LaFayette Downtown Development Authority Director Kevin Dunn is ready to bring new businesses into the city.More Info
Upcoming meetings the LaFayette Downtown Development Authority Board is involved in:* The LaFayette City Council meeting is Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at LaFayette City Hall.* The LaFayette Woman’s Club meeting is Jan. 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the LaFayette-Walker County Library Community Room.* The LaFayette DDA meeting is Jan. 14 at the LaFayette-Walker County Library Community Room from 5-8 p.m.
Looking back
Dunn said the LaFayette Christmas Parade and the Amazing Christmas Light Show at Joe Stock Park both went well this year.“We are very excited about the participation of citizens and businesses in the parade,” he said. “At John B. Gordon Hall we have a train display now. Mr. Ron Underwood, on his own, set up the model train display for spectators to view.”
The city of LaFayette is starting the new year with a new Economic Development Director and Main Street Manager, Kevin Dunn.
"We are a Main Street City, so someone needs to oversee that," Dunn said. "I am fully immersed in preparation for 2016. We are already planning for many events throughout the year."
Dunn, who took the job just before the holidays, has been going around the city to meet with business owners, including several industrial employers.
"Syntec and Dixie Color are expanding," he said. "We are adding transformers in order to support their expansion. Infrastructure is part of that. I will actually be involved in that with the mayor and city manager as well.
"Our main emphasis is to get citizens to shop and eat in downtown [LaFayette]," Dunn added. "The city collaborates deeply with the DDA and the downtown businesses to make sure we have a growing and prosperous downtown area."
Dunn said he already knows of some businesses looking to set up shop in town.
"We know about one sandwich shop that plans to open soon," he said. "It will specialize in sandwiches with Boer's Head meat."
A Bojangle's just opened by Wal-Mart.
"One of the things the mayor and City Council brought me on board for was to help with long-range plans for the growth of the city," Dunn said. "We look to go forward for several decades. We want to make it a great place to work and live. I work closely with the Walker County Joint Development Authority [to bring in new businesses] because the city of LaFayette has a lot of retail space available."
Selling points to bring businesses into the city include the LaFayette Golf Course, the LaFayette-Barwick Airport, and the manufacturing, distribution and retail already in the area, he said.
Email Katie Ward at kward@timesfreepress.com.