Nearby: Holly Springs Receives Main Street Accreditation

On Monday, Jan. 26, the city of Holly Springs was recognized at the annual Georgia Main Street Luncheon as one of 17 communities graduating from the Georgia Main Street Startup Program.

The communities received the Classic Main Street Community national designation for 2015. In the fall of 2013, the city of Holly Springs was selected out of 25 applicants to participate in the largest Main Street Startup class in the history of the Georgia Main Street Program.

Over the next 14 months, Holly Springs worked closely with the Office of Downtown Development at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to prepare their community, downtown business owners, volunteers and elected officials for the journey ahead.

Through downtown development trainings, community visioning sessions and capacity building activities, Holly Springs’ newly designated Main Street Program is now ready to meet and exceed the guidelines for the 10 National Standards for Accreditation, as laid out by the National Main Street Center.

“Each of the communities recognized here today has worked hard to earn the distinction of calling themselves a Main Street city,” said Billy Peppers, director of the Office of Downtown Development. “They join an expansive statewide network now comprised of over 100 designated Main Street Communities. We know that no matter what challenges lay ahead each of these cities has worked hard to build a solid foundation upon which a successful Main Street Program can be built.”

Erin Honea, Holly Springs’ Main Street director, added Monday was ”an exciting day for the city, and we are ready to capitalize on the opportunities that come along with this distinction.”

“The city and the Main Street Board are looking forward to working with residents and business owners to preserve the rich history of Holly Springs, and also encourage the economic growth that Holly Springs is ready for,” she said.

Photo: from left to right, Jessica Reynolds, Georgia Department of Community Affairs; Karen Norred, Holly Springs City Clerk; Erin Honea, Holly Springs Main Street Director; Rob Logan, Holly Springs City Manager; and Billy Peppers, Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Credit: city of Holly Springs