Main Street director set for $4.8M project
With a $4.8 million downtown renovation project ready to begin, things are moving right along for Main Street McMinnville, despite the fact the organization has been without a director since Amy Jo Stanford’s resignation took effect last August.
But the new year has brought a new director to Main Street McMinnville. After a six-month nationwide search, Main Street McMinnville board president Rodney Boyd announced Chris Wilson is the new director of Main Street McMinnville.
“I’m pleased to come into this with such a dedicated group of volunteers to work with. They have really come through and shined on the work they’ve done so far,” said Wilson.
Wilson holds two bachelor’s degrees: one in fine arts and graphic design, the other in communications. He attended the National Main Street Institute where he became a certified downtown manager.
He and his family, wife Pamela, and daughters Lydia, 2, and Karly, 5, relocated to McMinnville over the holidays from Oklahoma City where Wilson worked for Oklahoma County as a federal grants and contracts manager.
Prior to the work he did for Oklahoma County, Wilson compiled 15 years of downtown renovation experience all around the Oklahoma city area with projects including the revitalization of the Oklahoma City bombing location and the Stockyard City Historical district revitalization.
“I quit the Main Street stuff for awhile to work in the family business, but this has always been my passion. I’m excited to be working with a program like this one,” said Wilson.
While Wilson says there are no big changes he would like to make at this point, he did say he would like to do some additional research concerning the use of downtown.
“I’m here to coordinate, bring resources and help the group realize their vision with these projects. The people involved are the real driving force,” said Wilson.
Anyone interested in more information about the Main Street program is encouraged to call the Main Street office at 506-5335.