Jeff Denny, Board Chair, Garner Revitalization Association (left), Gloria Nance-Sims, Director, Division of Community Services, NC Department of Commerce, Elmo Vance, Past Board Chair, Garner Revitalization Association, Kathy Behringer, Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Garner, Joseph Crocker, Assistant Secretary, NC Department of Commerce, Keith Crisco, Secretary, NC Department of Commerce and John Hodges, Executive Director, Garner Revitalization Association
The North Carolina Main Street Program provides technical assistance services to communities that are revitalizing and preserving their downtowns and traditional commercial districts as mixed-use centers of activity, serving the community’s needs. The NCMS Program assists communities in developing their own local Main Street Program by utilizing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach, incorporating Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Restructuring Initiatives. In the first three years of a local Main Street program, the state of North Carolina invests approximately $100,000 in on-site visits, training and technical assistance. After the initial three-year start-up phase, the state annually invests approximately $5,000 in each Main Street community to provide ongoing town-specific technical assistance, and statewide and on-site training for managers and board members.
Garner’s Main Street Program will be managed by the Garner Revitalization Association (GRA), an organization started by the Town of Garner in 2005 to spearhead revitalization activities in the North Garner/Downtown area. GRA, which is now an independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, was organized following the Main Street Four Point Approach and has been working toward selection in the program since its inception. GRA is run by a nine member volunteer Board of Directors and a full time Executive Director.
Citizens who are interested in participating in Garner’s revitalization efforts can contact the GRA office at 919-773-4402 or by email at downtowngarner.com. Information can also be found at www.downtowngarner.com.
About the North Carolina Main Street Center
The North Carolina Main Street Center promotes downtown revitalization based on economic development within the context of historic preservation, a concept developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that has proven successful in more than a thousand smaller communities across the country. The North Carolina Main Street program helps small towns to recognize and preserve their historic fabric, and, using local resources, build on their unique characteristics to create vibrant central business districts that meet the needs of today's communities. For additional information about the NC Main Street Program, visit www.nccommerce.com or contact Liz Parham, Director, NC Office of Urban Development at 919-733-2850.
About the Garner Revitalization Association
The Garner Revitalization Association is a non-profit organization that supports the development of the downtown area as a vibrant business, residential, entertainment and cultural center in partnership with government and private organizations. For additional information about the Garner Revitalization Association, visit www.downtowngarner.com or contact John Hodges, Executive Director at 919-773-4402 (office) or 919-395-8307 (mobile).
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