HHDA host annual meeting to review 2017 downtown activity

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association hosted their 2018 annual luncheon meeting Thursday at the Train Depot downtown.

The meeting is traditionally held to review and celebrate established partnerships, development and work put into the downtown area.

The association gave a lifetime award to board member Larry Albert. Also, other people were recgonized with awards including categories of leadership, promotion of the arts, volunteer of the year and entrepreneur of the year.

“The downtown area is a heartbeat. It’s the core of the community. To keep the downtown revitalization alive and fresh and vibrant – we feel that it’s really important to give people an update on what we accomplished," said Executive Director of the HHDA, Andrea Saffle.

She said people should recognize who makes everything possible downtown. "It’s not just one person that can turn around a downtown, it truly is a collaboration of efforts among organizations, the city, the county, private individuals and volunteers."

Last year, nine new business opened downtown and created 52 new jobs. $2.17 million was pubicly invested and another $1.99 million was privately invested.