Downtown North Wilkesboro - News

Press Release - Affiliate 2023

2023-05-05T14:18:29-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact
Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership
Taylor Gann, Executive Director
336-667-7129 ext. 3021 | [email protected]">[email protected]

DOWNTOWN NORTH WILKESBORO PARTNERSHIP, INC.
RECOGNIZED AS 2022 MAIN STREET AMERICA AFFILIATE

North Wilkesboro, NC (May 2023) – The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership has been designated as an Affiliate Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Affiliate programs to recognize their commitment to create meaningful improvements to their downtowns using preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 412 Affiliate Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”

In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.

Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contribute their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.

The Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership’s performance is annually evaluated by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that are committed to comprehensive, place-based revitalization efforts and achieving meaningful community outcomes.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN NORTH WILKESBORO PARTNERSHIP
Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, Inc. is a non-profit Main Street community organization dedicated to promoting the historic preservation, protection, culture, and use of North Wilkesboro's traditional downtown district. Since 2001, the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, a 501(c)(3), has been a N.C. Main Street affiliated organization focused on economic development through rehabilitation of our historic downtown district. Other focuses include developing, promoting, managing, and enhancing the quality of life and commerce in Downtown North Wilkesboro and, thereby, in the county and surrounding area. It receives funds through a significant grant from the Town of North Wilkesboro, other grants and donations, and fundraising projects. Learn more about the DNWP at www.downtownnorthwilkesboro.com.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

INVESTMENTS IN MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES GROW TO $4.5 BILLION

2022-09-07T18:37:17-04:00

PROGRAM REPORTS 1,941 NEW JOBS, 301 NEW BUSINESSES AND $439,957,111 IN INVESTMENTS IN FY 2021-22

Sep 6, 2022 Raleigh, N.C.

Designated North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities received more than $439.9 million in local private and public investment, welcomed more than 300 new businesses and 1,900 new jobs to its downtown districts during Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center announced today.

According to the Center’s annual report, the program has leveraged more than $4.52 billion in public and private investment, rehabilitated more than 7,500 buildings, and saw a net gain of nearly 7,500 businesses and more than 32,000 new jobs in their downtown districts since the inception of the Main Street program in 1980.

“The N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center team works diligently with communities from Murphy to Manteo to develop asset-based economic development strategies that generate investments, business growth, and job creation,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Our North Carolina Main Street communities are shining examples of the potential that rural communities have to create vibrant downtown districts that support economic growth for the greater community, region, and the state."

These results are from the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center’s fiscal year reports for the 67 designated Main Street and nine designated Small Town Main Street communities active in the two programs.

N.C. Main Street Program

Currently, Main Street communities range in population from 1,500-110,000. All were under 50,000 in population at the time of designation. These communities’ partner at the local level with a Main Street director, a board of directors, and a host of community volunteers.

Designated Main Street communities use the training, education, and technical assistance that they receive from the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center to develop economic development strategies that are transformational for their downtown districts.

Main Street communities reported the following activity from their 2021-22 work:

$425,979,103 in downtown public and private investment

1,820 new jobs

281 new businesses

282 building renovations

347 façade improvements

88,260 volunteer hours valued at $2,438,624

“Local Main Street programs have used the tools and technical assistance offered by the Center, and they have worked extremely hard to rehabilitate downtown buildings for both commercial and residential uses, to improve facades and public spaces that supports an active downtown streetscape, and to work one-on-one with entrepreneurs that are creating businesses and jobs,” said Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center. “We are proud of the talent and skillsets that our local Main Street directors bring to their respective programs.”

Small Town Main Street Program

In addition, the designated Small Town Main Street communities have been successful in revitalizing the state’s smallest communities. The Small Town Main Street program operates in communities with populations below 5,000 that have the capacity to run a volunteer-driven downtown revitalization initiative.

