NC Department of Commerce Honors W&G’s Whitney Wallace Williams

Thirty-three North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized for their commitment to downtown revitalization and strong communities in 2021 during a virtual Recognition Ceremony today at 9:00 a.m. Including this year’s group of honorees, 837 Main Street Champions have been recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce since 2000.

“There are three common elements that are found in successful communities.  These elements are asset-based economic development strategies, public and private partnerships, and local champions,” said Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Department of Commerce.

“Main Street Champions are the key to success in downtown revitalization. They possess the courage to move downtown forward; they fight for positive change and do that with creativity and innovation; and they actively get things done, while staying focused on the downtown’s economic development strategies,” said Liz Parham, Director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center at Commerce.

 The 2021 North Carolina Main Street Champions are: 

• Ronnie Michael – Albemarle 
• Joel McClosky – Asheboro
• Flower Power Volunteers – Belmont
• J.C. Vargas – Bessemer City
• David Jackson – Boone
• Tracy Schmidt – Burlington 
• Sampson Partners Board of Directors – Clinton
• Joseph & Stephanie Wach – Edenton
• Pat Nanney – Forest City
• Bob & Pat Barker – Fuquay-Varina
• Jihan Hodges – Garner
• Barbara Hughes – Hendersonville
• Dave Leonetti – Hickory 
• Kenneth J. Pflieger – Kings Mountain
• Myra Stone – Laurinburg
• Steven & Jamie Stewart – Lenoir
• Terra Greene – Lexington
• Mike Conley – Marion
• Paul & Kristin Thompson – Mooresville
• Arts Council of Carteret County – Morehead City
• Mark Koziel, Maryann Koziel, & Kris Schum – Morganton
• Bryan Grote – Mount Airy
• Melanie Morrison – Reidsville
• Troy Davis – Rocky Mount
• Sherry Clayton – Roxboro 
• Monte Vega – Rutherfordton
• Whitney Wallace Williams – Salisbury
• City of Sanford Public Works Department – Sanford
• Tara Dunn – Smithfield
• Brittany Marlow – Statesville
• Nick Fischer – Tryon
• Lisa Hayes – Wake Forest
• Michael & Mary Sargent – Wilson