Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that eight communities will receive a total of $1.95 million through the state’s Main Street Solutions Fund. The grants will assist planning agencies and small businesses with efforts to revitalize downtowns by creating jobs, funding infrastructure improvements, rehabilitating buildings and finding other growth opportunities.
“We know that some of the most creative and innovative economic development work is being done through small businesses and other economic partners in our downtown areas,” said Gov. Perdue. “Main Streets can be at the heart of North Carolina’s economic recovery with the right support and investment. For every $1 invested by the state, an additional $4.72 will be invested by the local community.”
The small businesses benefitted by the Main Street Solutions grants will create or retain a minimum of 233 permanent full-time and part-time jobs, in addition to 195 construction jobs, according to the grant applications.
Grant awardees and amounts are:
- Burlington, $298,460;
- Henderson, $299,004;
- Kings Mountain, $185,000;
- La Grange, $93,581;
- Morganton, $271,455;
- Rocky Mount,$202,500;
- Waynesville, $300,000; and
- Wilson, $300,000
More details of the project appear at the end of this release.
Gov. Perdue will visit three communities this week – Burlington, Morganton and Waynesville – to get a first-hand look at businesses that will benefit from the grants. She will also talk with business owners and local officials about the Main Street Solutions program.
2010 Main Street Solutions Fund Grant Awardees & Project Descriptions
Burlington
Awardees: City of Burlington, Burlington Downtown Corporation, Company Shops Market
Name of Project: Company Shops Market Grocery Cooperative
Jobs Created: 11 full-time, 14 part-time, 59 construction
Description of Project: The Company Shops Market Grocery Cooperative will be a 7,000-sq. ft., full-service natural food store and café that will offer an extensive selection of fresh produce and meat with a focus on local products, prepared foods, packaged grocery, dairy, frozen foods, bulk foods and wellness products. The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used for the sustainable retrofit (building shell improvements and interior building code improvements) of the market’s future location, 268 East Front St., in downtown Burlington. The City of Burlington will invest an additional $1.73 million in street and streetscape improvements.
Henderson
Awardees: City of Henderson, Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Corporation, Inc., Beckford Avenue Medical Center, Gateway Childcare Center, Collegiate Charter school, Boys & Girls Club of Vance County
Name of Project: Recreation, Education, Economic and Family Center (REEF)
Jobs Created: 13 permanent positions plus construction jobs
Description of Project: The REEF Center is a unique project that will rehabilitate and revitalize an 85,000-sq. ft. abandoned tobacco warehouse that is located in downtown Henderson, and transform it into a focal point of development. The REEF Center will initially house a medical clinic-urgent care center and a daycare center. Future development will include a charter school, predominately for minorities and a lower socioeconomic population, and the Vance County Boy’s and Girl’s Club. The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used for exterior façade and interior improvements for the initial development.
Kings Mountain
Awardees: City of Kings Mountain, Mountaineer Partnership, SG6Enterprises, LLC, Robinson Executive Travel Services, Freeman’s Irish-American Public House
Name of Project: SG6 Enterprises Economic Gardening Project
Jobs Created: 15 full -time, 13 part-time, 3 temporary full-time positions, 71 construction
Description of Project: The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used to pay for a portion of the rehabilitation of the property located at 229 Battleground Avenue in downtown Kings Mountain. This will allow the three businesses that will relocate into the building to preserve first-year operating capital, provide for subsidizing of rental rates in the first 24 months, and to provide needed capital to bring a neglected building up to code regulations and energy efficiency standards.
La Grange
Awardees: Town of La Grange, La Grange Chamber of Commerce, Lenoir Community College, Sutton’s Grill and Catering, Harrison Accounting
Name of Project: Town of La Grange Main Street Revitalization Project #1
Jobs Created: Retain 6 small business jobs and create part-time jobs associated with Community College course offerings
Description of Project: The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used for façade improvements for four buildings along S. Caswell Street and Railroad Street and a major renovation to 103 South Caswell St. for the purpose of housing the Lenoir Community College La Grange location. The newly renovated structure will become the town’s educational hub to retain the La Grange workforce. In addition, streetscape improvements will be made by the town in the two-block downtown district. The project will attract an estimated 1,500-2,000 students annually to the downtown district for training.
Morganton
Awardees: City of Morganton, Morganton Main Street Advisory Committee, Mesh Design Group, Diva Strandz Hair and Wig, Garden Gate, Grind Café, Murray’s Restaurant, West Consultants, Yianni’s Restaurant, Mama Janes “Southern Seasonally Fresh”
Name of Project: DIG Challenge (Downtown Incentive Grant Challenge)
Jobs Created: 58 permanent jobs, plus construction jobs
Description of Project: The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used to create a revolving loan program that will result in direct support to eight small businesses. In addition, funds may be used for direct grants to two buildings that will house two of the eight small businesses.
Rocky Mount
Awardees: City of Rocky Mount, Central City Revitalization Panel, Yancey’s, Vibrance Internal Medicine/Medical Spa & Wellness Center, Hair Unlimited Barber Shop, Bone Inn Seafood
Name of Project: The Douglas Block Incubator without Walls
Jobs Created: 57 permanent jobs, 15 construction
Description of Project: The City of Rocky Mount has developed a comprehensive Incubator without Walls strategy for the 19 commercial storefronts on the Douglas Block area of downtown Rocky Mount. The Incubator without Walls is a program to assist small and expanding businesses in the first two years as tenants in the Douglas Block. The Douglas Block was once the economic hub of the African-American community, home to restaurants, theaters, retailers, barber/beauty salons, doctors, lawyers and dentists.
Waynesville
Awardees: City of Waynesville, Downtown Waynesville Association, The Strand Dynasty, LLC, Headwaters Brewing Company, Delano’s Pizza Company, Haywood County Arts Council
Name of Project: The Strand
Jobs Created: 31 permanent jobs, self-employment opportunities for 36 artists, 30 construction, 1 architectural design position
Description of Project: The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used to assist with renovation of the former Strand Theater building, 38 North Main St., in downtown Waynesville, into a multi-use entertainment venue that will house three new businesses. The three businesses are designed to complement each other and create cross-promotion by offering full-service dining, microbrews and entertainment.
Wilson
Awardees: City of Wilson, Wilson Downtown Development Corporation, GPI
Name of Project: Heilig Meyer Building
Jobs Created: 15 full-time, 20 construction, 12 city public works positions
Description of Project: The Main Street Solutions Fund grant will be used to rehabilitate the former Heilig Meyer Furniture store, 113 East Barnes St., in downtown Wilson to be developed for mixed-use. The developer will open a 9,660-sq. ft. downtown entertainment and dining venue called CC Café, featuring concerts, karaoke, comedy, poetry, aerobics, line dancing and trivia contests).