VALDOSTA —
HAHIRA — The Voice from “Field of Dreams” once famously intoned, “If you build it, they will come.” Stacey Dershimer hasn’t been Hahira’s downtown developmental coordinator for long — one month — but she’s been here long enough to know, if you build upon what you have, more people and more businesses will come.
“It has to start with our community getting involved and go from there,” said Dershimer. “First I think we need to build up what we have now.”
As ideal as building the business aspect of downtown sounds, it’s not going to be easy, but that’s a challenge that Dershimer has accepted without hesitation.
“I’m just trying to draw a crowd here in Hahira so we can grow and build and people want to come put their business here with us,” said Dershimer.
So how does Dershimer propose to grow Hahira? Through consistency.
“There hasn’t been a consistent person doing this job in a long time,” said Dershimer. “I don’t think there’s been a consistent basis for planning events.”
Dershimer plans to have at least two events every month. She feels that this consistency will increase participation.
“My goal for this whole year personally is to get the whole, entire Hahira community to get involved in everything we do,” said Dershimer.
In the past, people in similar positions have continuously planned family-oriented and kid-friendly events. Though Dershimer feels those events are important, she wants to switch it up a little bit.
“We’re going to start hosting wine tastings at different business events,” said Dershimer.
According to Dershimer, these sort of adult-oriented events are important to the growth of the downtown area. Not only will it get people into the stores, but it will get adults who are the ones buying from these stores to become more interactive with these businesses.
Dershimer also wants to start doing more trendy things with the businesses to get people pumped about shopping in Hahira.
“Kind of doing like Pinterest-type stuff like crafts,” said Dershimer.
Pinterest is a virtual pin-board of sorts that can be accessed through a smart-phone app or online. People share trendy crafts, tutorials and so much more. Times are changing and evolving and for Downtown Hahira to succeed, it must grow with these trends as well as maintain the small-town charm which makes Hahira so easy to love.
Dershimer also wants to make Hahira’s products and services more accessible to other businesses. For instance, Dershimer plans to hold an event at The Feathering Nest for event and wedding planners. Dershimer is confident that if she can get the people in the stores, they will return.
“It can’t just fall on the business owners in the city,” said Dershimer. “We really need to get our community to come together and see what we have to offer.”
Dershimer is initiating the concept of start locally, expand globally.
“Just drawing people in so they can see all the different things we have business wise,” said Dershimer.
Here are a few upcoming events that Dershimer is planning to hold in Hahira:
Feb. 18: Fat Saturday.
March 17: St. Patty’s Day Parade.
March 31: Egg-O-Rama Easter celebration.
June 17: Father’s Day Braves game viewing on the back of the barn.
June 30: Beach Day 4th of July celebration.
Of course, these events are just the beginning. Aside from events, Dershimer wants to dress up the downtown area. She wants to hang lights in alley ways and is even talking with a metal-works artist about making lights to put in the trees downtown. Dershimer just wants to add little touches here and there that people will recognize and love.
“It’s just about creating an environment where people can come out and shop and have a good time,” said Dershimer.
Dershimer certainly does not lack ambition or vision and her plans to improve the economic impact in Downtown Hahira reflect these goals.
“I don’t want Hahira to shut down and people to have to lose their businesses,” said Dershimer. “I want to help these business owners, grow this community and give back.”
Business
Related Photos
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Paul Leavy | The Valdosta Daily Times Stacey Dershimer, Downtown Developmental Coordinator for Hahira, sorts through a pile of Hahira T-shirts for sale to promote the city.
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Paul Leavy | The Valdosta Daily Times Hahira Downtown Developmental Coordinator Stacey Dershimer in downtown Hahira talking about new businesses and events planned in the upcoming months downtown.
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Paul Leavy | The Valdosta Daily Times Hahira Downtown Developmental Coordinator Stacey Dershimer in the downtown Hahira business The Tin Bucket talking to owner Sharon Darby.
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Paul Leavy | The Valdosta Daily Times Downtown Hahira has lots of room for growth with new restaurants and businesses opening on a regular basis.
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