Forty-nine NC Main Street communities earn national accreditation for 2026
RALEIGH — Forty-nine North Carolina communities have received Main Street America accreditation for 2026, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced.
The designation recognizes local programs for preservation-based economic development and downtown revitalization work through the Main Street Approach. The list is announced each year by Main Street America and its state coordinating partner, the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center.
The accredited communities for 2026 are Albemarle, Asheboro, Belmont, Boone, Brevard, Cherryville, Concord, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Elkin, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Goldsboro, Henderson, Hendersonville, Hickory, Laurinburg, Lenoir, Lexington, Lumberton, Manteo, Marion, Mebane, Mooresville, Morehead City, Morganton, Mount Airy, Murphy, New Bern, Newton, Oxford, Pittsboro, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, Roxboro, Salisbury, Sanford, Smithfield, Spruce Pine, Statesville, Sylva, Troy, Tryon, Wake Forest, Waynesville, Waxhaw, Whiteville, Wilson and Zebulon.
To qualify for Main Street America’s top-tier designation, communities must demonstrate performance in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable program operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and demonstrated impact and results.
Commerce said the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center works with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet the standards. Those standards are designed to help evaluate progress, identify strengths, track trends and guide strategies for future downtown work.
Since 1980, North Carolina Main Street programs have leveraged $6.1 billion in public and private investment, created 39,530 net new jobs and rehabilitated 8,419 downtown buildings, according to Commerce. In 2025, N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street downtown districts leveraged $518.7 million in public and private investment, recorded 288 net new businesses, created 1,925 net new jobs, completed 364 facade improvements and rehabilitated 293 buildings.
Commerce said the downtown revitalization work aligns with the state’s “First in Opportunity” strategic economic development plan, which focuses on community well-being and economic competitiveness across North Carolina.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
