Downtown Hawkinsville is a Main Street program that works with Hawkinsville's Downtown Development Authority, government officials, and downtown businesses to focus on restoring and growing a healthy, viable downtown commercial district. Our e-news called, The Downtowner, will keep you updated on all the great things happening in Downtown Hawkinsville, including: projects, downtown events, community resources, and more! |
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ROSA'S FOOD
PANTRY
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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In June 2020, Middle Georgia Food Bank parked its mobile food pantry on Commerce Street for one day, to give out food to families in need. That day, a long line of cars wrapped around the block to pick up pre-packaged food options. Local volunteers couldn't believe the huge turnout and the number of families in their own backyard who were in need of food. After seeing and hearing about this, Mr. Johnson, the creator of the Newberry Foundation, had an idea to place a permanent food bank in Hawkinsville and assigned Kim Aquamina to lead the charge.
After Ms. Aquamina was properly trained to run a food pantry, she began placing food orders, organizing shelves, calling families, and scheduling appointments to shop. After tons of preparation, in July 2021, the food pantry was ready to open. All that was left was determining a name for the pantry. Mr. Johnson requested that the pantry be named after his late mother, Rosa, whose picture you can find hanging on the wall when you visit. On opening day, Rosa's Food Pantry was able to provide 30 families with healthy food options. Now, Rosa's Food Pantry has grown to feed between 89 to 100 families per month.
Rosa's Food Pantry is located at 103 Commerce Street in Downtown Hawkinsville and is a non-profit under The Newberry Foundation. It is operated by Kim Aquamina and a group of volunteers. Rosa's Food Pantry is organized very differently from most food pantries. The pantry only allows families to shop at no cost once a month and by appointment. What makes the pantry unique is that it is set up for people to shop with dignity, allowing them to choose what they want, similar to a grocery market experience. There is also a huge focus on health and wellness at Rosa's Food Pantry. There are no red meat, candy, cakes, or pies available; only healthy options. Many of the vegetables stocked at the food pantry are locally sourced and come from Twin Oaks Farm in Pineview.
Rosa's Food Pantry not only offers food to families in need; they also offer classes for nutrition and weight loss. Ms. Aquamina says that she will be holding a Thursday walking class starting on March 4th at 4:30 PM. She will also have a line dancing class on Fridays. For more information, or to volunteer, please email Kim Aquamina at [email protected] or call 305-915-6228.
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****WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DETERMINE WHAT BUSINESS WORKSHOPS OR TRAININGS TO PROVIDE**** |
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Are you a potential downtown business or property owner? Maybe you already are a downtown property or business owner. Regardless of who you are, Downtown Hawkinsville can help set you up for success, but first, you have to help us. Let us know what classes you are interested in taking. Once we have an idea of what you need and the times you are available, we will schedule some dates for some classes that can help you succeed as a downtown business or property owner! Take the poll by clicking on the button below. |
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DOWNTOWN HAWKINSVILLE FACADE/LOAN PROGRAM |
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Did you know that if your business or property is located in Hawkinsville's Downtown Historic District, you could receive up to $1,500 in grant money or $8,500 in a loan to fix up the exterior of your building? This grant/loan program is called the Downtown Hawkinsville Facade Grant/ Loan program. The Downtown Hawkinsville Facade Grant/ Loan program was established by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to encourage aesthetic exterior improvements to properties in Downtown Hawkinsville and promote economic development in the downtown district. This grant/loan program is intended to restore and preserve downtown properties and to encourage projects that are compatible with the downtown's historic character. This grant/loan includes a property’s front and back exterior façade.
So what's the Downtown Hawkinsville Facade Grant? Well, it is a grant that downtown property owners and business owners can apply for to get up to $1,500 worth of work done on the front or back of
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their properties. The best part about this grant is that you don't have to pay it back, and you can apply for it every 12 months!
If you have more work you need to get done to your downtown property, the DDA can help with that too. The DDA also has a Downtown Hawkinsville Facade Loan Program in place to help with exterior renovations. For this loan, the maximum amount of money that can be borrowed is $8,500. This loan is a no-interest loan, and in order to receive this loan, property owners must agree to pay the loan back within 60 months of the loan being issued. So say you chose to take out an $8,500 loan to fix up the facade of your building. You would pay around $142 a month for 60 months to pay off the no-interest loan.
If you are interested in receiving this grant or loan, visit our website and download the application to determine your next steps. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to the Economic Development Director, Jamie Wilson, at 478-208-0805.
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION |
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Have you ever wondered who is in charge of keeping the Historic Downtown Hawkinsville Commercial District, historic? Or maybe, if you're a downtown business or property owner, you've wondered how to get approval or advice on doing updates to your historic building? Well, the answer to both of those questions is the Hawkinsville Historic Preservation Commission.
The Hawkinsville Historic Preservation Commission or HPC is a volunteer board that consists of seven appointed board members. The HPC board is in charge of initiating local designation, conducting the design review process, improving public education and awareness, securing preservation-related grant funding, supporting preservation planning, and research. HPC is also in charge of enforcing historic preservation ordinances. These ordinances are designed to preserve the community's identity and unique historic character so that future generations will enjoy the benefits of Hawkinsville's architectural heritage.
To help navigate the historic preservation ordinances, the HPC put together a Design Guidelines booklet, which is located on the Downtown Hawkinsville website. The Design Guidelines for the historic
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commercial area are designed to assist property owners, developers, contractors, and commissioners in developing design solutions that satisfy Hawkinsville's historic preservation ordinances. To receive HPC's approval on any new changes to a downtown building's exterior, you must first review the Design Guidelines.
