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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Business owners from all over Chilton County came together at the Clanton City Hall on April 11 to discuss the future plans for the City of Clanton Peach Entertainment District. Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims called the meeting to have all business owners come and express any concerns or questions regarding how the arts and entertainment district in downtown will operate.

“This thing is a working progress, and we’re always working on ways to make it better for everyone,” Mims said. “We wanted to do this to help (the business owners) and maximize its use for the businesses.”

April 1 was the opening day of the district and the operating hours will be Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until midnight. Alcoholic beverages can be consumed outside of businesses inside the district as long as they are in a specific cup with the city’s logo on it.

One of the concerns from business owners was parking in and around the district. Mims gave an update on the striping of the roads in the area around the courthouse and assured owners that patrons would be aware of where and when they are allowed to park. Clanton Police officers made it a point to not issue tickets to parking violators in recent months, but after restriping is complete and a statement is released to the community, those tickets will be issued.

The other concern about the district from business owners was how the city and others planned to market and promote it. MayMay Helms of Maymay Made It helped get input from those present on forming a committee called the Merchants Association of Clanton to help business owners collaborate with one another to make the most out of the district.

Helms also offered her social media skills to any business wanting to enhance their social media presence. Monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of each month were finalized and a Facebook page for the MAC will be created before the next meeting. The meetings will be at 9 a.m. at the Clanton City Hall.

Any businesses in Chilton County are encouraged to come and attend the meetings as they are not only for businesses inside the downtown entertainment district.

“We want everyone to come together and work together, and we want to be a tool for them to use so they all can get the benefits of the district,” Rachel Martin, Chilton County Chamber of Commerce executive director, said. “It starts with communication or organization to get your plan together and make it happen, and I think that’s what we did here today.”