The Town of Angier is one of three towns in North Carolina recognized this year for outstanding developmental activities in their downtown areas.
Angier joined Elon in Alamance County and Laurinburg in Scotland County in being designated as North Carolina Main Street Communities. The award, given by the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center, is given to towns who meet certain downtown development requirements.
“We congratulate Angier, Elon and Laurinburg on joining the ranks of our state’s Main Street Communities,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “Leaders in Angier, Elon and Laurinburg have committed to improving the economic well-being of their towns through the North Carolina Main Street program, and their work should serve as a model for others considering downtown revitalization.”
Angier Mayor Lew Weatherspoon said he was proud of the town.
“We are honored to have earned the Main Street status,” Mayor Weatherspoon said. “This has come about due to the growth that we are experiencing. This designation demonstrates the commitment the town board and town staff have to continuing the revitalization and improvements in our downtown area.”
He said the town staff will increase in coming months to help continue the program.
“To help facilitate these changes, we are committed to hiring a Downtown Main Street manager by Jan. 1, 2019. This person will work with the staff, the Angier Chamber of Commerce, the downtown merchants and elected officials to help grow our town as we move forward,” Mayor Weatherspoon said.
It is not the first time Angier has received a similar award. Angier first became a Small Town Main Street Community in 2008.
As was previously the case, the award will provide resources for Angier.
“These three communities will now have access to one of the largest resource networks for downtown revitalization leaders in the United States,” said Liz Parham, director of the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center. “Their status as Main Street Communities will bring them new opportunities for growth and development.”
There are 67 designated Main Street Communities in the state. That includes Dunn, Lillington and Benson which have been honored in the past.
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 North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center programming, visit nccommerce.com/rd/main-street.
-The Daily Record
