BIRMINGHAM, AL (November 4, 2026) – Barry County has been awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring Downtown Strategies’ downtown planning service to two of its communities, the City of Hastings and the Village of Nashville. Through the grant, both communities will work with Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, to develop a strategic plan for their downtown districts.
The planning process will kick off with downtown visioning workshops in each community in December 2026. These workshops will give business owners, property owners and local leaders the opportunity to share their ideas and priorities for the future of their downtowns. That input, combined with market research and on-the-ground analysis from the Downtown Strategies team, will shape a plan tailored to each community.
In addition to downtown planning, Hastings and Nashville will gain access to the Small Business Support platform, which provides small business owners with training and resources to help them grow and strengthen their businesses.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant funding and bring downtown expertise to two of our communities in Barry County,” said Nichole Lyke, Economic Development Director for the Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance. “Strengthening our downtowns and supporting the small businesses that call them home are central to the Chamber’s goals for the county. This planning work gives Hastings and Nashville a clear roadmap for the future, and the Small Business Support platform gives our local entrepreneurs the training they need to grow. Investing in both is how we continue to support our local community and keep Barry County a great place to live, work and do business.”
“The downtown planning work that Hastings and Nashville will receive will set the wheels in motion for both communities,” said Sarah Beth Stewart, Vice President of Retail Strategies. “Each community will walk away with a plan that includes both short-term and long-term tactics they can execute, so they can start seeing progress right away while working toward a bigger vision for their downtowns.”
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About Downtown Strategies
Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, exists to provide realistic, implementable strategies to help communities revitalize their downtowns. Led by a team of former downtown revitalization practitioners and real estate experts, our combination of real-world experience and expertise in real estate and retail uniquely qualifies us to assist communities in backfilling vacancies, increasing tourism, and enhancing the sense of place in their downtowns. Serving rural communities in 27 states, Downtown Strategies is the leading national firm in downtown revitalization planning, with an emphasis on real estate and retail.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team, drawing on unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities yield returns in sales taxes, additional jobs, and businesses that enhance the unique qualities of your community.
