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Hattiesburg, one of the original Mississippi Main Street com-

munities, is enjoying a renewed commitment to revitalizing the

heart of our city. As we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the

incorporation of our city, we have an opportunity to review a

rich history and the founding of our community. It all started

with a dream and a vision. The leaders today have a vision and

are working to make Downtown Hattiesburg the center of cul-

ture and entertainment for our area combined with unique shop-ping and dining experiences. Downtown continues to be a desti-

nation for people of all ages.

Downtown events such as Art Walk in the spring, fall and

winter attract visitors in record numbers. Live after Five out-

door concerts in April and October are a new addition to the

ever-increasing line-up of special activities for visitors to down-

town. The Area Development Partnership continues to present

HubFest, which brings thousands to the streets of downtown.

Eaglepalooza is an outdoor street concert presented by USM and

brownstones and is a resounding success each year with thou-

sands of students converging on downtown. 2009 marks the

27th year of the October Brown Bag Noonday concerts offered by

the Hattiesburg Arts Council, one of the longest-running events

in downtown Hattiesburg. The Annual Mobile Street

Renaissance Festival is now part of the Historic Blues Trail of

Mississippi and joins an elite group of festivals being presented

across our state this year in celebration of our Blues Heritage.

Downtown is a place of high-style historic architecture origi-

nally developed in the 1890 era. Cornerstone buildings are

being renovated for continued use into the new century.

The Saenger Theater, in the heart of downtown, has been

restored to its 1929 splendor. Under the management of the

Hattiesburg Convention Commission, programming in this facili-ty is impressive for a community our size.

Another downtown cornerstone is the renovated historic

library, now the Hattiesburg Cultural Center, home to the

Hattiesburg Arts Council office and gallery, the Hattiesburg

Area Historical Society Museum and the HHDA office.

Visitors will find a treasure of shopping, dining and entertain-

34 south mississippi scene

betsy rowell

Betsy Rowell of Hattiesburg is atwo-term member of the HattiesburgCity Council. She holds membership

in the Area Development Partnershipand the Forrest/Lamar RepublicanWomen Betsy is the Director of the

Hattiesburg Historic DistrictAssociation.

She can be reached atrowell@downtownhattiesburg.com

ONE HUNDRED, TWENTY-FIVEYEARS AND COUNTING!

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south mississippi scene

ment experiences, plus unique residential choic-

es and choices for worship. Add to the mix gov-

ernment, professional services and parks and

recreation. Housed in preserved architectural

treasures and in new buildings are retail shops,

office, studios, restaurants, galleries, cafes, aspa, salons and coffee shops.

Downtown offers a blend of casual and fine

dining, fine art and Mississippi crafts, antiques,

live entertainment and theatrical productions,

special gifts, a natural foods store a unique caf,

and an independent bookstore visited regularly

by authors signing their works. More than 200

retail, professional and service businesses in the

downtown district offer more than 20 business-

es, product and professional service classifica-

tions.

Unique residential opportunities-some in

upper floors of renovated buildings, others in

new ones- add to the downtown mix. The future

is very promising, with support from city and

county government as well as our Promotions

Partners and Member Partners, the Historic

Hattiesburg Downtown Association is confident

about opportunities in year ahead.

DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT BY THE NUMBERS

YEA R 2008

Public Investment............................$6,002,651Private Investment..........................$2,730,036New Businesses..............................................8Business Expansions.......................................3New Jobs.......................................................23Residential Development..............................17

YEA R 2000 - 2008

Public Investment..........................$41,770,255Private Investment.........................$33,674,397

Net New Businesses.....................................74Business Expansions.....................................11Net New Jobs..............................................409Buildings Improved....................................101Residential Units..........................................50