NEWS FROM DOWNTOWN CHIPLEY

Downtown Merchants Study Marianna's Plans  excerpts courtesy Foster Folly News

A group of Chipley's downtown merchants gathered at The Den on Railroad Avenue April 22nd to talk with Chuck Sims, Director of Main Street Marianna about ways to begin to revitalize downtown Chipley.

Chuck Sims (in yellow shirt) discussed some of the strategies used by Main Street Marianna to revitalize that community during the April 22 meeting of the Chipley Downtown Merchants.

 Sims stressed whatever plans are made for the future, it would be best to keep downtown Chipley as a walkable city.

He suggested some of the same plans the business people had been discussing ... need for restaurants open on weekends, better signage to attract people to the downtown area, and additional parking.

Sims said the Marianna downtown merchants are making long range plans for a cultural center in the downtown area in a move to bring in more people.

He also said merchants need to be flexible in their hours of operation, staying open later to give workers an opportunity to come downtown and shop.

Commenting that downtown Chipley has the historical character that attracts visitors. "Americans like historical sites and communities," said Sims.

Greg Baxley, who sits on the board of the Chipley Redevelopment Agency (CRA), reminded the downtown business people that the CRA has recently increased the amount of the Facade Grants they issue, along with increasing the amount of the low interest loans they negotiate.