Quitman EDC plans tailgate party

The Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) is going all out supporting Quitman High School students and athletes during homecoming activities this week.

The QDC will be setting up in the walk-through area on the north side of the downtown square for a tailgate party after the annual homecoming parade and pep rally. They will be serving hot dogs and have plenty of water.

The downtown homecoming activities will attract hundreds of fans and alumni to the area. The parade will begin earlier this year, commencing at 1:30 p.m. with the pep rally and tailgate party following.

“We want our students and alumni to know we care and support QISD,” QDC Executive Director Denea Hudman said. “The school district is such an important part of the development of Quitman. Passing the bond issue and upgrading our school facilities is instrumental to the growth of Quitman.”

In another matter, Hudman reported about the possibility of having a town hall for the entire city.

“We are coming upon a five-year milestone. We are starting to plan a town hall meeting similar to what we had when we first kicked off our downtown initiative,” Hudman noted. “We have certainly had a lot of progress not only downtown but in our entire city. It would be nice if one or two board members would step in and help with that. We want to make it a big deal for our community.”

The board approved the reappointment of four board members: Kevan Burroughs, Martha Scroggins, Glenn Hanner and Randy Dunn.

“It’s been challenging, but we have found people of good will who work together and try to move forward,” QDC Board President Randy Bennett said. “I endorse these four; they have done a great job in the past.”

QDC board members will continue strategic planning for future development initiatives in Quitman. The board has been working with Alisha Cook of Opportunity Strategies.

“The goal on this is to have the strategic plan done and be able to share it at the town hall meeting. We are going to do a five-year look back and a five-year look forward,” Hudman said. “Alisha started it last year and she did preliminary investigations, doing interviews throughout the year. It is board training and strategic planning. We will sit down and talk about the visions for our next plans for Quitman.”

Hudman talked about the initial effort when she came on board five years ago. “The biggest thing when I started five years ago was to increase sales tax, get the downtown really going, work on the business park, collaborate with the school district on career technology and increase residential housing. It all goes hand in hand,” Hudman said.

Gas line construction at the Quitman Business Park is set to begin Oct. 14. Construction projection calls for 15 days, but it is hoped it won’t take that long.