Chamber, Main Street and museum outline events and economic goals in Perry strategic-plan update

Katie Carris, CEO of the Perry Chamber of Commerce, told the Perry City Council on June 15 that the chamber has aligned its Q2 work with the city strategic plan, emphasizing quality of life, economic development, communication, tourism and community engagement. "My name is Katie Carris. I'm the CEO of the Perry Chamber of Commerce," she said, and reported that chamber membership stands at about 198 businesses and organizations. She also said Springfest attendance rose from 60 to 82 this year.

The chamber said it is preparing for a July business roundtable to collect feedback on workforce and infrastructure needs and is promoting downtown events to boost tourism. "These events all help to strengthen community pride, support local business, and bring visitors to Perry," Carris said.

Melanie Magcguire, who works with the city on contract for economic-development initiatives and grant writing, briefed the council on planned projects that map to the strategic plan. She said the courthouse-square improvement bid package is expected to go out in July with phase-one construction targeted for completion in 2026, and that phase two (sidewalks, lighting and other streetscape work) remains under design with GH2. Magcguire also described CCC Lake work (boat-house repairs, shoreline cleanup and a potential reuse of a historic bridge on the national register) and said the municipal pool is under preliminary study for replacement or significant upgrades.

Maddie Flores, director of the Cherokee Chair Museum, said the museum’s strategic-planning committee is drafting 3-to-5-year goals and exploring ways to expand visibility on the square and provide off-site exhibits to draw tourists and visitors to downtown Perry.

Laura Balmer of Main Street reviewed downtown event planning tied to the city’s 250th activities, upcoming summer programming and facade-beautification grant work. She said Main Street is pursuing an HSR (historic structure report) for a Folk Art building that could be costly but is a necessary step before major rehabilitation.

Why it matters: Council members framed the presentations as part of intentional alignment between city goals and community partners’ programming. Council discussion focused on funding timelines, coordination of incentives for downtown business recruitment and sequencing to avoid major construction during celebration events. The city and partners signaled continued collaboration on grants, marketing and event promotion as tools to expand visitation and commercial activity in Perry.

Next steps: Staff and partners said they will return to council with bid packages, grant proposals and more concrete timelines as projects move from planning to procurement.