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Funds made possible through the Duke Energy Foundation

(Tuesday, May 9, 2023) DOWNTOWN SALISBURY, INC. (DSI) announces 27 awards totaling more than $156,000 in economic impact to downtown businesses within the designated Downtown Salisbury Municipal Service District (MSD). These grants are part of the Supporting Existing Businesses Grant Program, made possible by the Duke Energy Foundation, which focuses on strengthening and uplifting communities with vibrant economies, climate resiliency, and justice, equity, and inclusion.

“We are honored and grateful to be one of 20 organizations named as a recipient of the Duke Energy Grant in this most recent round of gifting,” said Sada Troutman, Downtown Salisbury, Inc. director.  “Allowing DSI to make awards to the business and property owners who make Downtown Salisbury a great place to live, work and play has been a powerful reminder of the good work our stakeholders continuously do for our community.”

All business owners located within the MSD, with a storefront presence, and fewer than 50 employees, were invited to apply for grants between $500 and $2,500. The funds can be used for enhanced service or commerce opportunities, furniture for expanded outdoor capacity, storefront beautification, or tools or programs to support workforce needs.

Recipients of the Supporting Existing Businesses Grant Program:

Enhanced service or commerce opportunities

• Glass Ingenuity
• Graceful Beauty Lounge
• Hive                            
• Piedmont Players
• South Main Book Company
• Spotlight Dance Company
• The Fun Factory
• Tonyan Grace Boutique
• U Barkin At Me                                     

Furniture for Expanded Outdoor Capacity

• Go Burrito
• Healthcare Management Consultants, Inc
• The Fish Bowl

Storefront Beautification

• AnnaCraig Boutique
• Bangkok Downtown
• Go Ventures, Inc.
• Greystone Spa on Main
• Jayne Helms Group – Re/Max-
• Kitchen Store
• Local Focal
• Off Main Gallery
• Oxford+Lee
• Plant World
• Ruthie Darling
• SoulFull Nutrition
• The Lettered Lily

Tools or programs to support workforce needs

• The Pedal Factory
• TCW Vizionz LLC

Said Troutman, “It goes without saying, the past few years have been incredibly trying for small businesses across the country, and Downtown Salisbury is no exception. The $25,000 allowed DSI to create a grant program that provided small businesses funding to bring visions and business expansions to life. This will continue to make Downtown Salisbury a vibrant community asset and destination for tourists and residents alike.”

Downtown Salisbury serves as a central hub for existing and growing small businesses and creates a critical mass of activities where commercial, cultural, and civic activities are concentrated. As these small businesses use their grant projects to continue the progress and development of Downtown Salisbury, visit their shops, see their growth, explore Downtown Salisbury, and always, Shop Local. For more information about each project, visit www.DowntownSalisburyNC.com.

As a Main Street America™ accredited program, Downtown Salisbury is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America. Please visit us on the web at www.downtownsalisburync.com.  

By Elisabeth Strillacci

SALISBURY — Growing up with parents who were both avid gardeners meant Marleigh Adams was already predisposed to love plants, but she didn’t start out thinking she would someday have a plant shop.

Now, she can’t imagine anything else.

Her new store, Roots, opened officially last weekend to a packed house, she said, and the community support has been “beyond amazing.”

The shop, though owned and operated by Marleigh, has become a family affair, with mom, Carrie Adams, and brother Travis helping out. Travis built most of the shelving and created the concrete counter tops in the store that needed almost a year’s worth of renovations.

“We spent a lot of time walking the downtown area and looking for the right spot,” said Marleigh. “This place needed the most work of any of the available spaces, but it was the right space, so we went for it.” The vibe she has created is soothing, earthy, peaceful, and the spotlight is definitely on the plants. From spotted begonias to air plants that need no soil to the carnivorous pitcher plant, Marleigh has what a house needs to add life. And she is prepared to make sure buyers understand how to care for their new purchases, though she has no real plans to offer classes.

