New loft aparmemtn being developed in downtown Moultrie . town merchants ’ association reported the best Christmas
season they ’ ve ever had this past December .” Moultrie recently opened a Welcome Center on the corner near where Carter ’ s renovation is taking place . Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College arranged to give their satellite campus ( which they no longer needed ) to the city , and this became the downtown Welcome Center . The Ladies ’ Garden Club , whom Dillard refers to as “ movers and shakers with vision , energy , and taste ,” took on the Welcome Center as their project , making it a wonderful place , inside and out . Dillard shares that even more innovation is in progress . “ We ’ re putting in a fiber ring in the whole downtown area , providing free WiFi and cameras for security . We can even mount speakers for use at events and festivals .” Dillard , who has been in his role for almost five years , is quick to give credit to a host of people who have been working on this revitalization for a long time -- especially Amy Johnson , who has been doing this for 22 years with great dedication . Admits Dillard , “ I ’ m having the time of my life right now !” Speaking with Amy Johnson , Downtown Economic Development and Public Relations for the City of Moultrie , you soon learn that her dedication is rivaled only by her modesty . Johnson started work with the City of Douglas and later jumped at the opportunity to move back home to Moultrie in 1998 . Johnson is quick to cite the many factors and organizations that , by working together , have helped push downtown Moultrie forward . To start with , she praises the Moultrie City Council and the Colquitt County Commissioners . “ These officials saw the need and understood how and why our downtown is so important .”
Johnson takes the long view on downtown Moultrie ’ s in-
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