Nineteen North Carolina communities received awards for excellence in downtown revitalization at the North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street Awards Ceremony, held March 11, 2020 in New Bern.
North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland and Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Kenny Flowers honored recipients in categories that include economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.
“We congratulate this outstanding communities for their award-winning projects this year,” said Copeland. “These projects generated public and private investment, spurred job creation, leveraged business growth, and residential development to create vibrant downtowns.”
The North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center helps small towns create vibrant central business districts by using local resources to preserve their historic fabric and build upon their unique characteristics.
A panel of judges chose this year’s award winners from more than fifty nominations submitted by Main Street communities across the state.
“Vibrant downtown districts are important drivers of North Carolina’s economic prosperity,” added Copeland.
2019 SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET AWARD
Economic Vitality
- Hayesville – Clay County Historic Courthouse Adaptive Reuse
2019 MAIN STREET AWARDS
Organization
Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization
- Concord – The View at Hotel Concord
- Laurinburg– ‘Tis The Season
Best Innovation
- Belmont – Belmont GOBO Promotions
- Elkin – Explore Elkin
- Fuquay-Varina – Revelry Barber & Shave Shop
- Garner – Gearworks Bridge Space
- Goldsboro – Elite to Lil Elite Boutique
Best Public Relations Effort
- Edenton – Downtown Edenton “Follow the Dollar” Commercial
Promotion
Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series
- Forest City – The Cherry Bounce Festival
- Lenoir – NC Gravity Games
- Marion – The WNC Bigfoot Festival
Best Retail Promotion
- Fuquay-Varina – Play the ‘Quay Miniature Golf Tournament
Economic Vitality
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
- Burlington –Impact Alamance Cammack Building Renovation
- Oxford – Oxford’s First – Tobacco Wood Brewing Company
- Salisbury – Historic O.O. Rufty Building Fire Restoration & Adaptive Reuse Project
- Sanford – La Dolce Vita Pizzeria
Best Endangered Properties Rescue Effort
- Lenoir – The Little Building with the BIG Impact – Dayvault’s Drug Store
Design
Best Historic Rehabilitation Project
- Mount Airy – The Spencer’s Loft Condominiums
- Tryon – The Tryon Theatre Renovation
Best Façade Rehabilitation Project for $15,000 or Less
- Roxboro – 111 N. Main Street Rehabilitation Project
“The projects being recognized represent the year’s best building rehabilitation projects, innovative downtown revitalization initiatives, extraordinary historic preservation projects, authentic events, and effective promotional activities,” said Flowers. “The communities being recognized formed public-private partnerships to make significant downtown changes and improvements that resulted in positive change for downtown.”
Photo of Clay County Courthouse in Hayesville via Wikipedia.