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Garner’s Main Street is official

Staff reports

Here’s an update on a recent Garner Citizen story about downtown Garner.

Downtown Garner. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MCCLOONE

In July, Paul Tambasco reported that Garner was applying to become a N.C. Main Street community. The town announced last week that it has been chosen to participate in the program, one of only four communities selected.

What does this mean for Garner? Aside from the special designation — the review process is extensive and selective — the town will now have access to support from the N.C. Main Street Center, which helps municipalities make decisions about their downtowns with a focus on business and historical preservation.

The N.C. Main Street Center is a program of the Community Assistance Division of the state commerce department.

The program helps communities develop their own local Main Street program by integrating organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring initiatives — elements of the  National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach.

Such support is tangible. In the first three years of a local Main Street program, the state invests about $100,000 in on-site visits, training and technical assistance. After the initial three-year start-up phase, the state invests about $5,000 annually for town-specific technical assistance as well as statewide and on-site training for managers and board members.

The Garner Revitalization Association will manage Garner’s Main Street program.

“Acceptance into the Main Street program reaffirms years of hard work and dedication to the downtown area by elected officials, town staff, the GRA board of directors and numerous volunteers and community members,” said John Hodges, executive director of the GRA.

The non-profit GRA was organized following the Main Street Four-Point Approach and has been working toward selection in the program since its inception.

Related articles:

• Garner’s downtown plan online
• Public can see initial plans for downtown Garner
• Have thoughts about the future of downtown Garner?

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