The drive toward downtown redevelopment by Main Street Greenwood Inc. is waiting to turn toward a focus on transportation history.
Main Street's leaders are waiting to hear whether a $1.4 million Mississippi Department of Transportation grant application will be approved. Lise Foy, Main Street's executive director, spoke about the grant during speeches last week to the Lions Club and Altrusa.
Main Street wants to install 1920s street lighting on Johnson and Howard streets. The lights would be reproductions that would match the originals on Keesler Bridge.
The project, if funded, would include "living exhibits" that show how transportation influences community and economic development.
Allan Hammons of Hammons and Associates, who is Main Street's president, explained the application later.
"What we are asking them to do is help us rehabilitate Howard Street and (do) some work on a portion of Johnson Street that would connect Howard all the way to the Amtrak station," he said.
The exhibits would interpret transportation's impact through the historical examples in Greenwood - stores, hotels and offices that grew up between river and rails.
Hammons is hoping Main Street will hear in the next several weeks whether it received the grant. But, "we have no way of knowing whether we got it," he said.
Foy said the organization also is tracking towards Preserve America designation.
"This program recognizes and designates communities that project and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through heritage and tourism programs," she said.
First comes the designation, which requires application and acceptance. Then, there's funding for developing "resource management strategies and sound practices," she said.
This year, Preserve America had $5 million for grants.
Main Street Greenwood was incorporated in 1995. Since its inception, more than 40 buildings have been restored or renovated.
