The Board of Supervisors voted to release the budgeted $30,000 in funding for the Downtown Hattiesburg Association at the regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 18.
DHA Executive Director Andrea Saffle reported to the board about the successes of the 2021 fiscal year and to thank supervisors for their continued support going into FY22.
“Together we’ve been able to have a tremendous impact on downtown revitalization efforts over the last several years,” Saffle said. “Hattiesburg overall has seen record hotel and restaurant revenue since late spring, and what we are seeing is that visitor traffic downtown is also increasing with our restaurants and many of our attractions - pocket museum, bike trails and events. As of today, we are seeing more prospective business projects in the works than we’ve seen in the last nine years combined. The future looks bright for 2022 and beyond.”
Saffle also reported that there are currently nine properties beginning redevelopment. These properties include residential renovations for Hub City Lofts II and the Comp building. Upon their completion, the downtown area will have a total of 341 residential units.
Over the last two years, Downtown Hattiesburg has added five new businesses, 23 new jobs, 74 residential units, 41 hanging baskets, 19 Way Finding signs, and six new murals. The area brought in $16.3 million in private investment for the 2021 FY alone.
“That is very impressive considering where we started,” Saffle said.
District 4 Supervisor Rod Woullard asked about increasing parking in the area to help with event traffic and the growing residential population. Saffle said there were several projects in discussion, but that the downtown are currently had 1,800 parking spaces available.
Woullard also voiced concern about the need for additional security on the weekends and at events.
“Security is the last big thing we need to invest in to be successful, to feel secure in our homes,” he said.
Saffle agreed and said, “Some of the conversations that we are having are as block party permits are being requested through the city that — it had been free in the past — maybe there should be a charge to help add on for some of the city services that are required.
“Right now, it is required among the business that host events that they have to provide security. As a professional force, many of our clubs are already reaching out to the (Hattiesburg Police Department ) and have special details requested when they do events. It’s an ongoing challenge.”
District 5 Supervisor Chris Bowen said that he would like to see charging stations for electrical cars installed in the future. Saffle said that was a possibility if the right funding or partner came along.
Marlo Dorsey, executive director of VISITHattiesburg, praised Saffle for her efforts through the pandemic and credited her for the downtown’s recent success.
“If we really look at the last 18 months from the pandemic, we did not know what the future would hold,” Dorsey said. “What we did know was that if we figured out news ways and we were committed to doing everything that we could for Hattiesburg, specifically for downtown, that we could find a way through it.
“As Andrea indicated, we are looking at record hotel and restaurant revenue since May. That’s a testament to everyone working together. We don’t know if there will be another variant crazy coronavirus, but what we do know is that our community has a track record of taking those punches and coming back stronger.”
In other news, the board of supervisors voted to provide $10,000 for continued COVID-19 vaccination promotions through the Pine Belt: This is Our Shot! campaign, which held its first event last Saturday at Town Square Park in Downtown Hattiesburg. They will hold their next event at the Petal Fam Jam on Saturday, Oct. 23.