“That wasn’t something I set out to do at the beginning, and there are other shops here that do, and I don’t want to conflict with them; I want to keep our relationships happy, and they have both been so supportive,” she said. In fact, shop owners throughout downtown have been supportive across the board, along with the city.

“I can reach out to the city at any time and they are very responsive, have offered a lot of tips and ideas and have been so good about making sure I am aware of any events going on,” she said. The most challenging thing about opening was getting the license to serve alcohol, because the shop offers wine slushies. It required an inspection of the premises, which had to wait until the renovations were complete, but it all came together in the end.

In the front of the store there is a circle of chairs with a center coffee table, surrounded by plants, that Marleigh hopes will become a gathering spot for people, where they can use the WiFi, chat with friends and even enjoy an icy glass of wine if they like. And if the attendance so far is any indication, the store is already making a name for itself.

This past Saturday, Ken Davis from Lexington, a well known singer and musician, entertained the shoppers who were so plentiful at one point that the line snaked through the whole store and back again.

One thing Marleigh does want to do down the road, according to her mother, is create a mobile greenhouse truck that she can take to events to sell plants.

“Initially she talked about just doing a plant truck, a mobile business,” said Carrie. “But eventually it became clear that she should go ahead and establish an actual shop. But I know she still wants to go mobile.”

The plants Marleigh offers come from all over the country, from Colorado, Florida and other states, but also from Statesville and Charlotte. She plans to source as much locally as possible.

“I’ve tried to source for both beginners and collectors,” she said. “And I hope that people will buy here instead of buying online, support a local business, because we do have plants that you really can’t get elsewhere except by going online. You won’t find them in box stores. I am trying to market to everyone, not a particular age group, and not just women, but to everyone.”

Plants, she said, “can completely change a space, can make a space welcoming and warm and peaceful, and that’s what I hope people feel when they come in.”

Read more at: https://www.salisburypost.com/2023/05/07/a-growing-concern-roots-comes-to-town/

RECEIVES 2023 MAIN STREET AMERICA ACCREDITATION

Salisbury, NC (May 4, 2023) – Downtown Salisbury, Inc. has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

Downtown Salisbury, Inc.’s performance is annually evaluated by [Your Main Street Coordinating Program Name, City of Salisbury][ST1] , which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. To qualify for Accreditation status, communities must meet a set of rigorous standards that include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

Downtown Salisbury experienced over $30 million in combined private and public investment, with 42 projects being completed in the district. As Downtown Salisbury grew by 13 businesses and 4 expanded businesses, it welcomed 50 added full-time jobs and 24 added part-time jobs, all of which contribute to a slight increase in rental rates, a sign of a healthy market in the community.

“Downtown Salisbury is thrilled to once again be accredited as a Main Street program, working to invigorate our Main Street community using economic vitality, design, and promotion as the backbone to successful economic development, said Sada Troutman, Downtown Development/DSI Director. Over the past year, Downtown Salisbury saw amazing commitment from property owners, business owners, residents, and visitors alike to make Salisbury a better place to live, work and play. This is highlighted by the safe and successful implementation of the Downtown Salisbury Social District, as well as record attendance at many downtown events.”

“We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Accredited Main Street America programs, and their steadfast dedication to nurture economically and culturally vibrant downtown districts,” said Hannah White, Interim President & CEO of Main Street America. “The increase in the size and impact of our network speaks volumes to the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of local communities and drive innovative solutions.”

In 2022, Main Street America programs generated $6.2 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 7,657 net new businesses, facilitated the creation of 29,174 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,688 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,528,535 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support its operations, it generated $24.07 of new investment back into their downtown communities.

Collectively, 2 million people live or work within the boundaries of designated Main Street America districts. An estimated workforce of 1.1 million people contributes their skills and expertise to advancing the missions of these historic downtowns and commercial corridors.

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ABOUT Downtown Salisbury, Inc.

