Downtown Mount Airy Earns National Accreditation

Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. has once again been designated as an Accredited Main Street

America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards in 2024. Each year, Main Street America and its coordinating partners recognize programs that demonstrate exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Main Street America recognizes two tiers of national designation—Affiliate and Accredited. These designations serve as powerful advocacy tools, signaling to stakeholders and funders that a Main Street program is part of a nationwide movement with a 45-year track record of building stronger communities and generating lasting economic impact.

“Main Street America is proud to recognize this year’s 821 Accredited Main Street America programs for their commitment to building strong and vibrant communities,” said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. “Their tireless efforts show what’s possible when engaged leaders work together to shape places that reflect the people they serve. The continued impact of our network shows that the Main Street movement remains a powerful force for positive transformation.”

Mount Airy Downtown, Inc.’s performance was evaluated by its board of directors and staff, in coordination with the North Carolina Main Street & Rural Planning Center, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify programs that meet rigorous national performance standards.

These standards require communities to demonstrate a proven track record of success in six areas: broad-based community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and measurable impact.

Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. is proud to be one of only 45 Accredited Main Street communities in North Carolina, demonstrating our continued commitment to excellence in downtown revitalization. Since 2013, the organization has tracked significant progress across a range of revitalization metrics. Downtown has seen the completion of 115 façade improvements, 44 building rehabilitation projects, and 54 public improvement initiatives. A total of 82 new businesses have opened in the district, contributing to $50.7 million in combined public and private investment - including more than $46 million in private sector reinvestment alone. The district is now home to 131 downtown housing units, and our growing digital reach includes a social media following of over 49,000 engaged supporters.

In 2024, Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. continued to build momentum with a wide range of impactful initiatives. We coordinated efforts to secure free public Wi-Fi for downtown visitors and businesses and played a key role in supporting the Mount Airy Farmers Market in its efforts to relocate. Signature events like the inaugural Sunday Supper on Market Street, the second annual Community Night Out, and the Mayberry Food Truck Fest brought thousands of people downtown. We also hosted educational and engagement events, including a Historic Tax Credit workshop with NC Main Street, an entrepreneurship workshop for high school students, and our annual Downtown Stakeholders Meeting. Through grant support and community partnerships, the Market Street Arts & Entertainment District entered its fifth season going strong, with expanded cultural programming and live events. Our staff also completed Leadership Surry, a 9-month program offered through Surry Community College and the Surry County Economic Development Partnership, designed to strengthen leadership skills through community analysis and hands-on learning across Surry County.

As we celebrate our recent progress, we’re also looking ahead to the next transformative chapter for Downtown Mount Airy. The upcoming launch of the Spencer’s Mill District marks a major milestone in our community’s revitalization journey. This next phase includes the highly anticipated grand opening of The Balladeer Hotel, its adjacent restaurant and event center, and the development of the Granstone Conference & Event Center. These projects represent a significant investment in the future of our downtown - strengthening our local economy, attracting new visitors, and creating opportunities for growth. The future of Downtown Mount Airy is brighter than ever, and we’re proud to be part of shaping what comes next.

“This accreditation reflects our community’s shared commitment to preserving the charm of Downtown Mount Airy while driving forward economic opportunity,” said Morgan Johnson, Executive Director of Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in 2024 and look forward to continued collaboration to make downtown even more vibrant and welcoming.”

ABOUT MOUNT AIRY DOWNTOWN, INC.

Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization and economic development of Downtown Mount Airy, North Carolina. Through historic preservation, strategic partnerships, small business support, and community events the organization works to foster a thriving, welcoming, and culturally rich downtown district. For more information, visit mountairydowntown.org.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Since 1980, the Main Street Movement has resulted in $115.42 billion reinvested locally, 181,647 net new businesses, 815,895 net new jobs, 345,801 buildings rehabilitated, and 37.3 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.