On Thursday, January 31, Abby Burns was honored as a 2007 Main Street Champion at the North Carolina Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in Rocky Mount. Burns was selected for this special recognition by Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro in appreciation of her exceptional contributions to the downtown revitalization process. Along with Champions from 32 other communities, she received a certificate commemorating her designation, presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce Jim Fain, Assistant Secretary of Commerce Cleve Simpson, Main Street Assistant Coordinator Meg Dees and Office of Urban Development Director Rodney L. Swink, FASLA.
Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.
“Main Street is a grassroots effort and, in order to be successful, every local program must draw on its community resources—both financial and human,” said Swink. “The human resources come in a number of forms: volunteers, Main Street board members, city staff, city councils and others. There are no greater supporters of Main Street than those people who we honor here tonight, individuals who have taken their dedication to downtown to the next level—our 2007 N.C. Main Street Champions.”
“Whether donating money for a minor league ball park or repairing a broken Christmas tree, Main Street Champions are the people who do what is needed when it is needed, ensuring that the downtowns they love remain vital, vibrant places. Main Street Champions take great pride in their downtowns, and tonight we take great pride in our Main Street Champions,” he said.
In nominating Burns for this honor, Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro, Inc. offered the following:
Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro, Inc. is proud to recognize Abby Burns as our 2007 N.C. Main Street Champion. She has contributed a substantial amount of time, effort and money for the betterment of our organization and improvement of downtown.
Abby joined the board of HDTNW in 2002. During her tenure on the board, she has been a working member of every committee at some point and has also served as vice president for two years.
Abby’s greatest accomplishment has been organizing and chairing the planning committee for the Shine to Wine Festival. Her efforts have led to the festival’s becoming a primary fundraiser for the organization and helped to brand the community as a region for local wines. Abby was also responsible for getting the name “Shine to Wine” and the festival logo trademarked. During her three years as festival committee chairman, she has helped to raise almost $20,000 for HDTNW.
Abby has always shared a strong desire to see downtown North Wilkesboro flourish and grow, but what really makes her a Main Street Champion is the way that she has stepped up and made a difference with her time and actions in a way that will positively impact our community for years to come.
Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro is honored to recognize Abby Burns as a 2007 N.C. Main Street Champion.
Main Street is a downtown revitalization program for smaller towns based on economic development within the context of historic preservation. The North Carolina Main Street Program, which provides technical assistance to its communities, is part of the Office of Urban Development in the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.
In 1980, North Carolina was one of six original states, selected from 38 that applied, to launch the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center. The North Carolina Main Street Program began working with its five original cities – New Bern, Salisbury, Shelby, Tarboro, and Washington – in September 1980 and has since grown to include 57 communities across the state.
Pictured (Left to Right): Cleve Simpson, NC Assistant Secretary of Commerce, NC Main Street Champion Abby Burns and James T. Fain III, NC Secretary of Commerce. Photography by Garry E. Hodges
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