NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center
About The Center
The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center is part of the Rural Economic Development Division within the N.C. Department of Commerce.
The N.C. Main Street & 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.
NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center
Northeast Prosperity Zone
Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington.
Southeast Prosperity Zone
Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Wayne.
Sandhills Prosperity Zone
Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland.
Southwest Prosperity Zone
Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, Union.
Western Prosperity Zone
Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania.
Northwest Prosperity Zone
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, McDowell, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey.
Piedmont Prosperity Zone
Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin.
North Central Prosperity Zone
Chatham, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Nash, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wilson.
Total Main Street Program Investment
Since 1980
"The NC Main Street team continues to be an invaluable resource for communities across the state. Their experience working within local programs means they truly understand the day-to-day realities we navigate. They consistently meet us with practical guidance, thoughtful support, and a genuine commitment to helping us succeed."
Lane S. Moody, Downtown Development Director, Town of Boone
Downtown Buildings Rehabilitated
Since 1980
New Downtown Businesses
Since 1980
New Downtown Jobs
Since 1980
About the Division
About The Division
When your rural community needs help attracting businesses, call on the Rural Economic Development Division. That’s because we provide expert advice based on a community’s specific needs and can connect you with the funding your area needs to make things happen. The Rural Economic Development Division heads up a growing number of grant programs, and we provide planning services, analysis and identification of resources needed to strengthen rural economic and community development projects.
About the Division
NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center │ 2025 Services Reach
Strategic Economic Development Plans
2024
Training │ Education
2024
Technical Assistance
2024
Communities Served
2024
Grants Administered | 92