As a Main Street America™ accredited program, Downtown Salisbury is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America. Please visit us on the web at www.downtownsalisburync.com.  

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

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Published 12:01 am Sunday, February 5, 2023

By Chandler Inions

SALISBURY — Successful marketing campaigns can stand out for humor and emotionality, but an underlying uniqueness can go a long way.

Numerous business owners around Salisbury and Rowan County participated in an unconventional marketing strategy with Coloring My Town. The organization creates coloring books featuring caricatures of figures from around the community.

When Fullers Market owner Justin Wells learned about the coloring book concept, he was immediately intrigued. “We get a lot of the same advertising things coming through the door,” Wells said. “Nothing sounds intriguing, but we saw this come through, and it looked so different. We thought, let’s try that one. It’s different from a regular advertisement or an ad on a menu at the restaurant. You may look at those, but do they stick with you?”

Tara Wallace , Coloring My Town Southeast owner and regional sales director, explained that they print more than 11,000 copies of the coloring book and distribute them throughout the school system.

“They are distributed to every student kindergarten through fifth grade in Rowan County,” Wallace said. “We give them teachers’ guides, which have ways to utilize the books in their classroom to teach all about their community. When they are done, we have the children take the books home and enjoy them with their families.

“It’s just a fun way to bring back that community pride and involve everyone in Salisbury and Rowan County, where there are a lot of different communities that we aim to bridge together.”

The books feature pages with city officials, business leaders, and academic figures, along with facts and history.

While Wallace oversees the project from start to finish, she said delivery day takes the cake. WHEN YOU SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS, YOU SUPPORT US. THANK YOU! “

The first day I go in to meet with the school or business, they have no idea why I am there,” Wallace said. “Delivery day is a whole other story. That is when I come in, and we see the smiles. Everyone loves seeing themselves in the book. We have built these relationships with them and it is so much fun to see their reaction and thank them in person for being a part of these books.”

Designing each page takes time, and sometimes they have to go back to the drawing board.

“We take a lot of cues from the business,” Wallace said. “We ask them what they would like their business represented in there. Sometimes, if I am there, I take pictures. I see some things. We talk about the business. Sometimes, they say I don’t have a clue, so my art team will come up with ideas. We’ll send a proof to them.”

Wallace explained that there is one overarching goal with each page. “

We make it personal,” Wallace said. “Every single page on there has a personal aspect on there, whether it is about a community event, principal, or whatever it might be.”

Fun Factory owner Marianna Riley Jarrett loved the idea as soon as she heard about it. “With my new business, I wanted to do more marketing and promoting,” Jarrett said. “This fits the perfect demographic for our businesses.”

Part of the organization’s mission is to get the coloring books into the hands of kindergarten through fifth graders in area schools.

“I think it is such an interesting and cool concept,” Jarrett said. “I absolutely loved having the custom design of the facility and the personal touch with me and my kids (Waylon and Wyatt).”

Jarrett also owns Spotlight Dance Academy. She took out pages for both of the businesses.

For the owner of Sweet Meadow Cafe, Heather Hopkins-Teeter, the concept was too tough to pass up.

“My advertising budget is not very big, so I tend to keep it grassroots. But this was such an unusual and unique way to do things,” Hopkins-Teeter said. “Incorporating it into the schools was just phenomenal, so I did find the extra money to put into this because it was such a unique project.”

Hopkins-Teeter’s daughter is in the fourth grade at Overton Elementary. The cafe owner said she was excited to hear about her daughter’s reaction to receiving a coloring book with her mom in it.

Seeing a Coloring Your Town version from his hometown of Statesville appealed to Backcountry & Beyond owner Jeff Moose.

“I saw a lot of local businesses there that I knew and had a lot of experience with,” Moose said.

Translating that to Salisbury seemed like a great plan to the outdoor goods business owner.

“Honestly, we just love being a part of the community,” Moose said.

