Better Hometown Ellijay, a public/private partnership run by the City of Ellijay, recently met to discuss strengths and weaknesses of Ellijay/Gilmer County business. According to Better Hometown Ellijay Manager Mona Lowe, the overall focus of the group is to coordinate and offer resources for private, business and civic club projects.

“For instance, many of the suggested promotion and event projects are already being led by the Chamber,” Lowe said. “We want to find ways to help with those projects and to build the public-private partnerships needed for the things we can do: organizing our efforts to build citizen participation; promoting our city to bring local users and visitors; maintaining and enhancing the look and feel of an energetic community; and encouraging existing and planned new business.”

A recent brainstorming ‘Soup and Share’ with business leaders and community participants led to the following goals, as well as strengths of the community:

Organization• Setting up a Downtown Development Authority
• Communication Plan emphasizing Internet communication – website (include maps), Facebook, blogs, etc.
• Senior mentoring/volunteer program

Promotion• New signature events such as mountain bike/outdoor festival/show; festival for locally grown/made products; apple blossom festival; motorcycle show; music festival
• Investigate resources for heritage tourism (Trails of Tears, etc.)
• Raise local awareness of what is downtown
• Market through regional media – Chattanooga, Alpharetta, etc.

Design• Coordinate appropriate signage/billboards directing people into Ellijay (from Hwy 515, River Street, etc.)
• Maps – restaurant, shopping, parking, city entrances
• Expansion of Streetscape Program
• More Christmas lights (outlining buildings)
• Dog park

Economic Restructuring• Anchor attraction such as apple museum/tasting room
• Incentives for new businesses/ more variety
• Assistance for current business owners – networking, advertising, classes, suggestions, etc.

What Participants “Love” About Ellijay:
Quality of life
Friendly people
Sense of community
Natural beauty
Outdoor activities
Rivers
Activity centering on apple “industry”

“Some projects (led by Better Hometown Ellijay) will be long-term and some will be things we can complete right away. In some cases, Better Hometown will help to coordinate and offer resources for private, business and civic club projects,” Lowe said.

“The more volunteers we have, the more we can do.”

Retailers and restaurants in Gilmer County are encouraged to post Valentine’s Day specials or offers on the Historic Downtown Ellijay Facebook page.

For more information on participating in Better Hometown Ellijay, call Mona Lowe at 706-635-4711, ext. 5.