ROCKY MOUNT 鈥 As a growing list of community events expands, Rocky Mount has hired a new executive director to oversee planning as well as work with local businesses to better showcase what the community has to offer.
Missy Morris came onboard in May as the Rocky Mount鈥檚 new main street executive director. The hiring is a joint effort between the local nonprofit Community Partnership and the town to promote the central business district both downtown and uptown.
Rocky Mount鈥檚 downtown is mainly along Franklin Street and uptown runs along Main Street.
Morris is originally from Wisconsin and has spent much of her life living in different parts of the country. She was working for an event company in Oregon before moving to Wirtz eight years ago, where she took a job working for a local short-term rental management company.
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Missy Morris was recently hired as Rocky Mount鈥檚 new main street executive director. She will be working to promote uptown and downtown businesses and assist in organizing events such as Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas.
Morris said she was eager to apply for the position. She has been amazed at the growth of the town in the past few years.
鈥淚 had been to Rocky Mount a number of times and had seen shows at the Harvester. In the last eight years I have been here I have also seen the momentum in Rocky Mount 鈥 It was something I felt I wanted to be a part of. It just seemed like there were a lot of positive things going on in Rocky Mount,鈥 Morris said.
The town announced plans last year to return the position after it was eliminated back in 2008. Since that time, the Community Partnership has overseen many of the town鈥檚 events with some assistance from the town and county.
The decision came as events such as Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas and the new Rocky Mount Fest grow in attendance and popularity. Morris said part of her responsibilities will be to assist in the planning of these town events as well as assist businesses in locally organized events such as the annual Blocktoberfest in October or the annual St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Mug Crawl.
鈥淓vent planning is a part of it,鈥 Morris said. 鈥淎lso included in that is basically bringing the entire central business district together.鈥
Morris said she has spent the past few weeks visiting businesses along the central business district including uptown and downtown. She spends time in the locations speaking with the owners to see what they need and lets them know about programs available to them.
The hiring comes as the Community Partnership has recently been accepted into the Virginia Main Street鈥檚 second tier, Mobilizing Main Street, of the state organization鈥檚 three tier program. Participation in this tier brings additional resources and technical assistance to Rocky Mount, with a goal of strengthening the local economy through the promotion and growth of the town鈥檚 central business district.
鈥淭his is an exciting step forward for Rocky Mount,鈥 said Town Manager Robert Wood in a recent press release announcing the hiring of Morris. 鈥淲ith a dedicated Main Street Executive Director in place, we are better positioned to support our local businesses and continue the momentum we have established.鈥
Community Partnership President Zach Wimmer echoed the enthusiasm in the release, stating, 鈥淕iven Missy鈥檚 background and enthusiasm, coupled with the support of the Virginia Main Street organization and the Town of Rocky Mount, Community Partnership is in a great place to make a far greater impact for Rocky Mount鈥檚 Central Business District. With these partners, we will be able to impact the economic prosperity and vibrancy of this community in ways we never could have done on our own.鈥
