A recently reactivated group of local business and property owners says it has big plans for downtown Hazlehurst — and its members want the community to better understand who they are, what they do and how residents can become involved.
The Hazlehurst Downtown Development Authority, or DDA, has begun introducing its board members and sharing more about its goals for the city’s historic downtown district. According to information released by the DDA, the current board consists of Casey Williams, chairman; Matthew Rentz, vice chairman; Nikki Moore, secretary; Rubi Stanley; Glenn Harris; and Elizabeth Oliver.
All six own and operate businesses in Hazlehurst, according to the DDA. The group’s stated mission is centered on preserving and improving downtown Hazlehurst, supporting existing businesses, encouraging new business development and helping create a downtown that remains viable for future generations.
The City of Hazlehurst describes the DDA’s mission similarly, saying the organization is intended to help restore downtown as a thriving center for business, community and culture.
While the current effort may feel new, the concept of a Downtown Development Authority in Hazlehurst isn’t. City planning documents show that Hazlehurst established a Better Hometown Program/Downtown Development Authority in 2001. Years later, the city’s 2021 Downtown Master Plan specifically identified reviving the DDA as part of its strategy for downtown revitalization.
That master plan identified attracting sustainable businesses, reducing blight, improving downtown aesthetics and increasing public access and walkability among the community’s revitalization goals. Rentz said the DDA was only recently reactivated and brought back into compliance following what he described as a significant amount of work.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs recognizes Downtown Development Authorities as local government authorities established for a public purpose. Georgia also requires local authorities to complete annual registration and financial reporting, and development authority board members are subject to state training requirements.
Rentz also sought to clarify the relationship between the DDA and the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis County Chamber of Commerce. Membership in the Chamber, he said, is not required to serve on the DDA, and the two are separate organizations. “The Chamber does not fund the DDA in any way, shape, or form,” Rentz said.
According to Rentz, DDA board members were voted on and approved by the Hazlehurst City Council. The organization’s bylaws also require a percentage of members to own downtown property or businesses, and approved members must complete the required authority training.
Board members receive no compensation for their service, Rentz said. He added that most DDA projects to date have been paid for personally by current members or through their fundraising efforts.
The new board is setting some ambitious goals. Rentz acknowledged that residents have heard promises about improving downtown before and said the group understands that rebuilding confidence will require more than talking about what could happen. “We’re not just here to talk about what could happen,” Rentz said. “We’re ready to put in the work to make it happen.”
The DDA says it plans to work alongside the City of Hazlehurst and local Chamber to support existing businesses, recruit new ones, find new life for historic buildings and organize events designed to bring people downtown. The group is also considering the creation of community committees, which could allow residents and business owners who aren’t DDA board members to participate in individual projects.
Chairman Casey Williams is co-owner of Southern Technology Partners LLC. When asked to identify one goal he hopes the DDA can accomplish during the next year, Williams pointed to changing the direction of downtown in a way that gives local residents a renewed sense of pride.
His three-word vision for downtown Hazlehurst? “Thriving. Growing. United.”
Those three words may also offer a glimpse at what this newly reactivated organization hopes comes next. The DDA says it wants downtown Hazlehurst to become a stronger center for local businesses, families and community activity — while preserving the character and history that make downtown distinctly Hazlehurst.
And its members say they are looking for help. Residents and businesses interested in participating in future DDA projects or potential community committees are encouraged to contact a board member or reach out through the Hazlehurst Downtown Development Authority.
