BAY MINETTE – In the coming weeks, the town will literally bloom thanks to an initiative between the city and the chamber of commerce.

Called Bay Minette in Bloom, the program will install hanging baskets on both sides of poles both downtown and at major intersections.

“We have already mapped out downtown and major intersections along Highway 59,” said Rebecca Cheshire, executive director of the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. “We will give businesses and individuals a chance to sponsor the baskets.

“The $250 per year sponsorship price will include the baskets on both sides of the pole, two different plantings per year, the maintenance and upkeep of the plants, and a very tasteful sign that will discretely tell who sponsored the plants. People can also sponsor a pole in memory of or in honor of someone.”

Part of the ongoing push to beautify Bay Minette, the chamber joined forces with city hall for this project. In an effort to buy local, the brackets for the hanging baskets are all going to be locally made by Pasco Metal.

There was some delay in calculating the final price for a sponsiorship but the delay didn’t slow the community’s enthusiasm for the project.

“The initial response has been amazing,” said Cheshire. “I have already got a huge list of folks wanting to participate. Since it will be handled through the chamber’s foundation, the sponsorship donations will be tax-deductible.”

The first site to get baskets will be in front of North Baldwin Utilities. NBU has agreed to sponsor the three poles in front of its Hand Avenue office. When the plants are hung, pictures will be taken to create a brochure to help promote the program.