Since 1980, the North Carolina Main Street Center has traditionally selected communities every two years to participate in the Main Street Program. Elkin was selected as a North Carolina Main Street City in April 1998 along with Monroe, Oxford and Sparta. A total of 53 North Carolina Cities and Towns have been chosen. The North Carolina Main Street Program is a part of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. This human and reference center works to stimulate comprehensive revitalization utilizing the four-point approach. The four elements are: organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. The Main Street Program is designed to improve all aspects of downtown, producing both tangible and intangible benefits. Since the North Carolina program began communities have experienced more than $789 million of new investment and a net gain of 10,000 jobs in their downtowns. In addition more than 2,400 buildings have been renovated and more than 5,400 new businesses have begun. Nationally, Main Street communities have had more than $16.1 billion new public and private investments in their downtowns. In March 1999 the Elkin Town Board appointed the Elkin Main Street Program Committee. This board is working with other groups (such as Downtown Elkin, Inc., Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce, and local civic organizations and businesses).

Elkin Main Street Program Committee

Town of Elkin Main Street Advisory Board Members       Misty Lynch 240 Gwyn Ave Elkin, NC 28621 336.905.9844 (home) Misty.clothnapkins@gmail.com Expires:  May 2012   Jeff Gibbs 357 Gwyn Avenue Elkin, NC 28621 336-835-6246 (work) chefjeffgibbs@yahoo.com Term Expires: May 2014   Phillip Lyles Yadkin Valley General Store 302 E. Main Street Elkin, NC 28621 336.835.1426 (work) Phillip@yvgeneralstore.com Term Expires: May 2013   Denise Lyon P.O. Box 425 Elkin, NC 28621 336.366.7421 (work and home) myfrienddenise@gmail.com Term Expires: May 2012   Joaquin Mantero (Vice-Chair) 248 Dutchman Creek Road Elkin, NC 28621 336.526.3700 (work) 336.258.2077 (home) lmantero@roadrunner.com Term Expires: May 2012   Kimberly Seipel-Parks 315 Hillcrest Drive (PO Box 809) Elkin, NC 28621 336.526.0038 (work) 336.258.2421 (home) kim@westdepotcreative.com Term Expires: May 2013   Teresa Smith Ray (Chair) 187 Victoria Street Elkin, NC 28621 336.835.7664 (Home) 336.366.7970 (Cell) tsmith2969@aol.com Term Expires: May 2013   Beth Charles 436 West Main Street Elkin, NC 28621 336-835-3991 (Home) charles.beth@gmail.com Term Expires: May 2014     Ex-officio members:      Laurette Leagon, Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce                                        lauretteleagon@yadkinvalley.com                                          Larry Irwin, Downtown Elkin, Inc Chairperson                                        elkrx@rivercto.net     Secretary:                       Theresa Knops, Main Street and Community Manager                                         226 N Bridge Street                                         Elkin, NC 28621                                         336.835.9857                                         tlknops@elkinnc.org

Accomplishments to Date

Organizing the first Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festivals, helped with recycle center relocation/expansion, getting Downtown Elkin Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, downtown clean-up days, architectural hunt, photo documented all downtown businesses, assisted with publishing the Historic Downtown Elkin Walking Tour brochure, established façade grant guidelines, manage the $50,000 Façade Grant donation from Yadkin Valley Bank, assistance with technical advise for façade rehabilitations, support for new business start ups, worked with the National Park Service to establish the walking path for the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Municipal District Tax (MSD) established, “Historic Downtown Elkin” directional signage (1st MSD project), selected Elkin individuals for NC Main Street Champions, celebrated grand-openings with ribbon cutting ceremonies, Pilot for Start with your Heart walking path programs, assisted with establishment of Farmers Market (held Saturdays May-October 8am-noon), organized Austin Healey rally, launched cardboard recycling in downtown along with roll-out cart trash collection, sidewalk and parking lot renovations, hosted “Visioning” and Charette team, established design guidelines for downtown.