• Secretary
• Vice President – Education
• Associate Director – Professional Member
• Associate Director – Corporate Member
• Associate Director – Community Member
• Associate Director – Associate Member
• Regional Director – Region #1 (Mountain Region)
• Regional Director – Region #5 (Northern Coastal Plain)
• Regional Director – Region #6 (Eastern Piedmont)
• Regional Director – Region #7 (Western Piedmont)
• Large Cities Director

Please click on the link below for the nomination packet and to learn more:
NCDDA Call for Nominations 2012

In December 2011, the YVHC Partnership launched the wayfinding program. A new logo, regional visitor brochure, website, visitor kiosks, and vehicular\ signage are part of a comprehensive program being developed to position the “Yadkin Valley” as a regional tourism destination. A 2008 economic impact study by DESS Business Research showed that the Yadkin Valley HeritageCorridor, when fully developed, could generate $4 to $6 million dollars annually in economic impact, as well as up to 75 new jobs as a result of increased visitor spending.

On January 31, 2012, the new gateway signs, “Entering the Yadkin Valley”, that will mark the entrance along major highways to the corridor were unveiled in a dedication ceremony at the Jonesville Welcome Center. The signs will be placed on N.C. 268 at the Wilkes‐Surry county line, on

U.S. 421 at the Wilkes‐Watauga county line and the Wilkes‐Yadkin county line, in Caldwell County near the intersection of U.S. 321 and N.C. 268, and on Interstate 77 at the North Carolina‐Virginia line.

Seventy smaller “way finding” signs will be placed along roads in areas of Wilkes outside of municipalities. Those signs will direct motorists to about 30 cultural, recreational, agribusiness and heritage sites of interest in Wilkes that are both within and outside of the towns. In addition, banners showing a canoeist on the Yadkin River with the message “It Starts With a River” will be displayed in towns within the four counties.

Funding for the wayfinding program was made possible through the generous support of Golden LEAF, NC Rural Center, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, N a t i o na l Par k S e r v i c e Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and local government and agency contributions.

June 5 Workshop – Burlington Location

June 18 Workshop – Washington Location

Please contact Bruce Naegelen, Vice‐President of Education for more information at: bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org.

• We reached out to organizations such as the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAPA), Preservation North Carolina, and the League of Municipalities to get a better sense of how a volunteer‐association such as NCDDA can effectively and sustainably engage with state policy.
• We met with a lobbyist in Raleigh to learn more about the services and associated costs of retaining a professional to be on the ground during legislative sessions.
• We undertook a survey of the NCDDA membership for feedback on priority policy issues, the role of NCDDA in regards to state policy, preferred level and type of communication with the membership, and willingness to retain a lobbyist. Nearly half of all members responded.

At the next NCDDA Board meeting in May, we will be sharing the results of these efforts and will discuss how to proceed.

1. 95% of members surveyed reported that it is ‘Very Important’ or ‘Important’ for NCDDA to be in a position to actively monitor and influence state‐level policy and legislation.

2. NCDDA members ranked the legislative/policy issues presented in the following order of importance.

• Historic Preservation (tax credits and tax deferrals)
• Economic Development (Businesses Recruitment Assistance from Department of Commere, Tools for Public‐Private‐Partnerships)
• Infrastructure (Transportation/ Transit Infrastructure, Outdated Water/Sewer/Electrical Infrastructure, Streetscape Infrastructure
• Zo)ning/ Design Guidelines

Additional write‐in issues include: the need for localized retail data, building codes and fire codes for redeveloping older buildings, TIF amendments to allow pay as you go financing.

3. NCDDA members prioritized that the appropriate role for NCDDA in regards to State Legislative/Policy is as follows:

• Develop a “Legislative Agenda” that identifies and describes issues of importance to North
• Carolina’s Downtowns
• Develop partnerships with allied organizations that are working on similar/ compatible issues
• Work with a part‐time lobbyist to monitor state legislation for issues that impact the NCDDA “Legislative Agenda”
• Work with a part‐time lobbyist to proactively advocate for legislation that improves Downtown preservation and revitalization
• Work with an intern to help monitor relevant list serves, newsletters, and state legislative agendas for issues that impact the “Legislative Agenda”

4. 73% of responding members would be supportive of a paid part‐time lobbyist.

5. If a part‐time lobbyist were retained, over half of the responding members preferred that a lobbyist be paid by a funding formula based on City population and organizational operating budget.

