Palestine Main Street reports $75,000 PEDC grant for farmers market upgrades; Dogwood Festival set for March 22

At its Feb. 25 Main Street Advisory Board meeting, Main Street coordinator Mary Anne reported that the Dogwood Arts Council received a $75,000 PEDC community development grant to fund electrical work and pavement improvements at the farmers market pavilion, and that the Dogwood Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, with the parade beginning at 10 a.m.

The grant and construction progress matter because they support farmer’s market operations and festival programming that bring visitors to downtown and encourage private reinvestment in adjacent properties, Mary Anne told the board. She also reported that two downtown revitalization grant applications totaling about $175,000 were submitted in January; one was not selected and the other remains pending.

Mary Anne, Main Street coordinator, summarized recent commercial changes downtown, noting three business closures and a scheduled April closing: “MobiSpot closed Jan. 31,” she said; “Outlaw Country closed around Jan. 4,” and she said Crimson Room has announced it will close April 1. She also reported the board’s Q4 report was submitted Jan. 10 and the annual accreditation report has been filed; accreditation results are expected around the time of the Main Street retreat in early June.

On the farmers market, Mary Anne said the PEDC grant will cover a “big portion” of electrical and asphalt work so the Dogwood Arts Council can move the art tent under the pavilion instead of renting a tent, lowering costs for the nonprofit and improving connectivity for festival activities. She thanked the Dogwood Arts Council and “Mister Searcy” for work on bids and project management.

Board members heard a construction update for the downtown connectivity enhancement project: the board moved from phase 2 into phases 3 and 4 in January, water lines have been flushed and are being pressure-tested, and crews are preparing for paving. Mary Anne said the phase has progressed “much smoother” than earlier work, aside from some rain delays. Separately, work on Tennessee Avenue has begun; crews made saw cuts and removed some curb to install new sidewalk and curbing near Rotary Park and between Capital Gains and Spring Street. Mary Anne warned that cold weather delayed some concrete pours and that crews are scheduling pours when temperatures allow.

On events and beautification, the board noted a citywide spring cleanup on March 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and planned a volunteer flower-bed cleanup on Oak Street on March 8 from about 8–10 a.m., with March 15 as a rain date. Mary Anne encouraged board members to serve as downtown ambassadors at festivals, help with Saturdays on Main activities, and consider leading a walking tour or other outreach.

Mary Anne also reviewed a potential external award, the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor’s Achievement Award, which she said could make communities eligible for amounts up to about $180,000 depending on population; she recommended keeping that opportunity in mind for next year and coordinating with local partners such as the school district and waste management.

Nut graf: The meeting combined near-term event planning and volunteer requests with longer-term capital work: the PEDC grant and the connectivity project aim to reduce festival costs, improve the farmers market facility, and showcase completed streetscape work during the Dogwood Festival.

Looking ahead, the board expects accreditation news around the Main Street retreat in early June, will continue weekly construction coordination meetings, and plans to revisit volunteer sign-up and festival logistics in upcoming board communications.