About Vicksburg Main Street

Our Funding

Initial funding of the program was from the city and membership dues from the merchants and financial institutions. 

In 1986, the property owners showed their support of the program by asking the city to establish a special taxing district, thereby imposing an extra tax upon themselves to put Main Street on sound financial ground.

Main Street is governed by a nine-member volunteer board, elected by members and property owners: Harry Sharp, Chairman; Vice-Chairman, Ronnie Bounds; Nancy Bell, Secretary; Alice Hebler, Treasurer; Jerry Hall, Jerry Miller, Karole Sessums, Norma Massey, Nicole Woodrick, and Barry Graham, Ex-Officio City of Vicksburg Representative.

We employ a full-time director and assistant director.

Eight Guiding Principles of Main Street

Comprehensive

• Incremental

• Self-Help

• Public/Private Partnership

• Identifying & Capitalizing on Existing Assets

• Quality

• Changing Attitudes

• Action-Oriented

Services Provided

• Start-Up Phase Services

• Reconnaissance Visits

• Action-Oriented Work Plans

• Intensive Training Workshops

• Town Meeting/Visioning

• Resource Team Visits

• Goals and Objects

• Announcement and Orientation Visits

On-Going Services

• Phone Consultation

• Resource Library

• On-Site Assistance

• Design Assistance

• Quarterly Main Street Manager Training

• Workshops
       * Customer Service
       * Merchandising
       * Fund-Raising
       * Business Retention and Recruitment
       * Design
       * Historic Preservation

Advanced Services

• Traffic and Parking Management

• Market Analysis

• Business Plans for Business Districts

• Merchandising

“Main Street” is Downtown
      …and Downtown is Vicksburg. 

Main Street Mississippi

National Main Street