OVERVIEW.
Across more than three decades of dedicated reinvestment and revitalization, Heart of Tyler’s volunteers have been busy on behalf of downtown and its community of business owners and property owners, members, residents, visitors and numerous organizations through hands-on service projects, targeted promotions, cultivation of the arts and more. Moving forward, we continue to support downtown with a focus on celebrating and bolstering its distinctive momentum.
The combined activity of Downtown Tyler’s individual resident businesses with the support Heart of Tyler and other contributors has created an atmosphere of positive energy. This Downtown Tyler commerce is vital for the city’s overall success—it is the busy, pulsing heart of the City of Tyler.
History
In 1987, a group of citizens concerned about the decline of downtown Tyler formed a nonprofit organization called Heart of Tyler, Inc. The organization worked with existing groups to plan, promote and coordinate mutual goals for downtown.
In 1990, the Texas Historical Commission offered a Main Street program for cities with populations over 50,000. Tyler became one of the first communities in Texas to receive the Urban Program designation. The Heart of Tyler Main Street Program officially began on Jan. 22, 1990, when Director Claire Squibb was hired.
Heart of Tyler continues to use the very successful Main Street Four Point Approach: we work in the four areas of Organization, Promotion, Economic Restructuring and Design in order to revitalize the downtown area.
Over time, there have been many success stories to celebrate. Heart of Tyler has been the driving force behind restoration of the Cotton Belt Depot, lighting improvements in the district, being an integral force for development of the arts in Downtown Tyler, hosting the Texas Downtown Association conference, assisting dozens of property owners with design services, creation of events such as 6×6@110, the Downtown Tyler Wine Swirl, the award-winning Black Tie Bingo, Toast to Downtown Tyler and so much more.
The Heart of Tyler Main Street Program is Tyler’s only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the economic, cultural and historic revitalization of downtown Tyler. We work in association with the City of Tyler, the Texas Main Street Program of the Texas Historical Commission and the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.MEMBERS ARE THE HEART OF TYLER
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Name Title Place of Employment Andy Bergfeld President Bergfeld Realty Company Cassie Hollenshead President-Elect Fair Oil Company AJ Evans Treasurer Prothro Wilhelmi Mary Alice Guidry Secretary Habitat for Humanity of Smith County Kaitlyn Shultz Immediate Past President Habitat for Humanity of Smith County -
Name Place of Employment Hunter Carr Carr Resources Hannah Hudson Austin Bank Lauren Jacobs Regions Bank Chad Maddux Bailes & Co. Bethany Mendoza Southside Bank Russell Patterson Patterson Commercial Properties Sam Scarborough Scarborough Commercial Real Estate Hannah Sillars Bossa Nova Strategies Katie Smith Vera Bank Jim Teeter BMW of Tyler Sharie Withers Day One Insurance – Allstate Patrick Woods Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLP Ingrid Young Brookshire Grocery Company -
Name Place of Employment Stephanie Franklin Deputy City Manager, City Of Tyler Amber Varona Main Street, City Of Tyler Carol Whiteside Discovery Science Place Robin Hampton East Texas Symphony Orchestra Ashley Washmon Historic Tyler James Hardin Innovation Pipeline Juan Montalvo Liberty Hall Casey Murphy Smith County Henry Bell Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Ashley Taylor Tyler Public Library Diann Bays Visit Tyler
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Membership isn’t just for downtown businesses. Heart of Tyler depends on the support of the many individuals, businesses and institutions across our entire community to keep our organization running. Downtown Tyler commerce is vital for the city’s overall success—it is the busy, pulsing heart of the City of Tyler. Invest in Tyler by adding or renewing your Heart of Tyler membership today!
In our 25-plus years in Tyler, our Members, Partners and Volunteers have participated in and created:
- More than $200 million in property rehabilitation, property sales and public improvement projects
- 28 statewide award-winning downtown projects
- Historic Preservation grants
- Downtown Property Owner grants
- More residents
- New businesses
- New jobs
- Events and projects supporting the arts and local artists
- Tens of thousands of attendees to special events downtown Join us in our work to support the economic vitality and culture in beautiful Downtown Tyler.
Join today!
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Individual – $100
- Early notice of Downtown events
- Invitations to members-only events
Corporate – $250
- Early notice of Downtown events
- Invitations to members-only events
Downtown Partner – $1,000
- Early notice of Downtown events
- Invitations to members-only events
- Banner on the square Downtown
- Exclusive rolling banner on the Heart of Tyler website