What We Do
Through our Senatobia Main Street organization, the Tate County Economic Development Foundation provides leadership and assistance for business development and community development projects concentrated in the historic downtown district of Senatobia. We encourage our citizens to buy local and keep dollars here at home, and we want to attract others to experience the highest level of quality of life in the traditional heart of our county seat.
If you agree with the time-tested approach of the National Main Street Center, Mississippi Main Street Association and 50 other successful Mississippi Main Street Communities, please join us as we begin a new era of the Senatobia Main Street program.
Senatobia Main Street’s mission is to revitalize and restore downtown Senatobia to an active gathering place and a thriving business community. If you have driven downtown lately, you can see that they are doing just that. New store fronts are popping up and buildings are being restored in part from Façade Grants from Main Street, a new mural at the corner of Front and Main and a forward momentum that we haven’t seen in recent years. Senatobia Main Street Board and their director have been busy changing the face of downtown Senatobia.
History
In 2012, the City of Senatobia applied for and was accepted as a Certified Local Government (CLG) by the National Park Service through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. This significant designation will aid our Main Street program in partnering with the local historic preservation commission to oversee the integrity of our historic district and rehabilitation projects. Historic preservation is foundational to downtown revitalization, and Senatobia Main Street will serve as a partner of the local preservation commission and supporter of downtown property owners and businesses.
In 2013, the Tate County Economic Development Foundation formed a committee within the EDF Board to oversee several programs of work, including Main Street. The EDF is committed to supporting and aiding the Main Street program to refocus on developing downtown Senatobia by working with the Mississippi Main Street Association and all Senatobia Main Street stakeholders. We are treating this program essentially as a “new” Main Street program in order to reorganize and grow the program to become more efficient and sustainable.
Board
- Michelle McCain
- Gale Cushman
- Margaret Hunt
- Buford Givens
- Natalie Troutt
- Frank Beck
- Anita Walls
- Leanne Meng
- Amy Smith
- Ronnie Geeslin
- Shawana Caldwell
Awards
The Senatobia Main Street Chamber of Commerce has been awarded the following from the Mississippi Main Street Association:
Premier Partner
This award recognizes creative joint ventures between the Main Street organization and another local, community entity or entities (public or private).
Winner: Senatobia Main Street – Northwest Community College
Director: Jamie Sowell
Accepting: Karla Merritt
The number one economic development tool in Senatobia, MS is Northwest Community College. One of the county’s largest employers, the largest tax revenue generator, and home to over 2,500 students, Northwest has plenty to offer the community, but for years, Senatobia has struggled to bridge the gap between the college students, faculty and the community. This year, Senatobia Main Street reached out to Northwest for help in several areas and was blown away with their enthusiasm. The Career Tech Graphic Art Department recently helped with a complete festival rebrand. The students received real life learning experience by dealing with sponsors and building a brand as well as being able to showcase their artistic talents. This was a win-win situation for both Northwest and Senatobia Main Street. The art for the festival has never looked better or had a more consistent brand image and the students received real life experience. The invaluable new partnership has strengthened the Senatobia community as a whole.
Main Street Hero
Winner: Penny Frazier (nominated by Senatobia Main Street)
This award will solidify what we already know, Penny Hawks Frazier IS Senatobia Main Street’s Hero. Penny has served the Senatobia community tirelessly in multiple capacities. She served as a Senatobia alderwoman for six years and served on the Tate County Economic Development Foundation board of Directors from 2010-2017. She was one of the driving forces behind the rebirth of the Senatobia Main Street program in 2013, serving on the Senatobia Main Street board from 2013-2017, with two terms as its president. Penny, a downtown property and business owner, has been an unwavering supporter of Senatobia’s downtown revitalization and was instrumental in the hiring of the first Main Street director. She was chairman of the inaugural Five Star City Fest in 2014, establishing a blueprint for the successful festivals that followed. Penny Frazier not only talks the
Member Awards
Each year, the Senatobia Main Street recognizes outstanding achievements by businesses and individuals in community and economic development. They are recognized with the presentation of awards at our annual banquet.
Best Renovation
- Shear Perfection Building (2018)
Community Leadership
- Gail Tomlinson (2018)
Best New Venture
- Broken Cup Cafe (2018)
Upcoming Events
