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‘One surprise after another’: How one Alabama city’s economy is adapting to coronavirus

In three weeks, Andy Harp plans on opening his second Gadsden restaurant - Vendetta, an Italian eatery, just a few blocks from his existing pub, Harp & Clover. Harp, who also created the Frios Frozen Pop brand in Gadsden, has spent more than a year with his business partner Brett Jenkins getting the restaurant concept ready, finding a location, and preparing. That was long before anyone in the world had ever heard of COVID-19.

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Wetumpka picked for new HGTV series ‘Home Town Takeover’

WETUMPKA, Ala. (WSFA) - Wetumpka has been selected for the new HGTV series “Home Town Takeover.” Wetumpka was picked after a months-long nationwide search for a small town for Ben and Erin Napier to take over and make over, according to HGTV.

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How Atmore became a designated community

Atmore became affiliated with the Main Street Alabama program through the Network tier in 2015. At this introductory level, members become more familiar with the program, attend training workshops at a discounted rate, and are given the opportunity to visit other Designated cities to see first­hand the success of Main Street. Earlier this year, after meeting many milestones including securing funding for many projects in the district, and realizing the need to move forward with Designation, the steering committee, that included representatives from the City, Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, and Pride of Atmore, attended application workshops in Enterprise, Birmingham, and South Huntsville. By March when the pandemic hit, the committee decided to move forward with the application as they felt the Main Street Alabama program was needed more than ever due to the impact of COVID-19 on their small businesses. By expressing the need for Main Street and the capacity to maintain a program, Atmore officially became a Main Street Alabama Designated community in June 2020.

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Atmore wins jackpot with Main Street Alabama designation

Many travelers along Interstate 65 in southwest Alabama recognize Atmore as home of the Wind Creek Casino, but travel just five more miles to find the pride of the community – the historic downtown district. On June 6, Main Street Alabama announced that Atmore had been selected as a new Main Street Alabama Designated Community.

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Main Street releases market study details

Invited guests last Wednesday attended the release of a detailed market study for Main Street Enterprise at the civic center. Main Street Director Cassidi Kendrick said the program, largely compiled and presented by Jay Schlinsog of Downtown Professionals Network and Main Street Alabama Coordinator Mary Helmer, was the result of about nine months of work.

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