The North Carolina Main Street Center works to stimulate economic development within the context of historic preservation, using a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and utilized by the Trust's National Main Street Center to assist communities across the country.

In 1980, the National Trust created the NMSC to share lessons learned in a revitalization pilot program. For the next three years, the NMSC conducted a national demonstration in six states, including North Carolina, encouraging the creative use of business and government resources to support local revitalization initiatives.

Since completing the demonstration project, the NMSC has added over 44 states to the Main Street network and has assisted over 1,200 active communities nationally. Having “graduated” from the demonstration program, North Carolina has continued to offer the Main Street program to cities and towns throughout the state and now provides direct assistance to 57 Main Street communities and indirect assistance to countless others.

To further expand services to North Carolina towns, a Small Town Main Street Program was initiated in 2003. This program targets towns with populations under 7,500 which are unlikely to pursue North Carolina Main Street designation.

Since the program began in 1980, North Carolina Main Street downtowns have experienced:

• A gain of $1.1 billion in new investment,
• A net gain of 12,400 jobs,
• Renovation of 2,900 buildings, and 
• A net gain of 3,000 businesses

Nationally, Main Street communities have had more than $41.6 billion of new public and private investment in their downtowns.

The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive revitalization process designed to improve all aspects of a downtown, producing both intangible and tangible benefits.

Four elements are combined to create a well-balanced program:

• Organization: Building partnerships to create a consistent revitalization program and develop effective management and leadership downtown. Diverse groups - merchants, bankers, public officials, the chamber of commerce and civic groups - must work together to improve downtown.

• Promotion: Reestablishing downtown as a compelling place for shoppers, investors and visitors. This means not only improving sales but also rekindling community excitement and involvement. Promotion ranges from street festivals to retail merchandising, from community education to marketing and public relations.

• Design: Enhancing the visual quality of the downtown. Attention is given to the downtown environment elements - not just buildings and storefronts but also public improvements, rear entries, signs, landscaping, window displays and graphic materials.

• Economic Restructuring: Strengthening the existing economic assets of the business district while diversifying its economic base. Activities include conducting market analysis to understand the changing market place, adapting vacant buildings that have outlived their original purposes for use as entertainment or cultural facilities and sharpening the competitiveness of Main Street's traditional merchants.

The North Carolina Main Street Center (NCMSC) provides:

• Program Guidance: Assists communities in developing a local program to manage the process of revitalization and helps them to develop a community-based vision for action. This includes assisting in organizational development and board training as well as supporting the development of goals, objectives and work plans. The Center provides on-going program evaluation and manager and board guidance.

• Technical Assistance: Provides technical assistance in the areas of organizational development, real estate development, market analysis, business retention and creation, promotions, and design, among others. The Main Street designer provides consultation and renderings to property owners to encourage facade renovation and reinvestment

• Training:    Offers training in the Main Street four-point approach, real estate and business development, design, and organizational development. Courses are held around the state and are offered to Main Street and non-Main Street communities alike.

• Networking: Through participation in the North Carolina Main Street program, communities have access not only to other in-state programs but also to over 1,200 communities across the country that are participating in Main Street. By sharing the lessons learned, communities can avoid many of the pitfalls and invest their resources more wisely.

• Advocacy and Leadership: Functions as a clearinghouse for ideas and success stories from which all can benefit. Staff members participate in local, regional, and national events to promote the importance of downtown revitalization and many successes of the North Carolina participants.

Since 1980, the NCMSC has selected communities to participate in the program approximately every two years, and there are currently 57 designated Main Street cities across the state.

1980

New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro, Washington

1982

Clinton, Morganton, Statesville, Rocky Mount, Wilson

1984

Goldsboro, Lenoir, Reidsville, Sanford, Wadesboro

1986

Henderson, Hendersonville, Kinston, Smithfield, Waynesville

1988

Burlington, Elizabeth City, Lumberton, Mooresville, Mt. Airy (inactive)

1990

Aberdeen (inactive), Concord, Franklin, Newton, Rutherfordton

1991

Mocksville, Southport, Spruce Pine

1993

Albemarle, Boone, Brevard, Lexington

1995

Farmville, Lincolnton, Roxboro, Sylva

1998

Elkin, Monroe, Oxford, Sparta

2000

Belmont, Hertford, North Wilkesboro, Morehead City

2003

Eden, Edenton, Forest City, Marion

2006

Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Hickory, Wake Forest

The Small Town Main Street Program addresses the growing number of small, rural towns that need downtown development assistance but are not likely, due to size or resource limitations, to pursue the regular Main Street program. Selected communities receive on-site technical assistance from the Small Town Main Street staff including:

• Organizational development
• Market analysis
• Business assistance
• Promotions
• Design.

As in the regular Main Street program, no funds come with the designation.

For additional information contact:

Bob Murphrey, Small Town Main Street Coordinator, Eastern NC
127 Cardinal Drive Extension
Wilmington, NC  28405
(919) 2I8-2934

rmurphrey@nccommerce.com

 

or

 

Richard McHargue, Small Town Main Street Coordinator, Western NC

31 College Plaza, Building B

Asheville, NC  28801

(828) 251-6914

rmchargue@nccommerce.com

Small Town Main Street Communities

• 2003 - Chadbourn, Mount Olive, Weldon, Williamston
• 2004 - Spring Hope, Zebulon
• 2005 - Walnut Cove
• 2006 - Ayden, Fairmont, Mount Giliad
• 2007 - Angier, Badin, Burgaw, Tryon, West Jefferson, Windsor