Perdue, Bev. Press Release, 2011-07-14, Main Street Solutions Fund to Help Local Small Businesses and Support Downtown Revitalization

Beverly Eaves Perdue Governor State of North Carolina Office of the Governor 20301 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-0301 July 14, 2011 Contact: Chris Mackey Office: (919) 733-5612 Main Street Solutions Fund to Help Local Small Businesses and Support Downtown Revitalization Grants to Lenoir and Salisbury will create jobs and spur economic growth RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue today announced two North Carolina communities, Lenoir and Salisbury, will receive Main Street Solutions Fund grants for $241,000. These two awards will leverage an additional S52 1,084 in public and private investments. The small businesses bene fitting from these investments will create or retain a minimum of 20 permanent full-time and 12 part-time jobs. “Main Streets are the heart of small town North Carolina. We must continue to support the revitalization of these areas, while helping local small businesses to grow and create jobs,” said Gov. Perdue. “These grants will provide the spark that can ignite growth and economic recovery.” The Main Street Solutions Fund was created by Gov. Perdue and is administered by the Community Development Division of the N.C. Department of Commerce. The Fund is used to support local small businesses in small towns and cities throughout North Carolina through urban revitalization and historic preservation. This is the second and final round of grants in 201 1. In April, grants were awarded to seven communities: Benson, Kinston, Goldsboro, Burnsville, Highlands, Sylva and Newton. Grant details: Lenoir Awardees: City of Lenoir, Lenoir Business Advisory Board, Carolina Distillery, LLC, Taste of Carolina Name of Project: Carolina Distillery Expansion Description of Project: The proposed project is a mixed-use redevelopment of a 39,600 square foot former furniture store, located at 1001 West Avenue in Downtown Lenoir, NC. The building has been vacant for almost three years. The building will house the expansion of an existing business, Carolina Distillery, LLC, and the creation of two new businesses. The two new businesses will be a restaurant, Taste of Carolina, and a wine store, NC Wine Outlet. The project will retain and create 18 full time employees and 12 part time employees.