws nearly 40,000.  

Main Street Demopolis also wants to bring more people down town by increasing the number of shopping and dining options. The historic Marengo theater recently was renovated and reopened, which Main Street Demopolis President Sean Parker has already used for an event and hopes for more in the future there. 

Parker said there are several buildings already under contract in downtown Demopolis, and “there are some great things coming to downtown. The future looks bright.”   

Main Street Demopolis Executive Director Rhae Darsey said they plan to host Demopolis Farmer’s market each Saturday June through October.  

“On those Saturdays, there will be a lot of people in the park,” she said. “That’s what we do - bring people to the downtown area.”  

Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins praised Main Street Demopolis for the great things they are doing, including the crawfish boil. 

“This Main Street group we have in Demopolis is amazing,” Collins said. “Everybody keeps telling me I’m doing a good job. I told someone the other day I’m just the band director. I don’t play an instrument. These guys play the instruments.”