MOULTRIE — With deep roots in Moultrie — especially in downtown, where his great-grandfather had established Van’s Tire Company in the ‘30s and his grandfather served on the City Planning Commission — Bolt VanDalsem seems the perfect fit as the new Main Street manager.

“I am honored to take on the role of Main Street manager and look forward to working with the community to achieve our shared vision for Moultrie. This town has always been special to me and I am dedicated to ensuring its continued growth and success,” he said.

VanDalsem and his wife, Alysa, live in downtown Moultrie and he said that they love living downtown and they take advantage of being able to walk to the restaurants on the square.

“You get to see a lot of what goes on at night and during the day and how the businesses operate,” he said.

VanDalsem moved back to Moultrie five years ago and has also worked at Sid’s Antiques during that time, giving him the experience of both working and living downtown.

Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority President Amy Johnson, who also serves in an advisory/leadership capacity for the Main Street program, said, “What’s really neat about Bolt, when he came and talked to us, you could tell he has a passion for this community. Even though he moved away for a number of years, he has that passion.”

She said that it was very evident that it was important to him to carry-on the tradition of helping enhance his community.

“When Bolt came in, the main objective, first, was for him to learn the office and learn how Main Street fits into the local government,” she said.

Johnson said VanDalsem will be going to state Main Street training, where he will be with other Main Street leaders from across the state of Georgia. There, he will learn the fundamentals of the program, she said.

VanDalsem said he was most excited about working closely with the businesses downtown and the people.

“Everybody’s been so welcoming, all of the businesses downtown and all of the people downtown. Even if I didn’t know them, they’ve been very welcoming,” he said.

VanDalsem’s vision for Moultrie, he said, centers on fostering economic growth, enhancing the downtown area and maintaining the town’s reputation as one of the best in America. He said that, working closely with Johnson, he is already in the process of developing new ideas and projects for downtown.

“It’s a blessing to have Amy right across the hall to guide me in my new position as Main Street manager,” he said.

Johnson said that it was her job to make sure that VanDalsem gets the skills and the training that he needs to do the best job he can for the community.

“I have no doubt that he will do that soon and I look forward to what he’s going to be offering to the community,” she said.