Perry’s new downtown Manager aims to keep collaborating 

PERRY — Jara Hurt has been a key player in the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce. Now, she is bringing her expertise to the city level by stepping into her new role as downtown manager. 

Hurt lives and works in the heart of downtown Perry. She was previously the operations director at the Chamber of Commerce for two years.

Hurt started her role on June 10, but has already made valuable connections. As downtown manager, Hurt serves as the connector between businesses, residents, and the city. She is the liaison for the downtown merchants. 

According to the city, there are about 250 businesses downtown. 

In her role, she will support economic growth, enhance downtown experiences and bring in projects and initiatives that will make downtown thrive. She aims to make it a place where people can live, work and visit. 

Hurt also works directly with the Main Street Advisory Board, an organization of community partners dedicated to downtown revitalization.

Transitioning from the chamber to the city has been smooth, Hurt said in an interview.  She stepped into the role with a unique advantage since she was already working in Perry. 

Hurt has already known her community and built relationships with downtown merchants. 

“This role allows me to do what I love doing, which is pour into this community and into the people that are here just from a bigger, broader perspective,” she said. 

Being downtown manager will give Hurt greater reach, but it also overlaps with her previous role as operations director, which is a benefit for her. 

Both have the same skill set, centered on people and places. As operations director, she oversaw daily operations and coordinated community and business events. She also worked closely with local business owners, community organizations, volunteers and civic leaders to strengthen economic vitality and community connections. 

In her new role, she can focus on economic development, relationship-building, and community engagement. 

“I get to take what I already had and just plug it into bigger areas [to] make big tangible differences in people’s everyday lives,” she said. 

Hurt is watching for future downtown development. Receiving input from that is important, especially with the city’s ongoing growth. 

She aims to balance growth with maintaining the small-town feel Perry is known for.

“I want to make sure that we’re building on momentum that’s already there, but keeping this small, historic, beautiful [and] family-friendly downtown that we have that draws people here in the first place,” she said. 

Hurt wants an open-door policy with downtown merchants. She encourages business owners to share their feedback and develop solutions. 

“They can always bring that to me. I’m here and I’ll listen [to the] good, the bad and the ugly. We can’t fix what we don’t know is broken,” she said. “I want them to always feel like they can talk to me to tell me what it is. If I don’t know the answer, we will find it together, because at the end of the day we all want what’s best for Perry.”

She said the city is made up of passionate business owners, residents and community leaders. Hurt cares deeply about downtown and wants to learn from the people who make it unique. 

“I believe the best ideas come from conversations and collaboration. These first six months to a year, I really want to be focused on building those relationships and understanding more in-depth what our downtown needs,” she said. 

Hurt hopes those conversations will lead to opportunities to make meaningful improvements, whether by supporting businesses or by enhancing events and established unification efforts. 

She mentions the city’s Placemaking Committee, who are also responsible for enhancing the downtown experience. Hurt aims to continue supporting the committee in every way possible. 

Being part of the city has been great for Hurt. She said everyone has been welcoming, which has made her even more excited for her role. She looks forward to working hand in hand with the city for its betterment and growth.  

Hurt’s overall goal is to ensure downtown Perry remains vibrant and welcoming for visitors and residents. She also wants it to be a place where businesses can thrive. 

“That’s the goal [to] keep it this beautiful, historical little city that it is but also grow in a way that’s attainable and still feels like small town Perry,” she said. 

In an interview, the City of Perry’s Communications Director, Tabitha Clark, said Hurt has been a joy to work with so far. She mentioned Hurt’s experience and background with downtown businesses, given her previous position at the chamber of commerce. 

Clark said Hurt is the perfect fit since she already has the trust and respect from downtown merchants. The city expects her to be a great downtown manager. Hurt, being a downtown resident, also played a role in her hiring. 

“She brings a very unique perspective of both the outsider and insider. That is something we really valued in her application and in her interview,” Clark said.

Hurt has already started implementing ideas and asking questions about future projects. Clark said she is a great asset to the team and has fit in well with city staff. 

“She is hitting the ground running and we’re super excited to see everything that she accomplishes,” Clark said.