Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland and Executive Director of Economic Development Susan Fleetwood presented awards last evening to 15 North Carolina Main Street program participants. The N.C. Main Street Awards Ceremony, held at the Don Gibson Theatre, recognized excellence in downtown revitalization in several categories including promotion, organization, design and economic vitality.
“We congratulate these outstanding communities for their leadership in downtown revitalization,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “For 37 years, the North Carolina Main Street program has championed the principles of effective downtown development and these award winners now join the ranks of a long line of transformative projects across our state.”
“These award winning communities have utilized their unique assets to develop programs that support the character of their community,” said Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. “The rehabilitation projects have brought new uses to our vacant buildings, resulting in job creation, downtown living and a significant private investment in our historic districts.”
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 from across the state.
2016 N.C. MAIN STREET AWARDS
Small Town Main Street Award
PROMOTION
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Mayodan
Award of Merit - Hayodan
Main Street Awards
ORGANIZATION
Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
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Concord
Award of Merit – Lofts 29
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Spruce Pine
Award of Merit – Spruce Pine Wayfinding Signage and Trail Marker Project
Best Fundraising Effort
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Cherryville
Award of Merit – Friends of Cherryville Fundraising Campaign
Best Volunteer Recruitment, Training and Recognition
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Hendersonville
Award of Merit – Downtown Hendersonville’s “Friends of Downtown” Program
PROMOTION
Best Image-Building Campaign
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Rutherfordton
Award of Merit – Town of Rutherfordton Rebranding and Revitalization
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
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Sanford
Award of Merit – Sanford Buggy Company
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Shelby
Award of Merit – Newgrass Brewing Company
Best Infill Building Project
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Concord
Award of Merit - New City Hall
Best Upper Floor Redevelopment
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Belmont
Award of Merit – Revival - 35 North Main
Best Business Retention, Expansion or Recruitment Effort
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Morganton
Award of Merit - Food Matters Market
DESIGN
Best Historic Rehabilitation Project
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Hickory
Award of Merit – Rehabilitation of Lyerly Full Fashioned Mill
Best Outdoor Space Improvement
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Bessemer City
Award of Merit - Centennial Park Revitalization Project
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Shelby
Award of Merit – City Pavilion
Best Public Building Improvement
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Lexington
Award of Merit – Davidson County Old Courthouse Rehabilitation
Since 1980, The North Carolina Main Street program has generated $2.5 billion in private and public investment. More than 22,400 cumulative, net new full-time and part-time jobs and 5,500 new businesses have been created in North Carolina Main Street districts since the program’s inception.
More information about the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center and its programs is available online at nccommerce.com/MainStreet.