In the heart of North Carolina, a celebration of innovation and community spirit is set to take place as the North Carolina Main Street Awards honor 13 communities for their outstanding achievements in downtown revitalization. This annual event, held on March 11 in New Bern, underscores the importance of transforming historic main streets into vibrant hubs of economic and social activity.
The awards ceremony, hosted by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, will see Chief Deputy Secretary Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development Reginald Speight, and Director of the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center Liz Parham presenting accolades in various categories such as Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization. These categories highlight the diverse ways communities are breathing new life into their downtown areas.
N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley emphasized the role of Main Streets as “engines of innovation and community pride,” illustrating how these rejuvenated spaces serve as platforms for thriving businesses and community connections.
Reginald Speight, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development, echoed this sentiment by noting the significant impact of these projects on local economies and community belonging. “These projects don’t just revitalize buildings, they spark opportunity, strengthen local economies, and create places where people truly belong,” he said.
The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center is a pivotal force in this movement, focusing on asset-based economic development strategies that yield tangible results like investment, business growth, and job creation. Director Liz Parham remarked on the diverse scale of projects recognized by the awards, from historic property rehabilitation to innovative development and public-private partnerships.
This year, a panel of judges selected the winners from 28 nominations submitted by nearly two dozen Main Street communities across the state. The following projects received Awards of Merit for 2025:
ECONOMIC VITALITY
Best Adaptive Reuse Project
Best Business Retention, Expansion, or Recruitment Effort
- Hendersonville – Downtown Hendersonville Opportunity Fund
- Sylva – Depot Plaza
PROMOTION
Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series
- Elizabeth City – Bassmaster Elite Series – Hooked on the Harbor
ORGANIZATION
Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown
- Wilson – Pine-Nash Redevelopment
DESIGN
Best Outdoor Space Improvement
- Concord – Downtown Concord Streetscape
- Lumberton – Elm Street Pocket Park
- Pittsboro – Pittsboro Pop Up Park
Best Historic Rehabilitation Project
- Bessemer City – Osage Mill
- Sanford – Sanford Savings and Loan
- Statesville – Holland Building
- Tarboro – Old Cherry Inn
Celebrating 46 years of community revitalization, the N.C. Main Street Program continues to empower local leaders with the Main Street Approach™ to foster dynamic and economically resilient downtowns. The program’s impact spans from Murphy to Manteo, showcasing a commitment to sustaining vibrant, welcoming communities throughout North Carolina.
For more information on the N.C. Main Street Awards and to explore previous winners, visit the N.C. Main Street Conference website.
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