WELCOME DONALD Anthony to the City of Shelbyville team of movers and shakers. He will be the new Planning Director beginning in July. He graduated from the University of Memphis and has worked in our region for many years, including in the communities of Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Nolensville.
Tourism is complex and multi-faceted, and it is important to bring together the many local partners who help to make it a success. In a joint effort with Bedford County and the City of Shelbyville, there will be new support to bring in additional tourism. There are three distinct areas of focus: weekender traffic for festivals and events; the river corridor, a previously under-utilized area; the whiskey trail, including Jack Daniels, George Dickel, and Uncle Nearest.
Particularly with Uncle Nearest opening, there will be a new level of tourism available in Shelbyville and Bedford County. Dollars that are spent in our locally-owned businesses multiply more than dollars spent in big box stores. Economists have said that a dollar spent locally will be turned over seven times in that local community. This means that supporting a locally-owned, independent business, keeps more money in our community, which in turn supports more locally-owned businesses.
Part of the tourism focus is bringing the interested stakeholders to the table to better coordinate how to generate enthusiastic tourism that brings repeat visitors from the outside and entertains our citizens of Shelbyville without taxing the local infrastructure. One example is Celebration, the horseshow arena, which has been expanding its offerings to include a wide variety of events including endurance races, monster trucks, a dog show, and more. You can find their upcoming events at: twhnc.com.
Follow the Red Brick Road
Let’s follow the path for improvement to give everyone a seat at the table – literally. Neighbors and fellow citizens who you may know have difficulty getting into many of the buildings around Shelbyville’s historic square. A new project, recently approved by the State of Tennessee, is designed to change that.
While the red brick is visually attractive and adds charm to the vicinity, it creates safety hazards, accessibility buffers, and maintenance issues. Some of the sections are in disrepair which can cause trip and fall hazards. Additionally, because of how the sidewalk was constructed, many of the buildings around the square can only be accessed with a step up of six to eight inches. This step can prevent someone using wheels to assist with their mobility from being able to safely get into that facility.
One very important consideration of the new sidewalks is the impact on the businesses while construction is going on.The City of Shelbyville has committed to all of the businesses that they will be able to remain open during the entire renovation. Some businesses will require temporary access to work around their main entrance while the section in front of their facility is having work done.
The safety and long-term economic impact of this project make it a win-win for the community of Shelbyville. Other communities, that have completed similar projects, have reported that during construction businesses that are in the “construction zone” report a drastic drop in revenue. Understandably, patrons avoid the mess and inconvenience of getting to them. You can help the businesses around the square by making an effort to continue to support these very important members of our local economy by patronizing them during the entire 18-month process.
Anyone who has renovated a room in their house knows the pain of having their home disrupted for weeks or months at a time in order to create a better home for the future. Please practice patience, perseverance, and patronage while this project creates a long-term improvement for all members of our community. It could be you, or someone you care about, who needs that safe access.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the City of Shelbyville. Determining the ways for you to share your “Picture Perfect Shelbyville” ideas as well as history is in the works. We will be sure to include that information as it becomes available. Also, the 2021-2022 operating budget has been approved and there is a lot more good news to come! -GN
Think about a family wanting to enjoy a meal together and someone is recovering from surgery. The family will likely choose a restaurant that is easier and safer to get into. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that safe access remove trip hazards that are over one-quarter inch in height between cracks or joints on floors.The new sidewalk will ensure that all buildings have a ramp if needed.
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