Thank you all who have volunteered time, funds, knowledge, and support over the past 25 years. This organization is honored to have worked with you to make to community what it is today.
In August 1989, Albemarle City Council had the wisdom and vision to establish Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation (ADDC). The purpose of this organization was to prevent the further decline and deterioration of Downtown Albemarle. This would be a multi-faceted undertaking, with anticipated assistance from the NC Main Street Center in Raleigh. Council further agreed to fund ADDC for a minimum of three years with an additional match of funds from downtown business and property owners to meet the established budget. Board members were appointed, by-laws were written and ADDC became incorporated.
Their Mission Statement: To develop a consensus-based vision for the downtown and managing its implementation to form partnerships between city/county governments, merchants and property owners and the citizens of Albemarle and Stanly County.
Their Goal: To become a NC designated Main Street City
In 1980, the National Trust created the National Trust Main Street Center to share lessons learned in a pilot program based on their downtown revitalization process: the Main Street Four Point Approach. For the next three years, the National Trust Main Street Center conducted a national demonstration in six states, including North Carolina, encouraging the creative use of business and government resources to support local revitalization initiatives. The Main Street Four-Point Approach is a comprehensive revitalization process designed to improve all aspects of a downtown with Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Restructuring. The performance of each of the state’s local Main Street programs is annually evaluated by the Office of Urban Development at the N.C. Main Street Center, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify those local programs that meet ten performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determine the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress and preserving historic buildings.
After two attempts, Albemarle was designated as a Main Street Community on May 26, 1993. For over 20 years, volunteers have shaped the downtown and created a beautiful place to live and work.
Below are names of volunteers who have served as ADDC Board Chair:
Dick Clayton : 1989 – 1992; Stan Biggers : 1992 – 1996; David Holbrook : 1996-1997; Betty Brown : 1998 – 1999; David Treece : 1999 – 2001; Joe Godwin : 2001-2004; Art Rogers : 2004 – 2005; Jane Rogers : 2005 – 2007 ; Chris Bramlett : 2008 – 2010; Gina Martin : 2010 – 2012; Blake Martin : 2012 –
Once a year, each Main Street program may designate one individual, couple, organization, or business partnership* from their community as a Main Street Champion, to honor those persons who have made extraordinary contributions to their local downtowns.
Below are the list of Main Street Champions.
Stan Biggers : 2000; Perry Moser: 2000; Mayor Roger F. Synder: 2000; Cindy Valentine : 2001; Joe Godwin : 2002; Margaret Snyder : 2003 ; Betty J. Crook : 2004; Arthur H. Rogers, Jr. : 2005; Albemarle Public Works Dept. Staff : 2006; Francis E. “Gene” Starnes : 2008; Don Abernathy : 2009; Roger Dick : 2010; Floyd Eudy : 2011; Barbara and Larry Bowers : 2012; Gina Martin : 2013
