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The
North Carolina Small Town Main Street Program is
designed to revitalize the downtown area in cities and towns all
across the state. Through this program cities and
towns hope to bring commerce back to the area that was
once the focal point of their community.
This program has a
four-step process for participating communities to use
as a guideline. The four steps are organization,
promotion, design and economic restructuring.
The Town of Ayden
adopted this program in 2006, and is one of ten North
Carolina communities to participate in Small Town Main
Street. The Town has formed a committee of
volunteers, which was divided into three groups:
the Promotions Subcommittee, the Design Subcommittee and
the Economic Restructuring Subcommittee.
Promotions
Subcommittee
This group of
volunteers looks at what can be done to market and
promote Downtown Ayden and its businesses. During
the program's first year this committee created the new
Downtown Ayden Logo, and slogan, "Close to Home, Close
to Heart."
Design
Subcommittee
This group of
volunteers concentrates on improving the appearance of
downtown buildings and streetscapes. During the
program's first year this group worked with program
staff to provide numerous downtown property owners with
building improvement renderings, reviewed requested
Facade Grant Applications and created a design for a new
bandstand on the West side of West Ave.
Economic
Restructuring Subcommittee
This group of
volunteers focuses on identifying which types of
businesses can be successful in Downtown Ayden, and
works to bring those businesses to the area. This
group produced a Market Study for Downtown Ayden during
the program's first year.
The Ayden Small
Town Main Street Program meets on the second Tuesday of
each month at 6:30 p.m., in the Ayden Community Building
(548 Second Street). If you would like more
information or have any questions about the program
please contact the Town of Ayden Assistant Town
Manager/Planning Director Chris Padgett at (252)
746-7077 or at
cpadgett@ayden.com.
Facade Improvements
Grant
The Facade Improvements Grant will allow
downtown businesses to apply for grant money to renovate
the exterior of their building. By using the grant
money the Town can match the business dollar-for-dollar
on the cost of the façade improvements. This
process has already begun in several well-known places
in downtown Ayden.
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