Mercy Rushing, Community Economic Director and former Main Street
Coordinator for the City of Mineola, was the speaker for Tuesday night's
Downtown Business Alliance Meeting at Judy's Kitchen.


Downtown Business Alliance
Focuses on Tips From Mineola

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Members of the Downtown Business Alliance and interested parties gathered at Judy's Kitchen, on Tuesday night, at 6:30 p.m., to hear a very informative outline of the success stories of neighboring Mineola, when Mercy Rushing, Community Economic Director and former Main Street Coordinator, served as the speaker for their monthly meeting. Rushing, a veteran of grant writing and working on downtown business revitalization, explained many of the steps that her town had embraced as they worked to develop historic downtown Mineola, and shared many of the successes and failures that they had learned all along the process of development.

Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Carla Garner and downtown businessman, Joel Sheffield
listen intently to Rushing's program, Tuesday night.

"It's great to have someone that has been successful to give us tips in working toward revitalizing our downtown area," expressed Jennifer Allison, President of the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance. "We're looking for ideas and decided that we should ask someone who has been there and done that!"

Downtown Business Alliance President Jennifer Allison introduces Mercy Rushing, the program for
Tuesday night's DBA Meeting.

Rushing told of how the citizens of Mineola got started with their project and how resistance was high at the onset of the project, but through development of cooperation with all city agencies, the plan has been successful in her town. "Anything worthwhile needs partners," emphasized Rushing. "You need the police chief, the fire chief, and even the 'dog catcher' in your corner, to make certain that your message is going all across the town. Good relationships build successes!"

 

Rushing a former downtown Mineola business woman, accepted the position as Main Street Coordinator in 1994 and has worked tirelessly to make certain that the downtown area of Mineola and the entire region is a tourist attraction. "And, we've learned that retirees have much more time to spend serving on committees, than the actual business owners," explained Rushing. "While business men and women are busy developing their businesses and taking care of customers, your retirees have time to devote to community service, and are a vital part of our success in Mineola!"

Pam Elliott and Rita Edwards, right, discuss many of the successes with Rushing, following the
meeting, on Tuesday night, at Judy's Kitchen.

"Your best source of aid is the many, many non-paid volunteers, as they have a passion for what they are doing," stated Rushing. "They are interested in the quality of life in your community and have a vested interest in making certain that their community is a nice place to live and a nice place to visit!"

Rushing noted the many successes that her city had to show for their work and emphasized the opening of a new 3000 acre Nature Conservatory and a Railroad Museum, as some of the more recent accomplishments of teamwork in Mineola. "We've also learned that the blending of cultures are important and that each culture has their own method of becoming involved," acknowledged Rushing. "A recent clean-up campaign in which we wanted to reach the Hispanic Community, called for us to go to their churches, that are the center of their community, and produce flyers that were bilingual in nature. You've got to use innovation and tenacity to build bridges and relationships all across your community!"

As the Economic Director for Mineola, Rushing emphasized that CEO's of companies wanting to relocate to communities across the nation, are looking for "quality of life for their employees."  "We've operated on the theory that if we will do our part in creating a wonderful place to live, work, and play, the growth and people will follow," stated Rushing. "And, we've grown approximately 1500 people in the time span of the work in Mineola. That's significant for a small town in East Texas, and we've increased the downtown business trade, to include increased business revenue and increased property valuations!"

Downtown business owner, Judy Gilreath, right, discusses some of the ideas that were offered at Tuesday
night's meeting, with Carla Garner, while she hosted the event at her downtown restaurant.

Members of the local Downtown Business Alliance asked a number of questions during that phase of the program and a large contingency of city officials were on-hand to hear the program. All indicated a very informative discussion and were please with the many tips that Rushing offered for Sulphur Springs' downtown area.

"Rushing brought enthusiasm to the meeting and we think it is 'catching,' for residents of Sulphur Springs," stated Allison, as she adjourned the meeting and announced plans for next month's meeting on July 10th, when the organization will elect officers.

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