Read more at: https://www.salisburypost.com/2023/02/05/outside-the-box-inside-the-lines-coloring-book-marketing-concept-captures-rowan-county-icons/

By David WhisenantPublished: Jan. 9, 2023 at 6:14 AM EST

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) – The Salisbury Human Relations Council (HRC) hosts the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration beginning Saturday, Jan. 14 through Monday, Jan. 16.

The “Dr. King Celebration Weekend” kicks off with the return of the MLK Parade along Main St. to Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., ending at the Civic Center, 315 S. Martin Luther King. Jr. Ave. There, the HRC will host a Community Resource Fair where Rowan County residents can receive health screenings, resources from local agencies, school supplies, and other gifts from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Continue reading “Salisbury Human Relations Council hosts 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration weekend”

By David WhisenantPublished: Jan. 9, 2023 at 4:57 PM EST

SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) – Cheerwine, the iconic 106-year-old cherry soda and its hometown of Salisbury, N.C., will host the annual Cheerwine Festival on Saturday, May, 20, from noon to 10 p.m.

According to a news release, the family-friendly festival will feature live entertainment from local and national bands, Cheerwine-inspired food and drinks, arts and crafts, kids activities and more. The full musical lineup and additional details will be released in the coming weeks.

Continue reading “Cheerwine Festival returning to Salisbury on May 20”

The Forward 2040 plan is a comprehensive outline for growth

By David Whisenant

Published: Nov. 14, 2022 at 12:35 PM EST

SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) – A draft of the City of Salisbury comprehensive plan is now available for public review and feedback through virtual and in-person meetings, and on the city website here.

Titled, “Forward 2040: Salisbury’s Framework for Growth,” the comprehensive plan is a guide for the City’s urban growth over the next 20 years relating to land use, future growth, physical development, and large-scale improvements. The Forward 2040 steering committee developed the draft plan from residents’ vision of how the community should grow responsibly, and in a way that considers the efficient, equitable and cost-effective provision of city services.

The comprehensive plan process was initiated three years ago to address the city’s challenges and opportunities head-on, though the pandemic interrupted much of the plan’s progress. Now, the steering committee is ready to proceed with the feedback portion of the process.

The draft plan boasts 10 key themes:

• Responsibly-Managed Growth
• Context-Based Urban Design
• Thriving, Livable Neighborhoods
• Sustainable, Clean Natural Environment
• Resilient, Diverse Economy
• Healthy, Active Community
• Equitable & Inclusive Community
• Vibrant Community Atmosphere
• Unique, Dynamic Downtown
• Local & Regional Partnerships

“Public participation is the backbone of the Forward 2040 comprehensive plan,” said Salisbury Planning Director Hannah Jacobson. “While I am proud of the draft plan, it will only get better with feedback from this community.”

Each theme is listed separately on the webpage, each with an opportunity to leave written feedback. Other opportunities are available to review and provide feedback on the draft plan. The community planning department will host a series of in-person meetings:

• Monday, December 5
• 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
• Horizons Unlimited, 1636 Parkview Circle

• Thursday, December 8
• 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• Rowan Museum, 202 North Main Street

• Saturday, December 10
• 10:00 a.m. – noon
• RCCC North Campus, Building 600 Rm 101, 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd. South

• January 2023 – TBD
• Livingstone College
• 701 W. Monroe Street

Residents also are able to engage directly with planners who helped create the plan. To sign-up to request small group or one-on-one presentations, visit //salisburync.gov/forward2040, call (704) 638-5230, or email Forward2040@salisburync.gov.

Virtual “office hours” meetings will be held via Zoom:

• Friday, November 18 – Noon to 1 p.m.
• Friday, December 2 – Noon to 1 p.m.
• Friday, December 9 – Noon to 1 p.m.

For more information on the draft Forward 2040: Salisbury’s Framework for Growth comprehensive plan, please contact the planning department at (704) 638-5230, or email Forward2040@salisburync.gov.

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