ROANOKE RAPIDS — Representatives from the area Main Street Program journeyed to Salisbury to see how the program affects a similar environment. They returned impressed.

Advertisement

“After visiting Salisbury,” said Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance Secretary Sherry Wade in a written statement, “I dream of a time when Roanoke Avenue will be a bustling business district once again.”

Roanoke Rapids received the Main Street designation on Sept. 23. While the title does not bring any money by itself, it does allow the city to apply for grants other communities cannot access and facilitates applications for other grants. Obtaining the Main Street designation represents a huge step forward in the city’s efforts to revitalize Roanoke Avenue.

“I was extremely impressed with the grant opportunities and the priority status (the city will get) with grant opportunities,” said Kathy White, a retiree from the Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools District selected for participation due to her grant writing experience. “There were just very impressive services available from the Main Street core staff.”

The Main Street program began in 1980, with North Carolina as one of the six original states chosen for participation. Salisbury was one of the first communities to receive the designation, which combines economic development with historic preservation.

“The Main Street Program for North Carolina is an outstanding program,” said Chris Wicker, director of Parks and Recreation for Roanoke Rapids, who was part of the Valley Main Street team visiting Salisbury. “I think it’s got great potential benefits for the city of Roanoke Rapids.”

The program, according to their Web site, advocates a four-point approach to revitalization — Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring. “The program they’ve got with the four points,” Wicker said, “they’ve got great principles.”

The training in Salisbury for RABA’s group covered many areas, including assisting with developing the local program, technical assistance and training in real estate and business development, according to Wade. Participation in the Main Street Program allows Roanoke Rapids access to the ideas and success stories from the nearly 2,000 other Main Street communities nationwide.

“For our program to be successful,” Wade wrote, “we must embrace the time-tested principles of the Main Street methodology. Activity in each of Main Street’s Four Points is essential.”

Wicker asserts a cooperative effort must be undertaken. “We can’t do it by ourselves,” Wicker insisted. “It’s going to take businesses, RABA and the Chamber (of Commerce) and I think it’s going to be a great program.”

“We can produce long-term success with community involvement and commitment to the revitalization of our business district,” Wade echoed in her statement. “Our community must have the will and desire to mobilize local resources and talent ... we have a lot of work ahead of us and need community volunteers and contributions.”

White concurs that cooperation is key to The Avenue’s success. “We’re a small enough town we can build on each other’s strengths,” White insisted. “I just see a whole lot of promise. But it will take a lot of commitment from individuals. I’m going to give what I can as a volunteer.”

With such an experience behind them, RABA and the Main Street program now look forward to implementing the Four Points to Roanoke Avenue. Their first step remains selecting a program director and then the long but hopefully rewarding process continues.