By Jennifer Jacob Brown / jbrown@themeridianstar.com
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
Something as simple as a name can cause a lot of confusion. Three different downtown organizations in Meridian have learned that the hard way, and they've decided to do something about it.
What used to be three sister downtown advocacy groups — related, but separate — are now one. What were Meridian Main Street, the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, and the Meridian Downtown Association will now all operate under the Meridian Main Street name.
"We've had so much confusion as to who we are and what our name is," said John McClure, the executive director of MMS (formerly the director of the Alliance). "This is the new improved Meridian Main Street."
"The board decided we need to do away with all the monikers and come back with one name," said Kenny Watts, a member of the Meridian Main Street board of directors (formerly the board for the Alliance).
The problem with the previous organization of the three groups was that they were so closely related, and worked so closely together, people had a hard time distinguishing one from another. Since the organizations worked almost as one group anyway, the board decided it only made sense to merge them completely.
The Main Street name was a fitting choice because it is nationally recognized, and it is part of an affiliation with the state Main Street organization. The Alliance for Downtown Meridian had already been designated as the operator of the city's Main Street program, and the Meridian Downtown Association was already under the umbrella of the Alliance, so applying the name Meridian Main Street to all three was simple.
Main Street's flexibility as to how a community chooses to administer it's Main Street program also made the name merger a simple process.
"Each community tailors (Main Street) to how it will best meet their needs and their opportunities and their challenges," said McClure.
As for how the new, improved Meridian Main Street will administer its program, the organizations' official goal is to, "design, implement, and oversee a coordinated plan that will revitalize our community's heart, its downtown."
The name change has already taken effect, and precedes the kick-off of MMS' membership-sponsorship drive, which starts next week. For more information, contact the MMS office at (601) 693-7480.
