Business View winter & spring 2023 | Part 2

BUSINESS

What an exciting and busy year the first half of 2023 has been! Our quaint town has been bustling with exciting projects and developments that will help transform Eatonton into a hub of cultural richness and unforgettable experiences.

The vibrant arts and cultural community of Eatonton has been nurtured and encouraged through various initiatives. We take immense pride in the artistic spirit that graces our streets, from colorful murals to lively events that showcase the talents of our local artists. Preserving our town's rich history has been a top priority, and this year, we made substantial progress in this endeavor.

In the pursuit of attracting a broader audience, we executed innovative marketing strategies, tapping into digital platforms and leveraging social media influencers. Our revamped website and engaging content highlighted the hidden gems and authentic experiences Eatonton has to offer.

We've been working tirelessly to make Eatonton a place that appeals to all interests, whether you're a history enthusiast, an outdoor adventurer, a food lover, or an art connoisseur. Looking

Originally, Visit Eatonton’s Self Guided Bike Tour allowed both visitors and members of the community to explore historic downtown Eatonton by bike. With stops like the Plaza Arts Center, Panola Hall, the Uncle Remus Museum, and the Bronson House, the tour covered 2.6 miles and fourteen locations.

The shed that housed the bikes for the Self Guided Bike Tour was plain, unrecognizable, and hidden. We knew we wanted to at least spruce up the appearance of the bike shed and with the knowledge of the existing bike community in Eatonton and the goal of making Eatonton a biking destination, there was a unique opportunity to make it into it’s own destination.

With this thought in mind, the Rest Stop was born. As a start to the project, we planned to cover the Rest Stop with murals so that the exterior of the building would captivate cyclists with its vibrant colors and artistic flair, and help set the tone for an extraordinary experience. We worked with artist, Kyle “Black Cat Tips” Brooks to cover the structure in whimsical works of art.

The next step was to purchase new bikes that would make biking all of Eatonton accessible. The bikes previously used for the Self Guided Bike Tour were cruisers and it was difficult to navigate downtown Eatonton. Additionally, you were unable to use the rental bikes to ride at places like Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails. The Rest Stop now houses a fleet of well-maintained mountain and road bikes that can be used in a variety of locations.

Next, we will work to make The Rest Stop a more functional space. This will include outfitting the structure with a deck that will include sitting areas, a bike repair station with tools, and a work counter. These additions will make The Rest Stop a place where cyclists can take a break and connect with fellow riders.

When it’s completed, The Rest Stop won’t just be a building but an experience, enriching the bike tour and leaving cyclists with cherished memories of their time in Eatonton.

Embracing the spirit of community engagement and public art, h set out to transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary, imagin landscapes through his murals and public installations. Kyle's murals can be found adorning buildings, walls, and community spaces across various cities, breathing life into urban landsca with vibrant colors and heartwarming narratives. Each mural possesses a unique story, woven together by his artistic vision the shared experiences of the communities that embrace his work

With each stroke of his brush and every character he brings to Kyle continues to leave a positive impact on the world. Through art, he invites us to see the beauty in the ordinary, embrace t power of imagination, and find joy in the simplest moments of li As "Black Cat Tips," he reminds us that there is always a reaso smile, and art has the extraordinary ability to connect us all world that is constantly evolving.

Kyle Brooks, better known by his artistic alias "Black Cat Tips multi-talented artist, muralist, and storyteller.

Where are out of state visitors from?

7%

15%

11% 9% 24

Feel the Vibr atio ns

Designed to captivate the senses and evoke emotions, the 2023 Ad Campaign uses texture and lines that spread behind the image itself. These textures are meant to align to the emotion found within each photo and draw upon the audience.

With this ad campaign, we are focusing on promoting outdoor recreation and arts and entertainment opportunities. These advertisements have been placed on billboards, in publications,

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Main Street Eatonton

Dust off your dancing shoes! Eatonton Main Street has a fun summer planned for Downtown Eatonton with the Downtown GetDown Concert Series sponsored by Visit Eatonton.

• August 12: Drakarr & Experience with special guest John Dunn & The Jazzman Band (R&B/Soul/Funk)

• September 10: Dean Brown and DubShak (Reggae)

During the concerts, we will have fun food trucks and great arts & crafts vendors And the best part The concerts are FREE! Lawn chairs and coolers are welcome Make sure you have these concerts on your calendar.

