Downtown commission hires new director

It’s a new day on Main Street.

The Mooresville Downtown Commission has hired its new executive director – downtown resident Kim Atkins – to succeed long-time director Wayne Frick, who retired in June.

Calling her “passionate,” “vibrant,” and “energetic,” the downtown business community says Atkins will bring much-needed new life to the downtown district.

Atkins – wife of Town Commissioner Miles Atkins – recently stepped down as chairman of the downtown commission’s board of directors. Her decision to give up that post came on the heels of her closing her 4-year-old Main Street business, The Garden Party, due to the downturn in the economy.

Dennis Cowardin, who succeeded Atkins as MDC board chairman, said that Atkins’ “past service” to the MDC board “demonstrated that she has the right leadership qualities, passion and determination that are needed to unite, ignite and drive initiatives.”

The MDC board of directors – consisting of downtown business and property owners – selected Atkins from a field of qualified candidates. In a statement released today, the MDC board said Atkins has what it takes to “lead the MDC in creating a vision and implementing a strategy to enhance revitalization efforts while actively facilitating a collaborative effort with key community stakeholders to achieve its desired goals.”

“Kim will bring vibrant energy to downtown Mooresville,” said downtown businessman and property owner Bob Amon. “Her experience as a business owner and resident of Mooresville should allow her to understand the challenges downtowns face and prepare her to help downtown Mooresville bloom and prosper.”

Though Atkins had to close her business doors, she said The Garden Party taught her much of what she’ll bring to the table as executive director of the MDC.

“It was my first venture into the small business world, and in our first two years we were nationally recognized by ‘Home Accents’ magazine as a ‘Today’s Top 50 Retail Stars,’” Atkins said of The Garden Party. “This award was given based upon innovative strategies and creative merchandising in conjunction with a strong presence in the community.”

The Garden Party, said Atkins, “was recognized regionally as a destination shopping experience that also served as a recruitment asset to attract other businesses to our downtown.” She said it was more than just a store – it was “a place where people gathered socially, relationships were built, and many lasting friendships were established.

“I am very blessed to have been a part of something that touched so many people in such a positive way,” she said.

Because of her experience as a downtown business owner – coupled with her 15 years of experience in sales and marketing – Atkins said: “I understand and recognize both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead” for the MDC.

Atkins will be responsible for forging effective relationships with other area organizations, such as the Town of Mooresville, the Mooresville-South Iredell Economic Development Corporation, the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, the Mooresville Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Historic Preservation.

“These are fundamental relationships that, if approached collaboratively, will help create a vibrant downtown and strengthen the core of our community,” Atkins said. “In addition, the downtown property owners and unique merchants play a significant role in our future success. These relationships need to be renewed and sustained.”

Howard Kosofsky, a major investor in downtown Mooresville, said Atkins will be “a great addition to the Main Street Program.

“Her passion for Mooresville has been evident with her past involvement as chair of the MDC and a small business owner on Main Street,” Kosofsky said. “We are excited to have Kim on board.”

The Mooresville Downtown Commission is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1987 to develop the economic, cultural and educational potential of Mooresville’s historic downtown. The organization focuses on attracting new business and increasing occupancy rates to cultivate a vibrant downtown area.

Citing statistics from the Small Business Association, Karen Shore – president/CEO of the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce – said that “shopping dollars spent downtown have a greater return on investment for our area.

“Of every dollar spent with an independent business, 60 cents is re-circulated back into the community as opposed to only 6 cents of every dollar spent with a ‘big box’ retailer,” she said.

The downtown commission is funded by a special district tax and an annual contribution from the Town of Mooresville.

The question has already been asked: Can Commissioner Miles Atkins rightfully vote on funding for the downtown commission, which, in turn, will pay his wife’s salary?

Town Attorney Steve Gambill said there’s no cause for concern.

“I know of no legal impediment or prohibition preventing Ms. Atkins from serving as the executive director because of her being the wife of Commissioner Atkins,” Gambill said.

Citing N.C. General Statute 160A-75, Gambill said a commissioner “shall not be excused from voting ‘except upon matters involving the consideration of the member’s own financial interest or official conduct …’

“Thus,” said Gambill, “if funding by the town of the downtown commission would financially benefit Commissioner Atkins (for example, if the funding will pay in whole or in part Ms. Atkins' salary), he can disclose it to the board and ask to be excused from voting on that particular matter.

“This feature of the statute in and of itself helps to prevent a conflict of interest when a board member's own financial interests are involved,” Gambill said, “and it offers a resolution by allowing such member to be excused from voting on that particular matter.”

As executive director of the MDC, Kim Atkins said she intends to look into additional funding options for the organization. “Grant money and fundraising are areas that desperately need exploration and can supplement our monetary resources,” she said. “For our long-term success, we must create and gain support to carry out a unified vision.”

Atkins plans to lead the MDC in creating measurable goals. Short-term needs, she said, “consist of marketing and promotional opportunities, consistent branding and distinctive seasonal events.”

Mid-range goals, Atkins said, include attracting “more dining and entertainment venues.” Recruiting more “unique retail” – and lowering the overall vacancy rate of downtown storefronts – will be another mid-range goal, she said.

Long-term, Atkins said she will “be focused on new or expanded business growth and residential opportunities” and “the ongoing recruitment of potential businesses.

“Our economic vibrancy,” said Atkins, “can come from many areas, including Historic Preservation, transit and residential … but only if we are actively engaged in planning for the future.”