6. Below is the rank order of responses for the question of how the NCDDA Board should communicate with members on legislative issues:

• NCDDA “call to action” emails on legislative items when necessary
• Provide a summary of issues at beginning and/or end of Legislative session
• Biannual survey to NCDDA membership to get input on “Legislative Agenda”

For more information, contact Melissa Norton at:

mnorton@downtowndurham.com or

(919) 485‐9329

The link below connects you to the article titled “The Simple Math That Can Save Cities from Bankruptcy.”  Joe Minicozzi, NCDDA’s Region 1 Director is quoted extensively throughout the article.  The article references Joe’s work with Public Interest Projects and their role in helping reshape Asheville’s downtown.  Hopefully you will find this information helpful to you in communicating the importance of your downtown to the local tax base.

The Simple Math That Can Save Cities From Bankruptcy – Jobs & Economy – The Atlantic Cities

Main Street Pre-Application Workshops

On Wednesday, April 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Fuquay-Varina, and Thursday, April 12, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Lexington, the Urban Development Division- North Carolina Main Street Center will hold a Main Street Program pre-application information meeting. Registration begins at 1:00 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. respectively. Learn how the “Main Street” Four-Point Approach® is working in small-medium sized towns in North Carolina and how your community can become a part of this downtown revitalization program.

This workshop is mandatory for any community or local organization that is interested in submitting an application to be considered for the N.C. Main Street Program in 2012. Representatives must attend one of the workshops. Please register for either workshop by April 5, 2012. Applications will be emailed to workshop attendees following the meeting. Communities/organizations that do not attend this workshop will not be eligible for consideration for the 2012 Main Street Program selection round.

For additional information, please contact:
Elizabeth H. Parham, CMSM, Director
Urban Development Division
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Community Development Division
4313 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4313
Telephone – 919-571-4900 X 226
lparham@nccommerce.com

Small Town Main Street Pre-Application Workshops

Pre‐Application Workshops for New Applicants to the NC Small Town Main Street Program.  Open to small incorporated communities in North Carolina with a State certified population of not more than 7,500, have an identifiable downtown business “core” and that are not currently and have not been “Main Street” Communities.

Learn how the “Main Street” FOUR POINT APPROACH is working in small towns in North Carolina, and how you can become a part of this downtown revitalization program.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND ONE OF THE INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS BELOW
Thursday April 5th
1:00 PM until 2:30 PM
Bessemer City Hall
132 W. Virginia Ave.
Bessemer City, NC
or
Thursday April 5th
1:00 PM until 2:30 PM
Town Conference Center
303 East Church Street
Benson, NC
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY FOR APPLICANTS

PLEASE REGISTER BY E‐Mail to: sadams@nccommerce.com if attending workshop in Bessemer City or rmurphrey@nccommerce.com if attending workshop in Benson.
Or CALL 828‐251‐6914 for Bessemer City workshop or 919‐218‐2934 for Benson workshop. Please register by April 2nd for either workshop

Beginning March 5, you are invited to nominate “Great Main Streets” in the mountains, Piedmont, and coast. In addition, you can nominate “Great Places in the Making” to celebrate main streets that are still being created. Individuals from throughout the state are invited to go to www.nc-apa.org/greatplaces for information about the nomination process.

The survey is now closed.  If you have any questions, please contact Jason Epley at:

704-305-4381 or jason.epley@ncdda.org

Contact: Craig Lewis • 704.895.8470
PO Box 1836, Davidson, NC 28036
craig.lewis@thelawrencegroup.com• www.thelawrencegroup.com

 
Lawrence Group is an urban planning, building design, development and project delivery firm with offices in the Carolinas, Austin, New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. The firm’s expertise includes architecture, interior design, town planning, urban design, landscape architecture, real estate development, graphic design, and construction management.

Under the leadership of Craig Lewis, AICP, CNU-A, LEED AP, Dave Malushizky, AIA, LEED AP and Rob Richardson, AIA, the talented team of town planners and architects of the Carolinas office provides our clients with expertise in creating resilient downtowns and urban neighborhoods. We are dedicated to the needs of public, private and non-profit clients that seek to strengthen their communities through sustainable planning. Our broad range of experience includes downtown master planning, historic renovation/preservation, remodeling and adaptive reuse, urban single-family, multi-family, mixed-use, form-based codes, streetscape and urban design, recreation and civic facilities.

Please visit Lawrence Group of the Carolinas at:  http://www.thelawrencegroup.com/carolinas/