As it is in many small towns across America, Winchester's downtown area, once a thriving and vibrant central attraction for the
whole county, has given way to empty buildings and office space.  For many years, city officials, building owners, merchants and
citizens have been frustrated with this decline and lack of growth.  So much so, that then city Mayor, Richard Stewart, appointed a
group of merchants to meet on a regular basis and study the possibilities that might exist for the future.  As you can imagine
funding for revitalization of the area became the central topic.  

Governor Bredeson's administration took a hard look at the challenges facing small towns across Tennessee and in 2005 initiated
a grant called the Courthouse Revitalization Pilot Project Act.  The grant, which could only be applied for by a county seat, came to
the attention of Judy Taylor at the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.  She brought it to the City of Winchester and the
application process began.  City Administrator, Beth Rhoton, made this a top priority and spent the next four months compiling the
data necessary to complete the process.  

The state's original plan was to award one city in West, Middle and East Tennessee.  The competition was so fierce it was decided
that two cities from each section of the state would be awarded the opportunity.  The City of Winchester was one of two cities to
receive this grant from Middle Tennessee, and Dayton was the other.  The grant specifies a tax rebate zone be established in an
area of the downtown.  Once established, all state sales tax dollars collected within this zone are refunded back to the zone to be
spent on it's revitalization.

Downtown merchants quickly organized and formed the Winchester Downtown Program Corporation.  With the corporation now
in place, the City of Winchester discovered that many limitations could be overcome by having a private corporation assume
responsibility for the grant.  In April of 2008 spending and administration authority were turned over to the WDPC.

After interviewing several capable architectural  firms the corporation chose the firm of Looney Ricks Kiss to lay out the long term
strategic plan for the revitalization of the downtown area.  In August of 2008 the firm laid the ground work with two separate visits
culminating in a 3 day charrette where the public was invited to offer input.  The firm is now in the process of disseminating the
information into the first rough draft of the long term strategic plan.  Renderings can be seen by clicking on Revitalization.
Board Members

phone us
931.967.7375

fax us
931.967.7377
David Cowan                            
Sean Crabtree                           
Mayor Terry Harrell                   
Margaret Lynch                         
Brant McGill                              
Tim Priest                                  
Beth Rhoton                             
Fernando Santisteban               
Parker Sherrill                           
Bruce Spencer                          
Mayor Richard Stewart