Round tables, oversized posters, sticky notes, markers and snacks filled the room. Multiple lively conversations unfolded at once as ideas flowed freely, with each participant bringing a unique vision for the future of downtown Franklin.
Last Tuesday evening, residents gathered in the lower level of Renee’s Cake Shoppe – 28 Main Events – to help shape the future of downtown.
The Public Visioning Session, organized by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center in partnership with the Town of Franklin, marked one of the first steps in developing a Strategic Downtown Economic Development Plan — a five-year roadmap for downtown’s economic future.
The meeting featured a series of interactive exercises designed to guide participants toward a shared vision for Franklin.
The first question was simple: What does Franklin already have? Residents individually identified the community’s strengths before discussing their ideas in small groups. They then transferred their thoughts onto large sheets of paper, which were posted around the room for everyone to review.
“We’re not necessarily fishing for the next big win, but we’re growing from within. We’re looking at the strengths that Franklin already has,” said Allison Smith, the evening’s facilitator.
The atmosphere resembled a creative workshop. Conversations filled the room as nearly 40 participants exchanged ideas, debated priorities, offered suggestions and laughed together. The evening reflected a strong sense of collaboration, community engagement and a shared desire to see Franklin thrive.
“I’d love for this to be a place where your friends and family are excited to come visit year after year,” resident Ed Racht said during one discussion.
Among those participating were Mayor Guffey, Town Manager Amie Owens, Town Council members Jeff Berry and Rita Salain, Main Street business owners, lifelong residents and newcomers alike. While they brought different experiences and perspectives, they shared a common appreciation for Franklin.
“I really love the sense of community. There are many families here that have been here a very long time,” resident Rita Hubbs said. “A person that taught my daughter was my husband’s babysitter when he was a kid. There’s that nice circle, and I like that.”
Resident Heather Timmons emphasized: “I would want [Franklin] to still have that really cool small-town feel, yet offer more restaurant choices and more walkable gathering spaces for families.”
Defining Franklin’s identity
The second half of the session focused on developing an Economic Positioning Statement, a document that will define Franklin’s economic identity over the next five years. Organizers emphasized that the statement is not intended to be a tourism slogan, but rather a strategic framework to help guide future decisions about downtown development.
For Martha Holbrook, owner of Pink Peonies Boutique + Gifts, one of Franklin’s greatest strengths is “the diversity that we have, because we have lots of different businesses and a lot of history.”
After working individually, participants shared their ideas at their tables before combining dozens of individual thoughts into a single statement. The goal was to find language that captured the identity of the entire community. Co-facilitator Joy recalled advice from Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose.” That message became the theme of the evening.
Rather than trying to make Franklin resemble other towns, participants focused on defining what makes our community unique. The ideas that surfaced most often centered on the historic downtown, Appalachian heritage, the Little Tennessee River, outdoor recreation, locally-owned businesses and a walkable community.
Among the proposed vision statements, two stood out: “All Roads Lead to Franklin” and “Historic Downtown Franklin is the Front Porch of the Smokies.”
At the end of the evening, each group presented its proposed vision statement before participants used blue stickers to vote for their favorite phrases and overall concepts.
The organizers will now combine the community’s ideas into a final Economic Positioning Statement, which will serve as the foundation for the Strategic Downtown Economic Development Plan.
Organizers also stressed that public input is still welcome. Residents can continue participating by completing an online survey, which will open soon and be available through the end of July.