Smithfield Earns National Main Street Accreditation For 2026

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — Downtown Smithfield has once again earned national recognition for its revitalization efforts, receiving Main Street America Accreditation for 2026.

The designation, announced by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, places Smithfield among 49 communities across the state recognized for excellence in downtown economic development, historic preservation, and community revitalization.

Smithfield was one of only a handful of communities in eastern and central North Carolina to earn the designation, joining nearby towns including Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Goldsboro, Wilson and Zebulon. The accreditation is awarded annually through a partnership between Main Street America and the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center.

Communities must meet rigorous performance standards and demonstrate success in areas such as community engagement, organizational leadership, sustainable funding, economic development, preservation efforts, and measurable results.

The recognition highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen downtown Smithfield through business recruitment, building improvements, special events, and preservation of the town’s historic character. Downtown Smithfield serves as a hub for shopping, dining, tourism and community activities, drawing residents and visitors throughout the year.

North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said accredited communities continue to demonstrate the important role downtown districts play in economic development.

“Communities across our state continue to achieve excellence in economic development as they demonstrate what’s possible when people come together with vision and purpose,” Lilley said in a statement. “Their dedication is a reminder that strong downtowns fuel prosperity and are built through passion, perseverance, and partnership.”

According to state officials, accredited Main Street communities must show a proven track record of implementing preservation-based economic development strategies while producing tangible results in their downtown districts.

State Main Street Director Liz Parham said accredited communities have demonstrated a commitment to creating resilient downtowns through collaboration and long-term planning.

Since the North Carolina Main Street program began in 1980, participating communities have leveraged more than $6.1 billion in public and private investment, created nearly 40,000 net new jobs, and rehabilitated more than 8,400 downtown buildings.

In 2025 alone, North Carolina Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities reported more than $518 million in public and private investment, 288 net new businesses, nearly 2,000 net new jobs, and hundreds of building rehabilitation and façade improvement projects.

The Main Street America program is administered nationally through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and supports more than 1,600 communities across the country.

For Smithfield, the accreditation serves as recognition of the continued work being done to preserve and strengthen the town’s historic downtown district while supporting economic growth and community development.