The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center reported today that since the inception of the Main Street program in North Carolina in 1980, designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities have leveraged more than $6.6 billion in public and private investment in their downtown districts. This investment supported more than 8,700 building rehabilitations and a net gain of more than 8,800 businesses and nearly 42,000 jobs.
In addition, the N.C. Department of Commerce, which houses the program, announced that NC Main Street communities recorded significant numbers during fiscal year 2025-26, gaining nearly $514 million in local public and private investment, 318 new businesses, and nearly 2,500 jobs in their downtowns. These results are from the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center’s fiscal year reports for the 72 designated Main Street and the eight designated Small Town Main Street communities.
“Strong downtowns support small businesses, create jobs, and help North Carolinians thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I’m proud to see Main Street communities across North Carolina continue to invest in their downtowns and create opportunities for their people. These investments are a testament to what is possible when communities build great places for people to work and live.”
“The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center team works with communities across the state to build economic development strategies that drive investment, business growth and job creation,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Every community has unique strengths, and through the NC Main Street program, they gain the tools to leverage those assets for long-term economic prosperity, keeping our state First in Opportunity.”
NC Main Street Program
Currently, designated Main Street communities range in population from 1,435 to 115,053. All were under 50,000 in population at the time of designation. These communities partner at the local level with a Main Street director, a board of directors, and a host of community volunteers.
Main Street communities reported the following statistics from their 2025-26 work:
- $507,114,044 in downtown public and private investment
- 2,393 new jobs
- 308 new businesses
- 276 building renovations
- 347 façade improvements
- 83,942 volunteer hours with a value of $2,882,570
Since 1980, designated Main Street communities have seen $6,443,526,259 in downtown public and private investment, more than 39,000 jobs, and a net gain of more than 8,200 businesses. Designated Main Street communities use strategic planning, technical assistance, and training and education that they receive from the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center to develop economic development strategies that are transformational for their downtown districts.
“Main Street communities continue to show the power of local leadership and strong partnerships,” said Reginald Speight, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Department of Commerce. “The investment and growth reported this year highlight how rural towns are turning their assets into real economic opportunity.”
“Local Main Street programs continue to demonstrate strong momentum, with new investment, job creation, and business development statewide. We’re seeing transformative projects, including renovated mills, rehabilitated theaters, new mixed-use developments, streetscapes and public spaces, and revitalized historic commercial buildings that are housing new businesses. All of these projects are creating vibrancy in downtowns and leveraging opportunities for entrepreneurs,” said Liz Parham, director of the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center.
Small Town Main Street Program
The designated Small Town Main Street communities have been successful in revitalizing the state’s smallest communities. The Small Town Main Street program operates in communities with populations below 5,000 that have the capacity to run a volunteer-driven downtown revitalization initiative. Small Town Main Street communities reported the following statistics from their 2025-26 work:
- $6,870,181 in downtown public and private investment
- 74 new jobs
- 10 new businesses
- 21 building renovations
- 11 facade improvements
- 10,751 volunteer hours with a value of $369,188
Since its inception in 2003, the Small Town program has welcomed $172,378,853 in downtown public and private investment, more than 2,400 jobs, and a net gain of 610 businesses.
The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center works in regions, counties, cities, towns, downtown districts, and 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. The Main Street staff provides strategic economic development planning, technical assistance for project and program development, training and education, and grants and funding guidance to participating communities under the structure of the Main Street America™ program. The program incorporates transformative economic development strategies that are implemented through a Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion and Organization. The NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center is North Carolina's state coordinating program for Main Street America, created by the National Main Street Center. Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for 46 years, as the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country.
For more information on the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center and its programs, visit the website.