Be sure to save the date for the Mistletoe Market on November 11th. More than 100 arts & crafts vendors will be on the lawn of the Putnam County Courthouse for a great day of Christmas shopping

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The Plaza Arts Center

Celebrating 15 years of The Plaza Arts Center

2008 may seem like FOREVER ago There was no knowledge of COVID, of a government balloon or of $4 gallons of gas Johnny Depp was known for being named Best Actor during the People’s Choice Awards, Eli Manning was the Giants’ starting Quarterback, Hulu becomes a thing, Usain Bolt broke the world record for the 100m sprint during the Summer Olympics, AirBnb is founded, Brittney Spears wins big at the MTV Music Awards, and we of course can’t forget, Lady Gaga’s debut album being released

And as for Eatonton in 2008, a jewel was unveiled It was 2008 when The Plaza Arts Center first opened its doors to the public From the minds of Tom Rosseter and a group of Leadership Putnam participants, the doors of The Plaza were opened and we haven’t looked back since

In celebrating the big 1-5, we have taken a look back at what all we have accomplished The Plaza has a booming arts education program, one that is growing nearly every week with our After School Arts Program The Old School History Museum is being visited by people states away PAPA is performing at least twice a year Our Summer camps have grown tremendously our programming in general has grown tremendously.

The Plaza is truly coming into what the founders imagined we would be. This year, we have an entertainment lineup that features a show every single month. We have three FREE community events, several Master Classes, a few Whiskey Sessions which was a new program started just last year a growing Broadway Intensive Program, new Coffee Houses with The Arts Barn, Sunday at The Museum lectures that are exciting and not to even mention several surprises up our sleeves.

Whether you ’ re new to the area or have been here your whole life, becoming a member at The Plaza during our 15th year will put you with a group of like-minded people who share the same interests that you do. Whether it’s sitting at a VIP table together at one of our outdoor events, having a glass of wine at the lake, or seeing grandkids in a kids’ performance, our members end up becoming good friends who share lots of exciting memories together.

In a world that is much more complex than it was 15 years ago, it’s nice to remember the simple things - live music is magic, comedians are hilarious, kids say the darnedest things and sometimes dreams really do become a reality. Please take some time this year to come and tour The Plaza, to speak to Mr. Rosseter, to sit in the theater to see a show, come learn about the history of Eatonton at the museum come spend some time at your local theater. I promise you will not regret it. Cheers to 15 years and here’s to many, many more!

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The Plaza Arts Center

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CGTC

For over 20 years, the Putnam County Center of Ce Georgia Technical College has served the community thr its workforce development mission offering credit instru adult education and customized business and ind training The local satellite center provides student sup services by assisting students with their enrollment w includes advisement and registration, connecting studen valuable resources for academic success, and offering c and adult education instruction

CGTC is committed to developing a strong workforce works closely with the community to determine c offerings. For instance, the Putnam County Fire Depart requested Emergency Medical Technician training for so the local firefighters. This required schedule flexibility their work schedule so a hybrid model was implem Coursework is completed online and then an in-perso class is held once a week. The firefighters enrolled this semester and will earn an Advanced Emergency M Technician certificate by the end of the year. They w prepared to take the National Registry of Emergency M Technicians exam.

The center also had an increase in local home healt agencies inquiring about hiring Certified Nursing Assi Due to this demand, the nurse aide essentials class w offered this summer semester. This class teaches studen roles and responsibilities of a nurse aide and prepares for the Georgia Nurse Aide Exam. Recent interest in a beginner’s computer class amon residents, has prompted the College’s Eco Development division to offer a Basic Computer Funct continuing education course this summer. This cou introduces participants to the personal computer and operation functions, basic keyboard functions, basic comp hardware, utilizing basic computer peripherals, rudimentary knowledge of essential terms and concepts. The center also provides credit instruction in comme truck driving, criminal justice, early childhood, welding, general education core classes. Morning and evening a education classes enable students to prepare for a high sc equivalency credential. The center also connects l students to the CGTC Academy, which provides opportunity for individuals to earn a high school and col credential in an effort to prepare them for in-demand car

The Putnam County Center of Central Georgia Techn College continues to be responsive in meeting the workf development needs of our community. Please visit us at James Marshall Bypass in Eatonton to learn more. You also visit www.centralgatech.edu or call 706-923-5000.