Milton Council expands area of Main Street program

MILTON — The City of Milton has partnered with Main Street Milton, agreeing upon a larger program area which is greater than the downtown area. The city agreed to fund an executive director position and provided an additional $20,000 in direct support.

The city agreed to lease what once was the Milton Garden Center for the group. Main Street Milton’s main objective is to bring vitality, events, powerful networking, culture exploration and rediscovering our hometown identity. The Milton Garden Club will continue to utilize the building for their monthly meetings.

Past President of Main Street Milton Kim Macarthy said, “Main Street Milton provides so many benefits to the community, not the least of which is to provide a way for its citizens to get involved to improve their own community.”

The organization needs volunteer help to gain momentum. Cassandra Sharp, Main Street Milton board member said it is important for the newly re-organized group to have volunteers to carry on the important work they plan for the rest of the fiscal year.

“We want to improve the physical elements of our unique downtown and to encourage pride and enthusiasm among property and business owners. One of our goals is to attract local and independent businesses to our program area and return our downtown to a vibrant, neighborly community,” Sharp said.

The Milton City Council voted to include a larger program area. Instead of just the downtown area, Main Street Milton will focus from the Stewart Street corridor east to Oliver Street and Carpenter’s Park area, south to Taylor Street, Old Bagdad Highway, west of Fisher Street and Mary Street.

Main Street Milton Vice President Sharon Henderson said, “Main Street Milton is focused on bringing jobs, dollars, and people back to Milton’s communities. Economic Development is at the heart of our effort to revitalize and organize our downtown and our neighborhoods for success.”

Current officers for Main Street Milton include: Vice President Sharon Henderson, Secretary Vernon Compton, Treasurer Jennifer Bankester, and board members Jason Warren and Cassandra Sharp.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Council expands area of Main Street program