South Fulton Medical Center donated $19,000 to the East Point Main Street Association for the purchase of 100 light pole banners in the historic downtown district as well as up and down Cleveland Avenue.

The City of East Point and South Fulton Medical Center (SFMC) hosted a banner dedication ceremony on April 14, 2005 at the hospital to launch a campaign to revitalize the area.

SFMC, a Tenet Healthcare Corporation hospital, made a $19,000 donation to the East Point Main Street Association for the purchase of 100 light pole banners that are affixed to city street lights in the historic downtown district as well as up and down Cleveland Avenue to launch a sponsorship campaign with the downtown revitalization organization.

"The light pole banners will be a visible way of reminding the community of our commitment to revitalizing the town center," said East Point Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard. "We are extremely excited to be working with SFMC in making the area more aesthetically pleasing."

The banners have a custom design with the slogan, "Downtown, It's Happening" along with the East Point and SFMC logos.

"Being part of this community for more than 40 years, we feel we have a responsibility to assist the City of East Point to foster pride where we work and live," said SFMC CEO Chris Hummer.

Additionally, Hummer has asked the hospital's Community Advisory Board to develop a plan to "Clean Up Cleveland Avenue." This effort will include a comprehensive planning study to address zoning ordinances, street scape planning and pedestrian access routes along the Cleveland Avenue corridor, a main access point for many East Point residents and visitors. "This banner campaign is just a small step in bringing that goal to fruition," Hummer added.

The East Point Main Street Association, Inc. is a non-profit Downtown Redevelopment organization that combines historic preservation and economic development initiatives. Using the Main Street Four Point Approach, the EPMSA upholds its mission which is "To preserve and enhance the downtown as the heart of East Point, communicating a sense of place, community pride and heritage, while providing for a successful business and residential environment."

In 1999 the mayor and council of the City of East Point made application for acceptance into the Georgia Main Street Program. As a result, the City receives technical support, architectural design assistance, help with the creation of historic preservation ordinances and a host of other resources from the State Main Street office. The City is the primary source of revenue for the EPMSA, Inc. Since becoming a Georgia Main Street City in 1999, the East Point Main Street district boundaries have seen the creation of more than 30 new businesses, 25 building rehabilitations, investment of federal funds, three loft developments and increased occupancy in our commercial office and industrial space. For more information, visit the Main Street website at www.eastpointcity.org/mainstreet