THEY'RE COMING: Main Street America to visit Wetumpka as part of national conference

Many say imitation is the best form of flattery.

If that’s the case, a bus load of Main Street professionals are on the way to learn how local leaders and volunteers led efforts to revitalize downtown Wetumpka. Main Street America is coming to town as part of its national conference in Birmingham next month.

“They are touring select cities within 90 miles,” Main Street Wetumpka executive director Haley Greene said.

This year’s conference has more registrants than ever before, and one group will be visiting Wetumpka while others will head to places like Anniston and Oxford. On May 5, about 50 professionals including directors, staff and leaders connected to Main Street will visit Wetumpka to learn about its success. 

“We will have people from the city who will help explain what we did and the process we followed,” Greene said. “Here a group of volunteers got together and saw potential for downtown Wetumpka. They wanted to breathe life back into downtown Wetumpka.”

Greene  hopes the tour bus bringing the guests is small enough to cross the Bibb Graves Bridge.

“That is an iconic view of Wetumpka when entering downtown from the west,” Greene said. “I really hope they get to experience it.”

Greene has stops planned at the farmer’s market, The Kelly and the courthouse. Then the guest will have time to walk downtown. 

“It is a Sunday and we are encouraging businesses to open a couple hours that day,” Greene said. “These are Main Street people who like to visit downtowns, eat and shop. They love local things.”