”We are honored and delighted that Clayton was chosen to host this important conference in 2012,” said Ed Knight, President, Clayton Downtown Development Association. ”This will be an opportunity to show that downtown and all of Clayton is a great place to invest.”
Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod agreed. “The conference is a huge opportunity for Clayton and we will be calling on numerous groups to make it a positive and memorable experience for attendees, businesses and citizens alike,” he said.
Clayton Downtown Development Association had submitted a proposal in the competitive process to secure the conference that involves educational and recognition events for the 61 Main Street towns and cities, as well as the 28 Small Town Main Street communities across North Carolina. The 2011 conference will be held in Shelby, NC.
Most of the conference activities in 2012 will be held at The Clayton Center, a historic complex housing a performing arts auditorium and meeting facilities, located in the heart of downtown Clayton. Attendees will also have plenty of opportunity to tour, shop and dine in Clayton’s vibrant downtown as well as visit other area attractions.
The 2010 NC Main Street Conference explored the theme of ”Downtown: The Key to Recovery” with 20 different presentations on a variety of topics that have been tested in different communities. More than 400 registered attendees came from organizations like the Clayton Downtown Development Association, as well as from private firms and local governments.
Based on economic revitalization within the context of historic preservation, the Main Street program was created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to share an effective downtown revitalization strategy which they had developed for smaller towns. Since the program began in 1980 with 5 communities, combined public and private investment in North Carolina Main Street downtowns totals more than $1.4 billion dollars. Clayton has been a Main Street community since 2006.
The North Carolina Main Street Program provides technical assistance, education and networking opportunities to its communities. The program is part of the Department of Commerce’s Division of Community Assistance.
The Clayton Downtown Development Association is a non-profit organization formed to coordinate revitalization work in the historic downtown district. The Clayton DDA organizes several special events, including the Town Square Concert Series, Oktoberfest, and the Christmas Village & Tree Lighting, administers incentives for downtown improvements, and advocates and provides business improvement services in the downtown district.
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