AUGUSTA — The executive director of the Augusta Downtown Alliance is leaving after just over a year on the job.

Jeremy Ashlock, 32, has submitted his resignation, and said Wednesday it was his last day on the job.

He said he was leaving the job due to personal reasons, not related to anything with the organization or the job. He said his plans involve working in the private sector.

“I continue to believe in the power of community and the role that the (Augusta Downtown Alliance) plays in being a conduit for the Augusta community to accomplish the changes and way of life they would like to see in Augusta,” Ashlock said. “I continue to believe that our downtown and the Main Streets of our country more broadly are important community-building areas, and that the public square, a place to congregate, start a small business, volunteer or visit while in town are of utmost importance to maintain our nation’s social and economic fabric.”

Victoria Abbott, president of the downtown alliance’s board of directors, said the alliance is seeking a new director. She said Ashlock is leaving the job on excellent terms and she’s sorry to see him go.

“Jeremy did an outstanding job during his time with the Augusta Downtown Alliance,” Abbott said. “He effortlessly cultivated both new and existing relationships and brought a strong understanding of the Four-Point Approach that guides our organization,” Abbott said, referring to an approach taken by members of the Main Street Maine program, which includes Augusta. “His experience as a business owner offered a valuable and unique perspective that greatly benefit the Augusta Downtown Alliance.”

Ashlock took the job some five months after Michael Hall, who led the group for eight years, left the job for a community development position with the city of Waterville.

Ashlock had been on the board of the alliance, a group primarily made up of downtown merchants that promotes and supports downtown businesses, prior to becoming its executive director. He was chosen from about 30 applicants for the job, and was paid a salary of $60,000.

The Augusta Downtown Alliance is funded by business owners, alliance members, donors and yearly funding from the city of Augusta. The group has helped organize holiday and other events downtown, and has made other additions to the area, including, in recent years, a project installing sturgeon art downtown.

Alliance officials are seeking to fill the position. An online advertisement of the job posting states they are seeking a dynamic, community-driven leader to serve as the public face of Augusta’s Main Street program and spearhead efforts to foster economic vitality, preserve historic charm and promote the heart of Augusta as a vibrant hub for residents and visitors. It cites the compensation for the job as between $50,000-$60,000 per year.

Abbott said she is confident they “will find someone who shares our passion for Augusta, community development and the ongoing revitalization of our beautiful downtown.”