The North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center selected Whiteville for its Downtown Associate Community Program, Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today.
Beginning in September, Whiteville will receive three years of downtown technical assistance services from the Center. Upon successful completion of the program and fulfillment of the North Carolina Main Street requirements, Whiteville may have the opportunity to advance to official Main Street status.
“This Downtown Associate Community designation will provide Whiteville with the resources and tools needed to restore downtown vitality,” said Secretary Copeland. “Our Main Street and Rural Planning Center is eager to support local leaders’ efforts and to see Downtown Whiteville grow and attract new businesses.”
Since its launch in 2015, the Downtown Associate Community program has helped municipalities build sustainable organization foundations for their downtown renewal efforts. The next selection process will take place during spring of 2019.
“We are excited to work with Whiteville and look forward to helping them strengthen their long-term downtown revitalization efforts moving forward,” said North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center Director Liz Parham. “The Downtown Associate Community program offers strategic economic development planning and organizational development to ensure the sustainability of Whiteville’s downtown revitalization.”
As with all programming offered by the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center, the Downtown Associate Community program is based on the Four-Point Approach®, developed 40 years ago by the National Main Street Center®. This comprehensive methodology focuses on organization, design, promotion and economic vitality.
The North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center works in regions, counties, cities, towns, downtown districts and in designated North Carolina Main Street communities to inspire placemaking through building asset-based economic development strategies that achieve measurable results such as investment, business growth and jobs.
For more information about the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center programming, visit nccommerce.com/rd/main-street or contact NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center Liz Parham at (919) 814-4658 or lparham@nccommerce.com.
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