By Cindy Baxley
Publisher
A meeting was held last Wednesday with representatives of Smart Growth America, a national organization that helps economic development in communities. The meeting agenda focused on six areas in the City of Quitman that needs to be revitalized for current and future economic growth.
John Robert Smith, former Mayor of Meridian and senior policy advisor for Smart Growth America, conducted the meeting by presenting data on the fiscal impact of Quitman by targeting key areas that can be improved. Also presenting at the meeting was Christopher Zimmerman, vice president for economic development with SGA.
“Changes are happening and we need to adapt to them whether we like it or not,” said Smith. “We have the baby boomers and the millennials and the millennials are the ones we want to retain and keep in the City of Quitman.”
Some of the topics Smith discussed were “What is Quitman’s big picture? What is the vision for the future?
“Your identity is the key. Who were you in the past? Who are you now and who do you want to aspire to be as a community,” Smith said. “You need to have a vision to be able to tell your children how you see Quitman 30 years from now.”
“I felt for the first time we have a lot of people who are experts who came to the meeting to help us, offered support and are not going to leave us. There are some outstanding ideas and this is just about investing in the city and growing it correctly, but Smart Growth America covers many different areas in the community where we get a bigger return on our investment,” said Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton.
The project is being funded through a grant that was initiated by Fulton two years ago. Some of the key areas from the suggestive analysis are focusing on hot spots around the town, areas near Archusa Water Park and the core downtown area.
Fulton, city officials and a team of community and civic leaders, are conducting workshops and planning sessions to focus on the following areas to revitalize and target for potential economic growth and future job creation. Those areas are:
Bazor Lumber property (45 acres) along with Robinson Court trailer park (7 acres); 70 acres across from the Quitman sports complex; seven acres that border the golf course and land on Highway 513.
According to the projected plans, these target areas that are deteriorating can be torn down and use the vacant land for recreational opportunities as well as economic growth.
“We are a mill town that is located near a pristine lake and we need to make our town attractive and clean up properties,” Fulton added.
The planning committee has to report back to Smart Growth America in 30 days with pictures and planning reports to move forward with proposed projects.
The Tribune will update the public as these projects move forward.
