Rural Zone

Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority

Meeting Agenda

         Date:          Tuesday, October 12, 2021

         Time:          5:30 PM

         Location:    50 River Street 

1. Call to order
2. Adopt agenda as set 
3. Approval minutes of September 14, 2021, minutes
4. Financial Report
   1. Collection tubes
   2. Night Market 
5. Directors Update
   1. GICH
   2. Youth Leadership Program
   3. Hours - tracking
6. New Business 
   1. Business Plan 
      1. Budget (homework)
   2. Planning Retreat for 2022
   3. DDA Training – Spring 

1. Old Business
   1. Tables – high top
   2. Criteria – anchor building 
   3. PBC – 101
      1. Grant 600K for renovations
         1. Business plan
         2. Regional impact
         3. Infographic
   4. Night Market – review
   5. Website
2. Adjourn – general consent

Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority Minutes

October 12, 2021

In attendance: Peggy Gardner, Ashlyn LaPorte, Tyler Osborn, Liz Ordiales, Steve Harper, Maggie Oliver, Tamela Cooper

Staff:  Denise McKay

The meeting was called to order at 5:36 PM by Steve Harper, Chair

• Adopt the agenda as set
  • Motion – Liz Ordiales, Second – Ashlynn LaPorte, Unanimously accepted
• Approval of minutes with the following 
  • Correct spelling of Ashlyn LaPorte and Tyler Osborn, Motion – Ashlyn LaPorte

Second – Peggy Gardner , Unanimously accepted

• Financial Report
  • Unavailable at this time
• Director update – Denise McKay
  • Both Hiawassee & Young Harris, along with Towns County has been accepted into the GICH Program
  • A grant application for $5000.00 has been submitted to help cover the cost of the upcoming retreat
  • The Youth Leadership Program has had 2 meetings so far. 
    • The program is working to align with school resources to help students
  • Time sheets were sent to all board members to help track volunteer hours. 
    • This will be used for both the Main Street Program as well as helping us tell our story
    • Spouses can also submit a time sheet with hours
    • Remember to submit at the end of each month
    • We are still waiting to hear back from Georgia Mountain Restaurant regarding a ribbon cutting
  • New Business
    • Tyler has been working on the Main Street Program work plan and it is about 75% finished. It should be ready for review with Denise within the next week.
      • Denise explains what the Main Street Program is & why it is important 
      • The Main Street Board is structured to also be the DDA Board
      • The work plan is to help us set and achieve goals
    • Ashlynn is going to start preparing for ‘Shop Small Saturday
      • Denise also suggests we participate in Plaid Friday, we already have ribbon for this
      • Businesses will register for these programs through the DDA
      • Maggie suggested Donna with Body Sense as a resource to help us with this program
    • Denise discussed Main Street 101 and reminds new members that this course is required through the state
    • Retreat for Board Members
      • January 18,2022
      • Location – Hightower Creek Vineyards
    • DDA Training – Madison, GA
      • Set either March 7-8 or 14-15
    • Peggy has been working on marketing for DDA 
      • New Instagram account has been set up (@HiawasseeGADDA)
      • Old account will be deleted by Lindsey
      • Towns Forward – a document to show our progress, as well as county & Young Harris progress, has been created
        • This help in telling our story to the community
        • This was designed by Fiver Company and paid for by the DDA
      • Creative Brief
        • This will be used to help us create our brand for marketing and what guidelines we set for designers
        • A discussion was held on what we would like to see. All proposals will need to be submitted to Denise
        • A local graphic designer is preferred for this project
      • Old Business
        • Night Market Tables
          • Denise has been looking into tables for us to use at the night market
            • Round – high top and rectangle to be used in the lawn area and the street area
          • Anchor Business for Paris Building
            • Full Bar
            • Serve Lunch/Dinner 
            • No national chain
            • Preferably someone with experience
          • PBC 101
            • Steve discussed the Paris Building Center, along with the grant, reminding us that it will not only have an impact on Hiawassee, but the entire region as a whole
          • Night Market Review
            • Tabled
              • Motion – Ashlyn, Second – Tamela. Unanimously Accepted
            • Website
              • Table, Motion – Tyler Osborn , Second – Maggie Oliver, Unanimously Accepted

The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 PM by Steve Harper, Chair