Lynn Mueller: Georgetown Business Association says, Thanks!
Last Updated on 3/18/2010
Published on 6/16/2009
By Lynn Mueller
On June 4, the Georgetown Business Association (GBA) invited over 350 businesses and individuals to a Summer Social.
The purpose was to thank all who have joined the GBA and to provide a forum for others to learn more about the organization
It was a successful event.
Restaurants and other businesses from our community contributed various items for our enjoyment.
We want to publicly thank the following establishments for their participation in this event:
The Rice Paddy, The River Room, Big Tuna, Front Street Deli,
Castaway's, Coffee Break Cafe,
Thomas' Cafe, Buzz's Roost, Land's End, Beef O 'Bradys,
Dock House Tavern, Morsels Market, Kudzu Bakery, Herb & Shawn's Seafood and Ribs,
Spirits of Georgetown, and
Colonial Floral Fascinations.
Their commitment to a successful Georgetown should be applauded by all.
The GBA also is sponsoring a planning process called a Charette.
This will be conducted by the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development.
It consists of two parts. First, within the next week to ten days, all Front Street corridor businesses will be visited and asked to participate in what is called "a zip code survey."
This market survey will assess shopping patterns and will be the first such survey ever conducted in our City.
It will provide valuable data for all merchants on Front Street, as well as for the city administration and others interested in strengthening our business core and expanding the shopping opportunities in that business core.
The second part of the process will be three days of intensive personal meetings.
Every business, cultural and governmental group, as well as individual citizens will be interviewed for their feedback on, not only what they see as our opportunities, but what they see as our problems.
The net result will be a five-year plan, which will be presented on the last evening at The Strand Theater.
The three days of meetings will take place on July 14, 15 and 16.
I urge all to participate in this process.
In order to sponsor the Charette the GBA was required to raise $29,900.
This was done through the generous support of the following businesses and individuals in our city:
The Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, The Georgetown Times, Carolina Custom Contractors, LLC, Chilly - Pepper, The Bell Law Firm, Fred Majors, Bob Sizemore, Keith Ravan, Jene & Ben Klopp, Lane Cribb, Bill Rogerson, Marty Tennant, Augustus & Carolina, The Rice Paddy.
Our elected officials and our city administration also supported the Charette process.
Our community owes all of these individuals and businesses a debt of gratitude.
Every community in America has a core. It is the heart of the city.
Our heart is the Front Street corridor and the Harborwalk.
The Charette process will address the signage on the highways in and around our city, the harbor entrance to the city and the many cultural and historic elements along with our various neighborhoods.
Just as with an individual, if the heart is not beating strong, the body will not survive.
