Rebranding coming to West Point Main Street
The West Point Growth Alliance is in for a brand update.
Over the past several weeks, the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area ( MHNHA) and the Mississippi Main Street Association ( MMSA) have been working on their “Grow, Revise & Share” grant project. This project has allowed the MHNHA and MMSA to work in partnership with Main Street Associations across the Hills region to revitalize their community branding.
“Our Main Streets represent the best of what our communities have to offer in multiple respects, and this project will assist them in communicating their vitality to visitors and residents alike,” said Mary Cates Williams, MHNHA Executive Director. “This effort is yet another example of the outstanding work Mississippi Main Street does to enhance our communities, our region and our state.”
This past Tuesday, as part of the “Grow, Revise & Share” project, the West Point Growth Alliance was visited once again by community branding specialist Ben Muldrow of Arnett Muldrow. Muldrow spent his time visiting with Lisa Klutts of the Growth Alliance and with other West Point community representatives to learn about the city and help West Point put its best foot forward.
“I'm particularly excited to be here in West Point,” Muldrow said. “There's an energy here in West Point that does not exist other places. Few places have a community that is blended and connected and that truly achieves more the way that West Point does.”
Muldrow previously visited West Point in 2010 and helped the Growth Alliance with their logo and other design needs. On his return visit this week, Muldrow's emphasis is on filling in any gaps in the Growth Alliance's branding toolkit, along with updating some of the previous designs he created over a decade ago.
“I'll be evaluating the current tools that they have, and making sure that anything they need from a utility standpoint, or a style and trend standpoint that needs to get updated will get updated,” said Muldrow. “I also want to identify any gaps in the resources and tools that the organization might need, especially since we're working with a combined chamber, Main Street, and tourism group.”
By the end of his visit, Muldrow anticipated leaving West Point with an updated deliverable package, with
branding elements that can be used in 2023 and beyond. These updates will help to shape how visitors view West Point and its Main Street area.
“We're really excited that Ben Muldrow is able to be here to help us update things,” said Lisa Klutts, Director of Community Development for the Growth Alliance. “We've worked with him before, and we always see each other at conferences and seminars and workshops. Getting to have a one-on-one here for 24 hours is just wonderful.”
West Point is one of 23 designated Main Street communities that are participating in this branding project. Other communities include Aberdeen, Amory, Baldwyn, Batesville, Booneville, Byhalia, Columbus, Corinth, Hernando, Holly Springs, Kosciusko, Louisville, Nettleton, New Albany, Okolona, Pontotoc, Ripley, Saltillo, Senatobia, Starkville, Tupelo, and Water Valley.
"This project will help our Main Street communities in the Mississippi Hills region tell their story and market their cultural assets to both residents and visitors,” said Thomas Gregory, MMSA Executive Director. “We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area that continues to benefit our Main Street communities and the Mississippi Hills region as a whole.”