The North Carolina Department of Commerce presented 18 awards to participants in the N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street programs at the N.C. Main Street Awards Ceremony Thursday evening in Salisbury. Award winners were recognized for excellence in downtown revitalization efforts in categories that include promotion, organization, design and economic restructuring.
“Main Streets are making a positive impact in their communities all across the state,” said Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. “Downtown revitalization efforts are contributing to the state’s overall economic recovery and we applaud these community leaders for their hard work.”
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 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 population) 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.
2012 N.C. SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET AWARDS
• Organization:
o Award of Merit - Blount Harvey Building – Lenoir Community College Annex, LaGrange
• Economic Restructuring:
o Award of Merit - Historic 1906 Tryon Depot, Tryon
o Certificate of Special Recognition - Solar Panel Installation – 101 East Virginia Avenue, Bessemer City
• Promotion:
o Award of Merit - Wilkesboro Open Air Market, Wilkesboro
• Design:
o Award of Merit - Town Square Renovation and Revitalization, Highlands
o Certificate of Special Recognition to Burnsville Art on Main Street, Burnsville
2012 N.C. MAIN STREET AWARDS
• Organization
o Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization: Award of Merit - Arts Downtown, Goldsboro
o Best Innovation: Award of Merit - Downtownie™ Passport Project, Mooresville
o Best Volunteer Recruitment, Training and Recognition: Award of Merit - What’s It Take?, Goldsboro
• Economic Restructuring
o Best Infill Building Project: Award of Merit - Clayton Law Enforcement Center, Clayton
• Promotion
o Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series:
? Award of Merit - Nell Cropsey Ghost Walk, Elizabeth City;
? Award of Merit - BBQ Capital Cook-off, Lexington
? Certificate of Special Recognition - En Plein Air Paint Off, Fuquay-Varina
o Best Downtown Branding and Image-Building Campaign:
? Award of Merit - Elizabeth City H.A.S. Campaign and Blog, Elizabeth City;
? Award of Merit - Downtown Branding Campaign, Fuquay-Varina
• Design
o Best Outdoor Space Improvement:
? Award of Merit - Downtown Statesville Streetscape Improvement Project, Statesville
? Certificate of Special Recognition - Mosaic Community Garden, Clayton
o Best Public Building Improvement: Statesville City Hall, Statesville
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-one individuals were honored for their contributions in 2012. This year’s group of Main Street Champions brings the total number to 500 since Champions were first named in 1980 as part of N.C. Main Street’s 20th anniversary celebration.
“Main Street Champions are those individuals that lead by example. Whether they renovate a building, open a business, volunteer their services, or rally the troops, they step out in front and encourage others to follow. They are recognized for their dedication to their community that furthers the efforts of downtown revitalization,” said Liz Parham, director of the Office of Urban Development at the NC Department of Commerce.
2012 N.C. MAIN STREET CHAMPIONS
• Barbara and Larry Bowers, Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation
• Rick Wilson, Heart of Brevard, Inc.
• Mary S. Smith, Burlington Downtown Corporation
• Woman’s Club of Clayton Members, Clayton Downtown Development Association
• Vickie Crane, Clinton Main Street Program
• Jonathan Jobe and Peggy Gammon of Home Savings Bank, Twin Rivers Downtown Development Corporation, Eden
• Richard Bunch, Destination Downtown Edenton, Inc.
• Rich Olson, Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc.
• Janette Rushbrook, Elkin Main Street Program
• Carolyn “Sissy” Pattillo, Franklin Main Street
• Eric and Mary Christofferson, Fuquay-Varina Downtown
• Brad Bass, Garner Revitalization Association
• Sarah Merritt, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation
• Joan Bielski, Historic Hertford, Inc.
• Tracy Nestor, Hickory Downtown Development Association
• City of Lexington Event Support Staff, Uptown Lexington, Inc.
• Osama Yousef, Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton
• City of Marion Public Works Street Department Staff, Marion Business Association
• Reid Helms, Downtown Monroe
• Bob Amon, Mooresville Downtown Commission
• Janet Francouer, Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation, New Bern
• Mayor Robert L. Johnson, Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro
• Veronica Jones, Reidsville Downtown Corporation
• Alan Hicks, Roxboro Development Group
• Joe Morris, Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
• Peggy Taphorn, Downtown Sanford, Inc.
• Fred and Jennipher Harrill, Uptown Shelby Association, Inc.
• Millard and Patricia Stallings, Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation
• Mike Johnson, Downtown Statesville Development Corporation
• Matt Hale, Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation
• Dr. LeRoy and Gale Roberson, Downtown Waynesville Association
For more information about the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Main Street program, visit www.nccommerce.com.
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