Activity from the Small Town Main Street communities for 2021-22 include:

$12,978,008 in downtown public and private investment

121 new jobs

20 new businesses

21 building renovations

13 facade improvements

15,017 volunteer hours valued at $414,920

Since its inception in 2003, the Small Town Main Street program boasts $122,459,631 in downtown public and private investment, the creation of more than 2,000 jobs, and a net gain of 550 businesses.

The N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center is North Carolina's state coordinating program for Main Street America, created by the National Main Street Center. Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 40 years. It is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country. Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, Main Street America represents the broad diversity that makes this country so unique. Working together, the programs that make up the Main Street America network help to breathe new life into the places people call home.

The N.C. 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. The Main Street staff provides strategic economic development planning and technical assistance, program guidance, and training and education to participating communities under the structure of the Main Street America™ program. The program incorporates transformative economic development strategies that are implemented through a Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion and Organization.

Next Downtown Art Walk is July 22nd

2022-07-14T17:52:05-04:00

North Wilkesboro, NC July 15, 2022 - A Downtown Art Walk is set for Friday, July 22 from 5:30p-8:00p. It’s a event that partners select shops with local artists offering on site demonstrations and is presented by Wilkes Art Gallery (WAG) and the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership (DNWP).

“Wilkes County is rich in artists and makers,” said Ashley Barton, Executive Director WAG, “We hope that this event will showcase local artists and highlight our downtown businesses. Art is known to be central to revitalization efforts in rural communities. A University of Pennsylvania study found that small art groups in neighborhoods have multiple positive effects. Areas with higher levels of cultural activities experience a positive impact on civic engagement, youth delinquency, and a host of other factors associated with community wellbeing. Join us at the gallery for a free opening reception of the Northwest Artist Exhibit and stop by participating businesses to see the good things happening in our community.”

Participating Shops include: On 10th Street; Wilkes Co. Hardware,Taupe Gallery and Waterhouse Studios. On Main Street; Pop’s Place, Ivy Ridge, Copper Barrel Brew Haus, A Baby Celebration and Blue Ridge Tranquility Center. On 6th Street; 6th & Main Restaurant and The Block. On D Street; Dom Bakeries.

Wilkes Art Gallery is located at 913 C Street and is open Tuesday through Friday 10A-5P and Saturday 10A-2P. Visit https://www.wilkesartgallery.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/downtownnorthwilkesboro for more on upcoming exhibits and events.

Outdoor economy plans unveiled

2022-05-04T15:49:41-04:00

Jule Hubbard, Journal Patriot [NORTHWILKESBORO, NC April 19, 2022] - Developing a “river district” with a beach area and specialized parks, establishing a “regional STEM center” and greatly improved signage for trails and other amenities are among recommendations in preliminary results of an outdoor economy effort.

Staff of Boone-based Destination by Design shared conceptual images representing these and other proposals in an April 13 meeting at the Stone Center, held to draw feedback for use in preparing a final document.

“The work we’ve done so far is high level. We’re trying to throw out some ideas to the community and show where things could go,” said Eric Woolrich, principal with Destination by Design. A similar presentation was made for local elected officials about two weeks earlier.

Health Foundation Executive Director Heather Murphy said the company was hired for $180,000 to help develop a plan for expanding the outdoor economy in Wilkes, including identifying funding sources. A local outdoor economy working group is assisting.

Murphy said the effort is funded by the Health Foundation ($70,000) Wilkes Health Department ($50,000), Wilkes Economic Development Corp. ($5,000), Wilkesboro Tourism Development Authority ($5,000) and the governments of Wilkes County ($25,000), Wilkesboro ($10,000) and North Wilkesboro ($10,000). These entities and the Yadkin River Greenway Council signed a memorandum of agreement for the initiative in 2020.

She said the effort began with a group of elected officials and others from Wilkes attending an outdoor economy conference in Asheville over two years ago.

Most of the information presented April 13 and a couple of weeks earlier for local elected officials is in an 81-page document, prepared by Destination by Design. It includes recommendations and details on how they were developed.

