Foley Main Street Meeting Spotlights Downtown Foley Accomplishments

Foley, AL – October 30 2024  – The Hotel Magnolia Restaurant hosted the Foley Main Street October meeting, which highlighted recent accomplishments and upcoming initiatives in the community. Incoming Foley Main Street President Wes Abrams, City of Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich, and Executive Director Darrelyn Dunmore shared updates.

Foley Main Street is a nationally accredited program focused on revitalizing downtown Foley. President Abrams presented an overview of the four pillars of the program, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance among them. He noted the effective teamwork among partners, including the City of Foley, the Historic Commission, the Beautification Committee, and our community partners such as the Foley Art Center.

In the Promotion pillar, Abrams announced the introduction of "Third Thursdays," a new downtown event initiated by local businesses. Scheduled for November 21 from 5 to 7 p.m., the event will feature tastings, art, and special deals. The first Third Thursday will include a physical turkey hunt, where participants can locate six hidden turkeys at various businesses.

Additionally, a virtual Downtown Foley Turkey Hunt will launch on November 1 via the Foley Main Street Facebook page. The holiday season will kick off with the Downtown Foley Christmas Fest on December 7, following the Christmas Parade. The event will include caroling by the Foley High School Choir and holiday specials from local businesses.

Abrams reported on the Economic Vitality pillar, noting the addition of 16 new businesses in Downtown Foley this year, with two more expected soon. The Downtown Foley Arts & Entertainment District will officially open on November 21, along with the new "Cat Alley Walkway."

The meeting also included a discussion on the Envision plan, developed by Foley Main Street with the city and Main Street Alabama, which outlines goals for downtown development. Dunmore highlighted Foley Main Street’s role in supporting businesses through resources, façade grants, and marketing assistance. There is also a Business Development section on the Foley Main Street web page. 

Foley Main Street, in collaboration with Main Street Alabama, will award five $1,000 marketing grants to district businesses by January 2025 and will launch a Pitch Contest with a $10,000 grant opportunity for eligible businesses. The winner will advance to regional and state main street competitions.

The Design pillar was addressed with the installation of 11 wayfinding signs by the end of December, featuring QR codes linking to Google Maps. The Cat Alley Walkway seating area has also been completed.

Mayor Hellmich concluded the meeting with updates on various capital projects, including a larger comfort station in Heritage Park and plans for a WWII Museum Display. He discussed the Downtown Foley oak tree lighting initiative, which will begin on Alston Street, and another Downtown Foley project  involving city and Foley Main Street efforts with cooperation with downtown property owners to outline building tops with lights.

For more information about Foley Main Street initiatives, visit foleymainstreet.com.