Main Street receives awards

February 15, 2012

The City of Morganton Main Street Department received two awards from the North Carolina Main Street program for excellence in downtown revitalization efforts. Commerce Secretary J. Keith Crisco presented the awards to Morganton and 20 other participants during the N.C. Main Street Program conference in January.

The City Main Street Department's Development Incentive Grant (DIG) Challenge was recognized for Best Business Retention, Expansion or Recruitment Effort, and the Kaleidoscope project in downtown was recognized as Best Outdoor Space Improvement.

The DIG program was funded with a $271,000 grant, and the Main Street Dept. used that funding to award grants to downtown property owners and give loans to downtown businesses including Diva Strands, Grind Café, Kalā Gallery, Murrays Restaurant, Root and Vine Restaurant, West Consultants and Yianni's Family Restaurant.

"The Main Street Dept. was able to help many businesses downtown, and create or retain more than 60 jobs," said Main Street Director Sharon Jablonski.

The Kaleidoscope project, a partnership between the Main Street Dept. and the Historic Morganton Festival, includes two alleyway renovations and the Kaleidoscope park on the 100 block of N. Sterling Street.