Woolrich said emerging themes or goals resulted from three or four months of extensive research and all of the recommendations connect to them. These include promoting connectivity, elevating the quality of existing outdoor amenities, creating awareness through branding and signage, encouraging interaction between visitors and residents.

He said 513 people responded to an online survey as part of this research and 200-250 is considered a good response. Woolrich said this could indicate hunger for change and improvement in the community and good timing for the outdoor economy effort.

The River District proposal calls for establishing a beach area on the Reddies River. Woolrich said this would be done by restoring a portion of the Reddies to its original route between the D Street bridge and where it empties into the Yadkin River, thus creating a bend in the river.

In the early 1900s, the Reddies was rerouted into a straight channel dug from the Reddies River dam to the Yadkin.

The river district would include a viewing area with the beach; creation of not-too-challenging rapids with rocks placed in the river; an “urban soccer park;” outdoor boulder gym with man-made climbing structures; pump track for bikes (with a series of hills) skate park; “bike garden” for younger cyclists.

A regional STEM center with science- and technology-related activities and multi-family and single-family housing is proposed nearby.

“It’s not too often that housing is part of an outdoors action plan” but the need for this came up too much in interviews and other feedback) to ignore, said Woolrich.

The plan focuses on wayfinding/signage, state- and nationally-designated trails, state and federal lands and the Wilkesboros. It calls for continuing with implementation of a unified wayfinding signage program initiated by the Yadkin Valley Heritage Corridor and using it for trails, recreation areas and more.

It calls for “developing the most accessible, safe and compelling paddle trail” in the state on the Yadkin River.

This includes improving six existing Yadkin River access sites in Wilkes, including making four capable of accommodate commercial outfitters, and developing one new site.

Murphy said it includes a park at an access site off N.C. 268 in Roaring River. An archaeological study on the site in preparation is nearly complete.

The plan includes using the 300-acre Wilkesboro watershed property on the Brushy Mountains, owned by Wilkesboro, as a “family-friendly wilderness experience” area with “glamping” (camping with extra accommodations), zip line, summer camp, retreats and more through a public-private partnership. It would have mountain biking and hiking trails. This property is on headwaters of Little Cub Creek, with a small lake that once was the town’s water supply.

Similarly, it calls for using portions of the Town of North Wilkesboro’s Industrial Park property on River Road/Liberty Grove Road for outdoor recreation.

He said key goals while working with the county’s outdoor economy group were to identify and evaluate the condition of the county’s assets, engage as many people as possible through interviews, identify gaps in assets, identify other efforts in the community that might dovetail with the outdoor economy effort and create a visually compelling document.

Woolrich said the last steps are to develop strategies, determine who will do what and identify funding sources, including involvement of private investors.

Joshua Thurman, art director of Destination by Design, said he and others with the company set out to learn everything they could about Wilkes to develop branding for use as a face of the county to present to the rest of the world. Wilkes residents serving on a branding committee were involved in this process.

“We tried to capture the attention of outdoor enthusiasts… people looking for new trails and wild places to explore. The good thing is that Wilkes County has got a lot of that to offer,” said Thurman.

He said development of visuals began once “the Great State of Wilkes” was chosen as the brand. He said the primary logo “captures wild essence, some of the open space that Wilkes County has to offer.”

It features a big “W” for Wilkes with a tree line representing trees found in this area and a red-tailed hawk. Thurman showed slides demonstrating how it could be used in different forms and on various products and overlaid with photos.

Over 150 people attended the April 13 meeting.

Melodic medley

2022-04-07T21:09:07-04:00

Marty McGee Wilkes Journal Patriot Staff Writer

[NORTH WILKESBORO, NC March 23, 2022] - A varied and eclectic mixture of live music is on tap for the Town of North Wilkesboro’s annual Concerts on the Deck series.

