Core Of The City

The core of the city

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Story By Lofton Wheeles Photos By Josh Fisher and Hannah Lester

The downtown areas of Auburn and Opelika have seen a significant amount of growth throughout the past decade. Who is responsible for this growth? The Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and Opelika Main Street.

Auburn Downtown Association:

“The Auburn Downtown Merchants Association (ADMA) was founded in the 1960s as a result of business owners needing both a decision-making committee and a voice for all of the local businesses in the downtown area,” said Auburn’s Downtown Coordinator Jessica Kohn.

The mission of the organization is to improve and advance the downtown area, promote the downtown area to the public and enhance the downtown area as a center for commerce, a destination for visitors and an asset for Auburn residents, according to ADMA’s website.

Kohn became Auburn’s first downtown coordinator in 2016 after graduating from Auburn University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

“The board members of [ADMA] needed someone to run the organization because they had their own businesses to run,” Kohn said. “Once the merchants association got approved funding from the city, they created the downtown coordinator position.”

Kohn described taking the job opportunity as a “no brainer” due to her admiration for the city of Auburn, especially its downtown area.

“I just felt called to apply for the job, and it was something I had to think about because of sacrifices I had to make when taking the job,” she said. “However, it’s because I am so passionate about this area that I wanted to

See CORE, page 12

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Downtown

CORE >> do it. Overall, it’s an absolute honor to serve as downtown coordinator.” year, the organization started a campaign called “#KeepAuburnRolling.” FROM 11 Throughout the past decade, Auburn’s The campaign initially started as a hashtag on social downtown area has seen the addition of media to promote local businesses during the pandemic, several new businesses and student housing developments. but was transformed to a fundraising campaign.

“I feel that downtown still has its lovely charm and The slogan was printed on t-shirts and proceeds were aesthetic,” Kohn said. “I also believe that downtown’s returned to a local business of the buyer’s choice. growth is necessary for its economy because when you “I still get goosebumps thinking about the support from see the increase in students coming to Auburn, you also the Auburn community for our downtown area during that see more visitors coming into local businesses to shop and time,” Kohn said. “We were able to raise over $19,000 for eat.” downtown businesses from not just locals, but also those

Auburn puts on a few events to help promote the from out-of-state that love our community.” downtown area’s local businesses each year. These events Downtown Auburn also has a large social media include the Mardi Gras Krewe Krawl event, Chairs on the following with more than 20,000 followers on its Corner and the Downtown Family Supper. Instagram page alone.

ADMA acts as an advocate for the downtown “I think the following is huge because it allows businesses. When the pandemic hit the previous businesses to be seen on this platform,” Kohn said. “With