Michael F. Easley
Governor
State of North Carolina
Office of the Governor
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Renee Hoffman
Date: August 7, 2007 Phone:
919/733-5612
GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES SIX NEW “SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET” COMMUNITIES
RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley announced today that six North Carolina towns have been selected to
participate in the North Carolina Small Town Main Street Program, an initiative for smaller cities that focuses
on creating new jobs and investment by helping revitalize downtown areas. The newest participating towns are
Angier, Badin, Burgaw, Tryon, West Jefferson and Windsor.
“The Main Street program has a proven track record of achievement in revitalizing downtowns across North
Carolina,” Easley said. “Communities in the program have experienced a renewed sense of pride and an
improved economic climate.”
The Small Town Main Street program provides technical assistance to smaller communities (those with a
population fewer than 7,500) that lack the resources to become full Main Street cities. The program uses the
“Main Street Four Point Approach” of organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring to help small
towns take the initiative to revitalize and restore their downtown commercial districts.
Previously designated Small Town Main Street program participants are Ayden, Chadboum, Fairmont, Mount
Olive, Mount Gilead, Spring Hope, Walnut Cove, Weldon, Williamston and Zebulon.
The Main Street program was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980 and is
administered by Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Development, hi addition to the Small
Town communities, the program also includes assistance for communities under 50,000 that have downtown
managers. In the past 27 years, North Carolina’s Main Street communities have seen more than SI billion
invested, provided a net gain of 12,000 jobs, renovated more than 2,700 buildings and had more than 2,900 new
businesses start in their downtowns. The program has staff in Asheville, Raleigh and Wilmington to provide
service and guidance to participating communities.
The Small Town Main Street program was started five years ago to help smaller communities that did not
qualify for full Main Street status. Participants are selected through a competitive application process and are
chosen based on several factors including: the level of distress in the town, previous downtown
accomplishments, and local and private community commitment and support.
More information on the Main Street program is available online at
http://www.nccommerce.com/en/CommunitvServices/CommunityPlanninuAssistance/NCMainStreetCenter/
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Governor's Press Office
State Capitol, Raleigh, NC 27603-8001
(919) 733-5612 - Toll Free 1-800-662-7005
FAX (9 19) 733-5 166
