Foley Main Street has launched a new community membership initiative, “Friends of Downtown Foley,” inviting residents and supporters to help fund public art, live music and gathering spaces in the city’s historic downtown district.
The program is designed to turn the recent momentum in downtown Foley into a lasting, community-supported effort, according to organizers. Foley sits just a few miles from the Gulf Coast’s beaches and has long served as a gateway to the shoreline, but city officials and business leaders say it has increasingly become a destination of its own, with growth that has made it one of the busier population centers in Baldwin County. Foley Main Street has stated the city’s population now exceeds the combined populations of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, a point organizers cite as evidence of the area’s rapid growth.
“Foley Main Street is on a mission to make our downtown a vibrant and welcoming destination in the region,” said Wes Abrams, president of the Foley Main Street Community Foundation. “But to do that, we need more than just plans—we need a family. This program isn’t just about a donation; it’s about becoming part of the heartbeat of our town.”
Through the Friends of Downtown Foley program, the Foundation is seeking to fund a set of projects intended to make the historic district safer and more visually appealing. Organizers say the initiative will prioritize:
- Artistic crosswalks and murals that combine pedestrian safety with local creativity
- Enhanced community spaces designed to give neighbors places to gather
- Public art installations meant to turn everyday corners of downtown into spots for discovery
- Live music performances that showcase local talent throughout the district
Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible, and donors will have the opportunity to vote on which projects move forward, giving the community a direct say in how the downtown area develops.
Organizers point to the Foundation’s existing record as evidence the model works. The group says it has already put more than $154,000 in grant funding back into the local economy, money that has gone toward crosswalk improvements, mural projects and support for small businesses downtown.
The effort follows a pattern seen in downtown revitalization programs across the country, in which local foundations pair grant dollars with community fundraising and volunteer involvement to restore and animate historic commercial districts. Such programs typically aim to balance preservation of older buildings and streetscapes with new investment in public gathering spaces, art and events.
Residents and business owners interested in joining Friends of Downtown Foley can visit the Foley Main Street website or contact Executive Director Darrelyn Dunmore at 251-270-0089 for more information.
Update (Aug. 1, 2026):
Foley Main Street has provided additional detail on how contributions to the Friends of Downtown Foley program will be allocated. According to the Foundation, local art and music initiatives will receive 75 percent of all donations made through the program, with those initiatives also gaining a direct voice in voting on which future projects move forward.