‘First Thursdays’ slated in Franklin

Promotion and Economic Restructuring Committees of the Franklin Main Street Program, the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce and Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau are working together to fuel the energy on Main Street with First Thursdays. All First Thursday events are open to the public.
First Thursdays will occur the first Thursday of every month. During First Thursdays, merchants will keep their stores open until at least 6 p.m., offer special incentives for people to patronize their businesses and provide light refreshments for shoppers.
The first event is Stars, Stripes and Steals: A Holiday Shopping Spree. For this event, all merchants will be open until 7 p.m. Look for the “Official Merchant” signs that will be in the merchants’ windows.
Because Stars, Stripes and Steals is just before the Fourth of July, merchants are asked to decorate their storefronts in red, white and blue.
“I hope everyone will come out, shop locally and go to Joe’s on the Bayou for dinner and music performed by Alfred Hill and Savoy Howard,” Mayor Raymond Harris Jr. said. “Our merchants are working hard to promote economic development in Franklin, and I think we should support their efforts. I will be there, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone Thursday, July 2.’
For more information about First Thursdays and how to become a participating business, contact the Office of Community Development at 337-828-6345 or ashields@franklin-la.com.