40 Years of Main Street: Building Economies, Building Communities
Main Street is a 40 year success story in North Carolina. Using the historic resources of each community, Main Street has revitalized local economies. Investors gained confidence in downtown. Small businesses opened downtown and others expanded. Town governments invested in streetscapes, sidewalks, and public art. Downtowns once written off as dead have regained their historic role as the heart of the community.
The numbers found in this report demonstrate the quantitative success of Main Street. But something else, maybe even more important, has occurred. Community pride has been restored. However, success is to be measured, Main Street is an incomparable success, and North Carolina Main Street communities are thriving because of it.