Those familiar with Cartersville Downtown Development Authority no doubt have noticed new changes over the past several months. Reorganized last summer as a city department, the Authority named a new manager in August and has welcomed four new board members over the past three months. 

In ringing in the New Year, the DDA unveiled a new logo, which coincides with the city of Cartersville's logo for better brand recognition, and recently held board training to establish goals and plans of the DDA and the downtown business district.

"It is a new day at the Cartersville Downtown Development Authority," DDA Manager Tara Currier said in a release.  "From my first week as manager back in August, I began to look hard at the functions of the DDA, the events, the marketing, the communication, the structure—everything— and work to improve these areas and more to make the DDA the best it could be. 

"I 'hit the ground running,' as many have said, going business to business inquiring of merchants what could be done better. In addition to improving communication between the DDA and those in the downtown business district, we have a wonderful, updated logo that we will begin to use on new brochures, enhancing the website, and in new advertising campaigns. With the four new board members, we also have a renewed energy at the Authority, with new ideas and new goals to enhance the downtown business district. This will no doubt be a busy, but exciting year for the DDA and downtown Cartersville."

Joining Abbey Agan of Agan’s Bakery; Nancy Jackson, Jax Supply; and Saunders Jones III, Century Bank of Georgia, are four new board members:

• Andy Bowen, Cohutta Fishing;
• Earline Burke, Georgia Museums Inc.;
• Lara Jeanneret, Lara J Designs; and 
• Jill Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell’s Smokehouse Express. 

All seven board members along with Currier, Assistant City Manager Dan Porta and Welcome Center staffer Sandy Lusk attended training earlier this month at Booth Western Art Museum. 

Lead by Ann Arnold, a seasoned DDA Director in Rome, the group reviewed DDA law, learned of available loan and grant opportunities, discussed the Main Street Four Point Approach and established goals and objectives for the year. 

In addition to continued efforts to enhance communication among those in the downtown business district, other areas of focus are offering co-op advertising; creating new events and enhancing current events in the downtown area; procuring signs directing people to the downtown area; and educating business and property owners of available loans and grants.

All of the plans for 2013 will be shared at the DDA’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at The City Cellar & Loft. Anyone interested in meeting the DDA board and staff, as well as hearing the Work Plan, is invited to attend.  Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., with a brief presentation starting at 6.

There's no charge to attend, but an RSVP is required by Friday, Feb. 22. Call the DDA Office at 770-607-3480 if you would like to attend. 

"This board is enthusiastic and eager to make great things happen in downtown Cartersville, which obviously makes me very excited for what this year will hold," continued Currier. "I encourage anyone interested in learning about our plans—or perhaps joining one of our committees to help implement some of the goals we have set—to join us on Feb. 23.”