BOLD welcomes new president

Bettering Our Local Downtown has a new face.

Pansy Foy Jones took the helm of the organization Friday as the new president during an open house held at B.O.L.D's downtown office.

Jones, a realtor who brings more than 20 years of experience in remodeling and renovations to the job, said she is looking forward to further cultivating a relationship with the City of Jacksonville and bringing more "energy" into the downtown area.

"Every city takes a turn and we're on the upturn in downtown Jacksonville," she said. "The focus of B.O.L.D. is to undergird the city and its peoples. It's about creating a living, working, enjoyable place."

A native of Onslow County, Jones said she moved away for about 20 years and upon returning was impressed with the downtown revitalization efforts and decided she needed to become more involved.

"The history and watching it evolve just fascinates me. I want to take the old and revitalize it and offer quality of life for the people of Onslow County," she said.

In the Cary area, Jones said she watched hay fields and cow pastures become communities and wants to bring that progress to her new role at B.O.L.D.

"I know how to network the old and the new together for maximum potential," she said.

Along with Jones, B.O.L.D. is also welcoming new members to its board of directors and still has two vacancies on the 12 member board.

Dennis Burgard, outgoing president of B.O.L.D. said due to a lack of funding by the county in the upcoming fiscal year, Jones' role will take on more of an administrative role than past presidents as funds are short for festivals and other projects of that nature.

Rather than putting on festivals themselves, Burgard said B.O.L.D. will take on more of a supporting role in helping those who wish to host events downtown.

"That's just the reality of what it has to be this year," he said.

This year, B.O.L.D. had to cancel its Downtown Alive series again. Jones said the reason is lack of funding and sponsorships.

While lack of sponsorships led to the downfall of Downtown Alive, Burgard said B.O.L.D. remains fiscally fit.

"Financially we're secure, we've got money in the bank," he said.

While festivals and events aren't the top priority for B.O.L.D. as it ushers in a new fiscal year, Jones said the new board of directors is in the process of working on a festival event slated for September.

"Connections are already being made to bring music and entertainment," she said.

Although Jones may be taking over an organization with less funding than it has had in the past, Burgard said the progress B.O.L.D. has made in recent years is noteworthy.

"Between 1976 and 2004 not a single new home was built in downtown Jacksonville," he said.

Since 2004, when B.O.L.D. began, Burgard said an average of three or four homes have been constructed in the downtown area and as many as 14 were built in 2009.

"Since B.O.L.D. has gotten involved you can see all the things that have happened," he said. "B.O.L.D. has kind of been at the center of all that's going on and we just want to keep that going."

Contact Molly DeWitt at 91-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.