About EPMSA

The East Point Main Street Association (EPMSA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 downtown revitalization organization. There is a nine member Main Street Board of Directors made up of business owners, community stakeholders and professionals who have a committment to downtown and who help govern the decision making for the Central Business District. Using a simple but effective four-point approach modeled on a concept originated by the National Trust for historic Preservation, 'Main Street' is a revitalization process that improves all aspects of a commercial district. Our successful Main Street program works in these four areas:

Organization

Fundraising, awareness building, harbouring community support and participation, recruit volunteers, membership program

Promotion

Deals with special events and marketing the district. Helps to plan and implement festivals, and special events designed to bring people downtown.

Design

This committe deals with beautification and the "look" of downtown. Identifies eyesores and suggests solutions, planters, trash cans, seasonal flowers, light pole banners and streetscape ideas.

Economic Restructuring

This committee deals with business retention efforts, meeting with merchants and surveying them on needs and issues. identity new kinds of businesses needed in the district. Plan gatherings for downtown merchants to network.

Download the EPMSA brochure

Downtown is important to the entire community for reasons related to tax base community heritage, tourism, public and private investments, community identy, and it provides a central gatering place.

Downtown is a "place" that we ALL can call our OWN. Own a part of downtown East Point, come and see the past embracing the present, while creating the future. Whether you are shopping, opening a business, enjoying a lunch, or taking a stroll, you will will find downtown East Point full of warmth and character - the essential core of our community.

History of EPMSA

In 1999, The City of East Point established the East Point Main Street Association, Inc. to work the principles of the National Main Street model.

Downtown East Point had experienced a vicious cycle of decline and disinvestmemt due to population shifts to the suburbs and businesses being established in malls and shopping centers outside of the downtown area.

What was left were aging buildings, vacant storefronts, and a few "lone ranger" businesses pressing their way through the drought.

The City took charge and applied for the Main Street City designation and thus began a cycle and vision toward rebuilding downtown. The results began to show almost immediately as nine members were appointed to the Main Street Board. The City created a staff position whose focus is on every aspect of the downtown district, and who serves as a point of contact for merchants and prospects. Private investors started to give downtown buildings a second look. Public dollars were directed to funding festivals, signage, a pedestrian bridge, and planning for future development.

Now businesses, shops and people are back in our downtown,and while we have seen these great strides, there is still more work to be done.