Morganton, Hickory, Lenoir, Marion earn Main Street accreditation

Four communities in and around Burke County have earned Main Street America accreditation for 2026.

Morganton, Hickory, Lenoir, and Marion were among 49 North Carolina communities recognized by Main Street America and the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced this week. There are 72 designated Main Street communities in the state.

The designation recognizes communities for their work in preservation-based economic development and downtown revitalization through the Main Street program. Accreditation is based on 2025 performance.

“Communities across our state continue to achieve excellence in economic development as they demonstrate what’s possible when people come together with vision and purpose,” N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said. “Their dedication is a reminder that strong downtowns fuel prosperity and are built through passion, perseverance, and partnership.”

The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center works with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet national performance standards.

To qualify, communities must show a record of success in areas including community commitment to revitalization, leadership and organizational capacity, sustainable funding, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and measurable results.

“As we continue putting our Downtown Master Plan into action, including campus improvements, complete streets, greenway and OVT connections, and new placemaking projects, we’re keeping the kind of hometown charm and character at the heart of what fits Downtown Lenoir,” said Brenda Floyd, City of Lenoir Main Street director.

Other accredited North Carolina communities include Albemarle, Asheboro, Belmont, Boone, Brevard, Cherryville, Concord, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Elkin, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Goldsboro, Henderson, Hendersonville, Laurinburg, Lexington, Lumberton, Manteo, Mebane, Mooresville, Morehead City, Mount Airy, Murphy, New Bern, Newton, Oxford, Pittsboro, Reidsville, Rocky Mount, Roxboro, Salisbury, Sanford, Smithfield, Spruce Pine, Statesville, Sylva, Troy, Tryon, Wake Forest, Waynesville, Waxhaw, Whiteville, Wilson, and Zebulon.

Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, said, “Their work reflects a deep commitment to excellence and a belief in what their communities can accomplish through collaboration, determination, and forward-looking leadership.”

Since 1980, N.C. Main Street programs have leveraged $6.1 billion in public and private investment, created 39,530 net new jobs, and rehabilitated 8,419 downtown buildings.

In 2025, N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street downtown districts leveraged $518.7 million in public and private investment. The districts also reported 288 net new businesses, 1,925 net new jobs, 364 facade improvements, 293 building rehabilitations, and 127,806 volunteer hours valued at more than $4.21 million.

Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization works with more than 1,600 communities across the country to support preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.