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LaFayette Main Street Director DeAnna Hand presented an updated annual report for 2024 to the Chambers County Commission on Monday night. 

“LaFayette Main Street’s initiatives were driven by an accelerated focus on positioning LaFayette as a unique and vibrant destination,” Hand said during the meeting.

She continued, saying that the organization showcased the city’s “distinct character, community driven preservation efforts and effective four point strategy to ensure downtown vitality.”

The goal of this was to create a “driving downtown where friendships blossom, businesses flourish, memories are created and community strengthened.”

Hand has worked alongside the four Main Street committee volunteers to support their mission of creating growth and fostering community engagement.

Some of the projects that LaFayette Main Street has completed this year include the new welcome mural, the four new welcome city entrance signs and several community events and programs like the Miss LaFayette Main Street pageant.

“So a lot of work took place in 2024,” Hand said. “We are very proud of the dedication of all of our volunteers, our board of directors and our community, and really hope to see things continue to progress in 2025.”

This year, 16 new jobs arrived in LaFayette. Six new businesses opened. LaFayette Main Street had a private investment total of 162,000 and a public investment total of 176,000, according to Hand.

“And that will even go up when the courthouse renovations are completed,” she added.  Volunteer hours for the organization were about 1,700.

This includes LaFayette Main Street’s new youth leadership group, which had 300 hours alongside the students of LaFayette High School and Chambers Academy.

“So we hope that we are showing our efforts in collaboration with the county and the city, and we certainly continue to appreciate your support,” Hand concluded.