Downtown Revitalization

With an identity proudly rooted in its small town history, and a location ideal for commercial development, Hillsborough strikes a savvy balance between preservation of its past and growth for its future.

Instead of allowing failed projects from the past to depress the community further, Ayden creates a new vision, enables local residents to implement the vision and revitalizes both downtown and a sense of civic pride.

A downtown makeover and the construction of a river walk, joining Chimney Rock’s business district to the Rocky Broad River, spurs the creation of new businesses.

Colquitt uses the arts as a tool for community empowerment and economic diversification. The success of a community-based performing arts project has resulted in extensive downtown revitalization and economic development.

In Dora, a major renovation of the fire station, library and community center is intended to spark further investment in this small rural town.

Etowah’s persistence and high standards yielded one of the most scenic rail trips in the nation, an attraction that is spurring downtown retail, restaurant and hospitality development and innovative approaches to industrial recruitment.

After losing Parsons College, the town’s main economic anchor, civic leaders in Fairfield took a risk and sold the campus to an alternative California university—a move that would lead to unique town-gown relations and ultimately play a role in Fairfield’s rich diversity, strong civic infrastructure, and pioneering entrepreneurial networks.

Two small rural communities in the mountains of North Carolina build civic infrastructure and partnerships, and boost tourism by elevating heritage and cultural assets and revitalizing downtown.

Civic leaders in this historic coal mining community subsidized downtown storefront rent for artist-retailers. Over a period of five years, artists cleaned up downtown storefronts and brought the town’s downtown square back into economic productivity.

Oakland demonstrates that the arrival of Wal-Mart need not be a death knell for small, local businesses. Through the Main Street Program, Oakland works with existing business owners to prepare for the arrival of Wal-Mart.

This is a story about small steps making a big difference. Once a run-down community with an inferiority complex, Rio Dell took simple steps to clean up the town and re-invigorate civic pride.

This small town is capitalizing on the economic value of arts-based small businesses. Through a unique partnership with a regional community college, Siler City is nurturing the creativity and entrepreneurship of local artists.

In the wake of shuttered textile mills and climbing unemployment, Star joined with a regional non-profit partner to develop a business incubator, located in a former mill building, which provides space and training to local artisans.