About $3.45 million was invested in downtown Vicksburg in 2008, resulting in a new increase of 17 jobs and an increase to about 100 apartments available for rent.

The numbers were presented by Vicksburg Main Street Program Chairman Harry Sharp at the trade organization’s annual meeting Tuesday.

“It was a very good year for us, and there should be a lot of exciting things happening this year,” Sharp said. “Hopefully downtown will continue to grow as you have seen happen over the past few years.”

Support for Main Street comes from an additional city tax levied on properties in the downtown area and spent, in turn, on promotions and commons areas. For 2008, Sharp said $2.28 million came from public entities, primarily the City of Vicksburg, while $1.17 million was infused by private investors.

A total of five buildings were renovated last year, while five new businesses opened. Four businesses closed, resulting in a net gain of one downtown merchant.

Sharp said the Main Street Program is meeting a goal set two years ago to bring more people downtown by promoting the development of upstairs apartments in downtown buildings.

“There were maybe at that time one or two (apartments downtown), now there are 102,” Sharp said.

Sharp said goals for the coming year include creating a new downtown retail promotion in December, as well as developing a stronger alliance with the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce. Sharp said the program also hopes to participate in nine Mississippi Main Street Program promotions and partner with Main Street Program directors outside of Vicksburg to develop regional events.

One of the biggest goals, Sharp said, is to expand the Main Street district to Interstate 20 along Washington and Clay streets, which he said would greatly enhance the Main Street Program with no additional tax burden on residents.

Also Tuesday, Sharp recognized former Main Street Director Rosalie Theobald, who resigned in 2008, for her decade of service. Kim Hopkins has since been selected by the Main Street board of directors to head the program.

Vicksburg Main Street was the first Main Street Program established in the state.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.