An organization that works to improve and promote downtown Seymour is looking at ways to fund a full-time director.

Seymour Main Street has been without a director since the resignation of Julie Huff in June.

Huff, who lives in Deputy, was hired in February 2015 in a part-time capacity and left to take a different job.

Main Street had spent several years without a director prior to bringing Huff on board. She had been working part time at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts.

Tom Goecker, president of the Main Street board, said there have been discussions about how to make the Main Street director position full time.

“We’re working through the funding process and researching how other communities fund their directors,” Goecker said.

Once they figure it out, Goecker said the board then will approach members and the community with a plan.

To hire Huff, the group used money raised by the annual Dancing with the Seymour Stars event. But Goecker said they now want to use that funding for special projects and programs, including the installation of new bike racks designed by Crane Hill Machine and matching benches and wayfaring signage.

“I think we’ll have a clearer picture in the next couple of months,” he said.

The problem with having a part-time director is the person only has enough time to focus their efforts on a few areas.

Seymour Main Street has four main areas of focus — design or enhancing the physical appearance of the downtown, economic restructuring, organization and promotion.

“They can’t do it all, and have to pick and choose what they want to focus on,” Goecker said. “With a full-time director they will be able to handle more aspects that we want to oversee and assist the city more in downtown development.”

Huff was responsible for the installation and hosting of a professional art exhibit downtown and helped with the sale of the Knights of Pythias building, along with annual Main Street events, such as the Lawn, Garden and Patio show and Downtown Trick or Treat.

The new director will work closely with the mayor’s office, the Jackson County Visitor Center, the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce and other partners, along with downtown merchants and building owners to revitalize the downtown and make it thrive.