History:

The Spirit of Athens (SOA) began in 2006 as a non-profit organization dedicated to downtown Athens’s revitalization and future growth.  It was modeled after the Main Street approach, given Alabama did not have, at the time, an active Main Street State program to join.  SOA worked to promote and revitalize downtown Athens for the next several years.  In 2010, Alabama reinstated the State Main Street program and grandfathered SOA into the Main Street Alabama program in 2013 as Spirit of Athens Alabama Inc. dba Athens Main Street (AMS).  

Throughout the past 13 years, AMS has significantly contributed to downtown Athens, including establishing a Certified Farmers Market that operates each Saturday, June through August. AMS created the Athens Art League and the established High Cotton Arts, a downtown artist incubator, and incorporated several promotional events that have become highly anticipated and attended year after year, bringing new visitors to downtown. AMS performed a key role in the recently completed Streetscape project that improved walkability, provided more green space with grass and shade trees, improved lighting by installing historic lamp posts, and improved sidewalks to become ADA-compliant. 

Mission & Organization:

AMS is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to renovating, revitalizing, and future growth of the city of Athens’s downtown area. AMS fulfills its purpose through public/private partnerships with the City of Athens, the Limestone County Commission, and many private organizations, businesses, and individuals. AMS works closely with the City of Athens to attract businesses downtown. AMS is the communication conduit between the City of Athens and the downtown merchants on design and ordinance issues. AMS and the Limestone County Commission work together to present the farmer’s market, as the pavilion is the property of the Commission. Additionally, the Commission allows AMS to utilize the Courthouse grounds for festivals and outdoor dining. 

AMS also works closely through private partnerships with the Athens Arts League, Athens Rotary, Athens Limestone Beautification Board, Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce, Athens-Limestone County Tourism, and many others. AMS founded the Athens Arts League, and both organizations continue working closely.  Athens Rotary Club greatly supports AMS’s activities and funds several projects. The Limestone Beautification Board and AMS recently worked with the Athens Rotary Club to replace Christmas decorations downtown. AMS and the Athens Limestone Chamber of Commerce present the annual Christmas Open House downtown each holiday season. AMS relies greatly on volunteer help and works with several youth organizations throughout the community, including Clements High School Key Club, Tanner High School Key Club, Mayor’s Youth Commission, First National Bank Youth Board, Together Renewing and Improving Limestone, and many others.

AMS uses the 4-Point Main Street Approach of Design, Economic Vitality, Promotion, and Organization.  AMS positively changes the community’s economic base by carefully integrating these 4-Points into a practical downtown management strategy. Design enhances the attractiveness of the business district through help with historic building rehabilitation through AMS’ Façade and Signage grants, assisting with improving walkability throughout Downtown with streetscape improvements, and alley revitalization through public art and gathering space creations.  Economic Vitality involves recruiting new businesses, creatively converting unused spaces, sharpening the competitiveness of the merchants, and attracting investors.  Promotion creates excitement downtown with street festivals, retail events, and social media promotion. It involves marketing an enticing image to shoppers, investors, and visitors. Organization involves building a framework of partners represented by business owners, property owners, bankers, citizens, public officials, etc., all working together to renew downtown.

The City of Athens and the Limestone County Commission provide yearly funding for AMS, totaling approximately one-half of AMS’s income.  We are truly appreciative of this support.  The other half of AMS’s income is provided through the generous donations of our local Stakeholders, Business Investors, and Individual Investors. 

AMS is governed by a dynamic and diverse board of directors, carefully selected from multiple business categories, including retail, downtown residency, and passion for the mission.