North Carolina Main Street Champions will be recognized for their contributions to their Main Street programs and downtown districts today in Statesville. Since the recognition started in 2000, including this year’s 38 honorees, 375 Champions have been honored by the N.C. Department of Commerce.

“North Carolina’s most important asset is the people that live and work in their communities, and our Main Street program teaches our communities how to leverage this invaluable resource into positive economic change,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. 

“Champions are the heartbeat of rural North Carolina,” said Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary of Rural Economic Development at the N.C. Department of Commerce. “They don’t give up on their communities and keep fighting for new businesses, new jobs, and new investment.”

“Main Street Champions are passionate about their community and their downtown districts,” said Liz Parham, Director of the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center at Commerce. “They are public officials, volunteers, community leaders and concerned citizens that are all working collaboratively for common goals within the context of their community’s economic development strategies”.

 The 2022 North Carolina Main Street Champions are: 

• Edna Lipe-Harkey - Albemarle 
• Al Wall - Belmont
• Vickie Spurling - Cherryville
• Grace W. Ho and Ken T. Yang - Clinton
• Michael Carpino - Eden
• Brooke Cook - Edenton
• Dana Rabon and Carlee Goldston - Elizabeth City
• Dan Butner - Elkin
• Bill Baucom - Elon
• Jim Wantuch - Forest City
• Marilyn Gardner - Fuquay-Varina
• Marie Howe - Garner
• Doug McGrath - Goldsboro
• Maria Bailey - Henderson
• NC Apple Festival Board of Directors - Hendersonville
• Katie and Taylor Brummett, Jamie and Tommy Brubaker - Lenoir
• Steve Bush - Marion
• Bobby Compton - Mooresville
• Steve and Kathy Chalk - Morehead City
• City of Morganton Grounds Team - Morganton
• Robbie Curlee - Mount Airy
• Chris McCutcheon - New Bern
• John Patrick Sterchi - Newton
• Gregory Stafford - Pittsboro
• Amy Laster - Reidsville
• Kevin McLoughlin - Rocky Mount
• Beth Townsend - Roxboro 
• Rick Segal - Rutherfordton
• Salisbury Parks & Recreation Department - Salisbury
• Chet Mann - Sanford
• David Royster, IV - Shelby
• Gloria Brindle - Smithfield
• Emma Cadman - Spruce Pine
• Marin Tomlin - Statesville
• Laurie Bryson - Sylva
• ARTS Wake Forest Volunteers - Wake Forest
• Kate Stahlman - Waxhaw
• Garris Family - Wilson