HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING
by Brian Graves
February 11, 2025
Historic Main Street Oxford held its annual meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Spring Street Station to celebrate the successes and achievements of Historic Main Street Oxford in 2024 and to present the Main Street Alabama Grants alongside the inaugural Historic Main Street Oxford Downtown Business and Employee Awards.
The event was sponsored by First Bank of Alabama.
The inaugural Downtown Business and Employee Awards were the highlight of the meeting.
The Downtown Business of the Year Award was presented to The Terrortorium Haunted House & Amusements.
The Downtown Employee of the Year Award was presented to Melissa Houck of Cotton Antiques & Collectibles.
Four Historic Main Street Oxford businesses were presented Main Street Alabama Illuminate Grant winners. The grant ($1,000) helps downtown businesses invest in marketing products, services, and activities designed to grow and strengthen their operations. Recipients were selected through a fair and unbiased process by an impartial committee from Historic Main Street Oxford.
Grants were awarded to: Alfa Insurance – Thomas Shelton Agency, Edwin Mortgage Team, The Main Olive, and Ulti-Mutt Bakery.
Two Main Street businesses received the Main Street Alabama Bright Ideas: Business Pitch Competition Grants. The grant ($5,000) is used to invest in inventory, equipment, marketing, and technology upgrades—all aimed at fueling their growth. The recipients were selected through a fair and impartial process by a committee from Historic Main Street Oxford
Grants were awarded to: The Main Olive and Ulti-Mutt Bakery.
Ulti-Mutt Bakery will now represent Oxford in the regional Bright Ideas competition for a chance to win an additional $25,000 in funding.
Mayor Alton Craft praised the work and dedication of the downtown businesses in the renewal of the downtown area.
“I am very proud of everyone who has aided in revitalizing downtown,” Craft said. “In 2015, this place was dying. The mall was dying, and the I-85 exchange was dying. I appreciate the work of the City Council and their investments. The mall is now going in the right direction and new businesses are going up at I-85. There are a lot of things going on in Oxford, and it’s all because of people like you and your vision.”