DDA Plans for New Ideas in New Year

As the Members of the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) were asked to consider options for new officers as the New Year draws closer, it was another new item for the new year that drew their attention.

The DDA is preparing to launch a new website for its merchants. The website is being controlled and maintained by two local merchants Mark and Josh in an attempt to establish it as a fund raiser for the DDA. The site masters indicated at the meeting they would be selling space to local merchants on the site that would include a “Guide” to downtown Ellijay.

Over 80 categories on the site will range from food services to art to antiques, businesses can opt into the site and put up a description as well as as photos of their stores, an inserted YouTube video showcase, and a map link through Google Maps to allow visitors a direct path to the location. Business owners will also be allowed to put contact information on the site as they each will be showcased on their own page as well as a cycling highlight reel on the main page.

The site ellijay-georgia.com is set to launch in early 2017 as soon as merchants and the site masters get the final businesses set. After site maintenance and upkeep costs, the DDA motioned to accept a personal donation from the site masters in the amount of 30% of the proceeds.

In the same idea of raising funds, the DDA has voted to reduce the price of the local artist prints you find on sale in several of the downtown shops to $20 (from $30) but will continue selling their Christmas ornaments with no reduction.

As the meeting came to close, the DDA invited citizens to speak to the Board. One local citizen, Mona Lowe implored the Board to consider selling their prints and ornaments in a downtown “Swap Meet” of sorts on the Boardwalk. She offered ideas including setting the meet for a spring time date as a part of many people “Spring Cleaning.”

Lowe also asked the Board to consider options as several downtown artists and merchants have been discussing a type of Folk Art Festival. Stating she had been in discussions with several people, Lowe asked the Board what the chances were of something like that happening in Ellijay.

While the Board took no official action or plans for either event, Chairman Jim Stover did ask Lowe to gather more information on the two ideas and preliminary plans on what it would take to accomplish.