To move forward with your project, you need to print the HPC application located at the end of the Design Guidelines booklet or pick up an HPC application at City Hall. Once your application is completed you will turn it in to City Hall for the application to be reviewed. The HPC board members will publicly review your application at a scheduled HPC meeting to determine if the project will be denied or accepted. The next scheduled HPC meeting will be held on April 12, 2022, at 12 PM.
If you are a downtown business, downtown property owner, contractor, or someone interested in purchasing a downtown property, please click and review the Downtown Guidelines below. For more information or questions about the Historic Preservation Commission, please contact HPC Vice-Chair and Secretary, Jessica Davies at 478-892-3240.
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KINARD'S BUILDING REMODEL |
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In 2021 the Downtown Development Authority chose to update the old Kinard's building, located at 44 S Lumpkin Street. The DDA wanted to update this building in hopes to attract new business to the downtown area. The updates for this building include a new HVAC system, bathroom, paint, a new awning, and sealed floors.
DDA Chairman, Ken Clark, said "the building should be complete and ready to rent by the end of February 2022." So far, the HVAC system, plumbing, bathroom, paint, and awning have been completed. Once the floors are sanded and sealed, the Kinard's building will be complete, and a new downtown business can move in. For more information on the Kinard's Building remodel, please reach out to the Economic Development Office at 478-208-0805.
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LOVE LOCKS UNVEALING IN CABERO PARK |
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On Monday, February 14, 2022, Downtown Hawkinsville celebrated Valentine's Day by unveiling Cabero Park's new Love Locks fence. The event started at noon and ended a 1 PM. The first 20 visitors received a padlock donated by Planters First Bank and a cookie donated by Ken Clark.
The Love Lock fence, located in Cabero Park, is now a year-round attraction for visitors to show their love to a significant other by adding a padlock with their initials to lock in their love for all eternity. The Love Locks fences' central location in the downtown area was chosen to symbolically represent the heart of our community. Economic Development Director, Jamie Wilson, said "she hopes this new addition to Cabero Park will be a fun way to get people downtown and show investment in Downtown Hawkinsville by leaving their mark."
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Hawkinsville's first Downtown Clean-Up Day took place on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Downtown Hawkinsville. Over 21 volunteers helped clean up the alleyways and streets of our city's beloved downtown area. Some identified areas that volunteers focused on cleaning were the alleyways North and South of Commerce Street, Veterans' Park, the boat ramp, and downtown sidewalks.
Downtown Hawkinsville and the Downtown Development Authority would like to thank all volunteers who attended the Downtown Clean-Up Day event. We would also like to thank Jo's Pizza for donating gloves and trash bags, as well as the Hawkinsville-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce for providing water for volunteers.
The next Downtown Clean-Day will take place on Saturday, April 23, 2022, and will also be a Downtown planting day to celebrate Earth Day. To find out more information on the next Downtown Clean-Up and Planting Day, please contact Jamie Wilson at 478-208-0805.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN? |
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AN EVENING OF COMMUNION IN DEMOCRACY AND BLACK AMERICAN HERITAGE |
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DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 ,2022
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: PLOW & PEW READING ROOM
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Join us for An Evening of Communion in Democracy & Black American Heritage at 5:00 PM in the Plow & Pew Reading Room (Newberry Foundation) to celebrate Black History Month. Capacity is limited. Please call 404-793-3342 to reserve your space. This is a Legacy Group Development event (non partisan, non profit. |
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DR. SUESS MOVIE & LITERACY NIGHT |
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DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022
TIME: 6 PM
LOCATION: BEHIND BATTS DRUGS
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The Hawkinsville Chamber is partnering with Family Connections to hold a Dr. Seuss Movie & Literacy Night! The literacy event will start at 6 PM. There will be booths set up to provide parents with all kinds of great information.
We will be screening Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. The movie will begin at dark, weather permitting, behind Batts Drug Company.
For more information call 478-783-1717
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DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 5 ,2022
TIME: 7 - 10 PM
LOCATION: HAWKINSVILLE OPERA HOUSE
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Come on down to funky town for a 70's & 80's Dance Night at the Hawkinsville Opera House. Dress in your 70's or 80's attire to dance the night away to your favorite hits. Entry is Free. Doors open at 7 PM. |
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DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2022
TIME: 8 AM
LOCATION: DOWNTOWN HAWKINSVILLE
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This yard sale features official vendors selling everything from antiques, locally crafted items, food and the traditional yard sale fare. Official yard sites range from multi-organizational group sites to the official individual sites.
The event hours are Friday, March 11th 8:00am to 6:00 pm and Saturday, March 12th 8:00am to 6:00pm.
As you are traveling during this event, look for the The Official Site Banners and Official Vendor Yard Signs which will be located along Hwy 341 for places to stop and shop!
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DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022
TIME: 4 PM
LOCATION: LUMPKIN STREET
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Join us as we shut down South Lumpkin Street (between Broad and Commerce) and fill it with FOOD TRUCKS and LIVE MUSIC!!
We will have all different styles of cuisine to choose from all from FOOD TRUCKS, lots of space for relaxing while you eat and room to “bust a move” while enjoying a live concert.
You will not want to miss out on this night of family fun!!
Live performance will be announced soon!
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DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022
TIME: 6 PM
LOCATION: SUNMARK BANK
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The Chamber of Commerce and SunMark Bank will hold a Business After Hours. Business After House is a membership networking event held for the Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce members, held on a bi-yearly basis. |
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CONTACT DOWNTOWN HAWKINSVILLE |
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