The concerts, presented by the town and Window World, are slated for third Saturdays from June through October. All shows are from 6-10 p.m. at the downtown Yadkin Valley Marketplace venue.

“There’s a really good mix of music genres in the lineup, due mostly to feedback and requests from residents and concert goers over the past few years,” said Crystal Keener, the town’s director of tourism. “Many wanted to hear traditional and alternative country, norteño music, rock ‘n roll and R&B soul. We’ve checked a few of those boxes here.”

The shows begin on Saturday, June 18, with the Latin sounds of Tamborazo Santa Cecilia and Jorge de la Fuente.

“For the first time we’re bringing two Hispanic-music bands to Concerts on the Deck—a norteño music band Jorge de la Fuente and traditional wind band Tamborazo Santa Cecilia,” said Keener. “Because events like the Dia de los Muertos and Mexican Independence Day celebrations brought such a tremendous crowd to North Wilkesboro, we thought this addition would be well received.”

Country music is on tap for the Saturday, July 16, pairing of Ryan Griffin and local favorite Alex Key & the Locksmiths. Keener said, “We had a lot of people that wanted to hear and see country acts and we’re excited to bring that sound to Window World Concerts on the Deck in July.”

Keener noted that Griffin is a Florida native who relocated to Nashville and had a top-streaming song with “Woulda Left Me Too,” which introduced him as a singer with an “unusually empathetic hand and garnered millions of plays on Spotify. His unique niche between R&B and country can be heard on ‘Salt, Lime & Tequila.’ ”

Key hails from Wilkes County but has made a name for himself in Nashville and across the Southeast. His recent single and video release of “We Want You Back” is an ode to small-town life with deep roots.

“His brand as a musician is an embodiment of classic country translated into the 21st century,” added Keener. “Griffin brings to the stage a laid-back Buffett-Chesney vibe, while Key is definitely neo-classic country.”

On Aug. 20, Nashville-based American rock band the Cordovas and Blue Footed Boobies, a two-piece psych rock/blues band out of Wilmington, take the Window World stage. Expect the loudest show of the 2022 series on that Saturday evening.

The long-awaited appearance of American reggae band The Elovaters takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17.

“In 2020, we lined up The Elovaters and alt-country band 49 Winchester,” Keener explained. “However due to COVID-19 restrictions all shows were canceled.

“Then, in 2021, we were able to re-book The Elovaters, but not 49 Winchester. Unfortunately the last two months of that series, September and October, were again canceled. So, The Elovaters were out for the second year.”

The Elovaters are one of the fastest rising groups in the American reggae scene. They’ve opened for acts such as Stick Figure, Pepper and Ziggy Marley and are now headlining clubs across the country.

Keener added, “Unbelievably we were able to get them back on the schedule for 2022, after a bit of a wait and see. They’ll be performing with Chapel Hill’s The Hourglass Kids on Saturday, Sept. 17.”

The Hourglass Kids describe themselves as a “reggae/psychedelic rock fusion band that incorporates a variety of musical elements into our musical experience.”

The finale takes place on Saturday, Oct. 15, as 49 Winchester, an alt country outfit, takes center stage.

The band hails from Castlewood, Va., and have performed at the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival and at FloydFest in their home state. They are touring this summer all over North America with Whiskey Myers.

Their fourth studio album, “Fortune Favors the Bold,” marks the band’s debut for Nashville’s New West Records — one of the premier labels for Americana, indie and rock acts.

Keener noted that because the Town of Wilkesboro has “such a great event in Concerts in the Commons (second Saturdays from May-September), we don’t want to duplicate their roster—we want to enhance entertainment opportunities in Wilkes.” She added Call Family Distillers in Wilkesboro are “bringing in some big name acts as well” on second Saturdays from April-October.

In addition to Concerts on the Deck, Keener noted that Mayor Marc Hauser came up with the idea to add a new event to the downtown: the Shop n’ Stroll on first Saturdays beginning May 7.

