North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized today for their commitment to downtown improvements and strong communities during a Recognition Ceremony in Salisbury starting at 9:00am (March 14). Forty-three Champions will receive honors for contributions to their Main Street programs and downtown districts in 2018. This year’s group of Main Street Champions brings the total number to 721 that have been recognized by the North Carolina Department of Commerce over the past 19 years.
“Every city and town needs a Champion - someone that will step up and invest time and money in the community, improve the quality of life and grow economic vibrancy throughout the state. Commerce is so pleased, each year, to recognize those individuals that are making a difference in their communities,” said Anthony M.Copeland, N.C. Secretary of Commerce.
“The key to the success of the local Main Street program is its people, those individuals that that take extraordinary pride in their downtown revitalization initiatives and the vitality of their community and are willing to go the extra mile for success. Those individuals have earned the title ‘Main Street Champion’. They are local elected officials and staff, community leaders, downtown business owners and employees, and program volunteers. They give 110% and then ask, what’s next?”, said Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center.
2019 North Carolina Main Street Champions
- Jackie Cornell - Aberdeen
- Kent Harkey - Albemarle
- Al Platt - Brevard
- Elon University Downtown Innovation Group - Burlington
- Sherry D. Bingham - Cherryville
- Downtown Dash Committee - Clinton
- Diane Young - Concord
- Faye and Terry Shelton - Eden
- Mark and Theresa Thesier - Edenton
- Thomas and Tabitha Reese - Elizabeth City
- Elon Public Works Department - Elon
- Sam and Maggie Cantor - Forest City
- Jonathan and Maggie Pierce - Fuquay-Varina
- Bethany Mohr - Goldsboro
- John Connet - Hendersonville
- Hertford Rotary Club - Hertford
- Connie Kincaid - Hickory
- Tony Sears - Kinston
- Downtown Lenoir Main Street Volunteers - Lenoir
- Lee Hinkle - Lexington
- Beth Davis - Marion
- Denise Hendrix - Mocksville
- David Miller - Mooresville
- Chrissy Suralik - Morehead City
- Keith Suttles - Morganton
- Phil Marsh - Mount Airy
- Department of Public Works - New Bern
- City of Newton Parks and Recreation Department Employees - Newton
- George Smith - North Wilkesboro
- Lisa Gingue - Oxford
- Ginny Brooks - Reidsville
- City of Roanoke Rapids Public Works Department Staff - Roanoke Rapids
- James Benjamin Braddock - Rocky Mount
- Chief Kenneth Torain and the Roxboro Fire Department - Roxboro
- Gianni Moscardini - Salisbury
- Buck Harris - Sanford
- Cliff and Angela Franklin of Uptown Indigo; Travis & Stacey Walker of Greenbrook Design; Staff of Uptown Indigo and Greenbrook Design - Shelby
- Town of Smithfield Public Works Department - Smithfield
- Liz Petree - Statesville
- Spruce Pine Town Council - Spruce Pine
- Beau Menetre and Kirk Gollwitzer- Tryon
- Vivian A. Jones - Wake Forest
- Kenneth Hill - Wilson