RALEIGH– Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker and Assistant Secretary Dr. Pat Mitchell announced today that 21 awards will be given to participants in the N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street program. Award winners are recognized for excellence in downtown revitalization efforts in categories that include promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring.
“North Carolina is already seeing signs of economic recovery and our communities are playing a significant role in that effort,” said Secretary Sharon Decker. “These cities and towns are taking advantage of our recent economic reforms to provide a vibrant “Main Street” setting for emerging business leaders and active citizens.”
The North Carolina Main Street program helps small towns preserve their historic fabric and, using local resources, build on their unique characteristics to create vibrant central business districts. This year’s award winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges from dozens of applications submitted by Main Street participants throughout the state.
The North Carolina Small Town Main Street program is designed to provide downtown revitalization assistance to small towns (under 7,500 populations) that are not likely, due to size or resource limitations, to pursue the regular North Carolina Main Street program. Admittance into the Small Town Main Street program is through an annual, competitive application process
2013 N.C. SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET AWARDS
· Organization:
o Award of Merit – Town of Waxhaw Community Public Art Plan
· Economic Restructuring:
o Award of Merit – Revitalization of Warrenton
· Promotion:
o Award of Merit – Town of Tryon’s Ransom Morris Project
· Design:
Award of Merit – Downtown West Jefferson’s Streetscape
2013 N.C. MAIN STREET AWARDS
· Organization
o Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization: Award of Merit – Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina
o Best Innovation: Award of Merit – Lovable Lincolnton Possibility Tour
o Best Public Relations Effort: Award of Merit – The We Are Downtown Community Involvement Process, Burlington
o Best Fund Raising Effort: Award of Merit – Saving the Taylor Theatre, Edenton
· Economic Restructuring
o Best Economic Development Incentive: Award of Merit – Business Incentive Grant Program, Goldsboro
o Best Adaptive Reuse: Award of Merit – Celtic Fringe Bistro, LLC, Reidsville
o Best Upper Floor Redevelopment: Award of Merit – The Apartments at 114 South Main, Roxboro
o Best Business Retention, Expansion or Recruitment Effort: Award of Merit – Carolina Courts, Concord
· Promotion
o Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series:
§ Award of Merit – The 2013 Rhythm and Brews Concert Series – Inaugural Season, Hendersonville
§ Award of Merit – Mumfest, New Bern
o Best Downtown Retail Event: Award of Merit – Downtown Pop-up Shops, Garner
o Best Downtown Branding and Image-Building Campaign: Award of Merit –Pots on Parade, Lincolnton
· Design
o Best Historic Rehabilitation Project:
§ Award of Merit – Olde Hickory Station (National Register of Historic Places – Southern Railroad Passenger Depot)
§ Award of Merit – 115-117 S. Third Street, Smithfield
o Best Façade Rehabilitation Project for More Than $15,000: Former First National Bank Building, Roxboro
o Best Outdoor Space Improvement:
§ Award of Merit – Clinton Phase III Downtown Revitalization Project
§ Award of Merit – “Kelly’s Way,” Reidsville
Main Street Champions are designated by their local N.C. Main Street programs for the remarkable contributions they have made to the downtown revitalization process in their communities. Thirty-three individuals were honored for their contributions in 2013. This year’s group of Main Street Champions brings the total number to 533 since Champions were first named in 1980 as part of N.C. Main Street’s 20th anniversary celebration.
“Main Street Champions are the type that recognize the possibilities in their downtowns and strives to make those possibilities reality. They are the believers, the doers, the backbone of a successful revitalization effort that has brought new jobs, new businesses and a renewed spirit of vitality back to the heart of the community in small cities and towns throughout North Carolina,” said Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Office of Urban Development.
2013 N.C. Main Street Champions
· Gina Martin, Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation
· Ann Hollingsworth, Heart of Brevard, Inc.
· Lyn Austin, Clayton Downtown Development Association
· Mayor Lew Starling and Clinton City Council, Clinton Main Street Program
· Mayor Scott Padgett, Concord Downtown Development Corporation
· Tim and Diana Biggs, Eden Downtown Development Corporation
· Jeanne and Patrick Cumby, Destination Downtown Edenton, Inc.
· Bobbi White, Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc.
· Cicely McCulloch, Elkin Main Street Program
· Forest City Owls Baseball Club, Forest City Main Street Program
· Bill Atkins, Fuquay-Varina Downtown
· Elmo Vance, Garner Revitalization Association
· Geoff Hulse, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation
· Lynne Raymond, Historic Hertford, Inc.
· Hal Row, Hickory Downtown Development Association
· Stephen Hill and Trent Mooring, Pride of Kinston
· Cathy G. Davis, Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton
· Debra Mace, Marion Business Association
· Joyce Rentschler and Andrea Price, Downtown Monroe
· Dennis Cowardin, Mooresville Downtown Commission
· Judy Avery, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation (New Bern)
· Bebe Hennessy, Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro
· Tyler Walker, Reidsville Downtown Corporation
· Rev. Marty Cauley, Rocky Mount Main Street Program
· Wayne Ross, Roxboro Development Group
· Randy Hemann, Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
· Dana and Brandon Atkins, Downtown Sanford, Inc.
· Barry Long, Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation
· City of Statesville Electric Utilities Department Employees, Downtown Statesville Development Corporation
· Brook Crider, Uptown Wadesboro, Inc.
· Amanda Giustiniani, Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation
· Melanee Lester, Downtown Waynesville Association
· Lisa Anderson, Wilson Main Street Program
For more information about the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Main Street program, visit www.nccommerce.com.