“During these mid-day events, our businesses will have sidewalk sales and more, while our eateries will offer lunch specials, plus there will be live music on 10th Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

She added that the May 7 event, sponsored in part by Ivy Ridge Traditions, will feature R&B singer SunQueen Kelcey. “We’ll host other Shop n’ Strolls in June, August and September. Each of those months one of our businesses will sponsor the live musical act on 10th Street at the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival Park.”

NC Tech Paths launches in Wilkes County

2022-02-11T21:25:33-05:00

January 28, 2022

WILKESBORO, N.C. – NC Tech Paths was officially unveiled to the community on January 27, 2022, in Wilkes County. NC Tech Paths is a new nonprofit serving Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and is devoted to connecting residents of Northwest North Carolina with high-growth jobs in technology. NC Tech Paths is partnering with companies across North Carolina to develop programs that allow individuals to live, train, and remain in their home counties while working in the digital economy and breathing life into the region’s beautiful downtowns.

In this digital age, every company needs technology employees. Right now, there are over 46,000 open tech jobs in North Carolina, ranging from IT Support and Network Management to Cybersecurity and Software Development. As the numbers continue to grow, companies are increasingly looking to hire remote workers – that is, employees who work where they live, instead of where the company maintains its home office.

The northwest region of North Carolina – especially Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties – are well-positioned for remote work with gig-capable fiberoptic internet covering around 90% of the region thanks to rural utility cooperatives such as SkyLine Membership Corp., Wilkes Communications, and Blue Ridge Energy.

NC Tech Paths is helping the region leverage this asset by cultivating a rural tech ecosystem. The tech ecosystem includes employer partners willing to hire specialized tech talent prepared by education partners in the region for remote tech jobs that allow workers to live, train, and remain in Northwest NC.

NC Tech Paths will also own and upfit a building in North Wilkesboro to accommodate groups of tech employees, freelancers, and tech entrepreneurs. “Our primary objective is adding high-quality jobs to Wilkes County, as well as Ashe and Alleghany, and expanding opportunities for more of our young people to earn a living wage,” explained Lee Herring, president of the Leonard G. Herring Family Foundation, the provider of $2 million of initial funding to establish NC Tech Paths. “But the ability to put more jobs and foot traffic downtown is another key benefit, and our focus on helping companies have pods of talent at scale differentiates us from other co-working spaces that focus only on freelancers and entrepreneurs.”

Wilkes Community College (WCC) has been a central partner in the launch of NC Tech Paths. “We see this as a game-changer for our students and our region,” said Dr. Jeff Cox, president of WCC. “Our purpose as a community college is to bring educational resources to our neighbors so they can thrive in an ever-evolving economy. The digital economy, the increasing relevance of digital skills, and the rise of remote work are all part of the latest wave of innovation that requires us to adapt and think creatively as an institution.”

In addition to local pathways to 2-year and 4-year degrees via Wilkes Community College and Appalachian State University, NC Tech Paths is promoting its bootcamp partnership with WCC and Per Scholas. “The Per Scholas path provides a tuition-free route to a living wage in 12-18 weeks and will help us reach our neighbors who aren’t considering a 2-year or 4-year degree path,” noted DeLucia. “Our employer partners will interact with the students from orientation through mock interviews and professional development, helping make sure these learners are workforce-ready upon graduation.”

The current Per Scholas cohort at Wilkes Community College includes 17 learners who are studying software engineering, with future bootcamp offerings planned in IT Support.

“Our goal is to have something for everyone interested in a tech career,” explained Zach Barricklow, executive director of NC Tech Paths. “Over the coming months, we will share updates on new partnerships, education programs, and facilities that support our ecosystem. There is much work to be done! We are thrilled to launch this new organization at a time when North Carolina is establishing itself as a mecca for tech career opportunities.”

To learn more about NC Tech Paths, visit www.nctechpaths.org.