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Murphy – The future of downtown was revealed last week.
The Downtown Associate Community Program kicked off in Murphy live at the L&N Depot before a standing-room-only crowd in February 2020. After more than a year gathering information and talking with local businesses and residents, a Virtual Vision Reveal was held March 31.
“The journey is not over until the goal is realized,” Mayor Rick Ramsey said in kicking off the event. “Everyone is needed.”
Sherry Adams, coordinator of downtown programming and technical services for the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, echoed Ramsey’s comments about getting involved. She was happily surprised that more than 120 people joined the state’s first reveal meeting held online via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Here’s the vision for the next five years, as decided by the local board:
“Where rivers converge, history lives, outdoor adventure calls and North Carolina begins! Serving as the county seat of Cherokee County in the Appalachian Mountains, downtown Murphy serves as a beacon for endless fun featuring connections to outdoor recreational opportunities, the center of commerce with a host of locally owned restaurants, authentic shopping ventures and Appalachian art forms.”
Three economic development strategies were announced to go along with the vision. Volunteers are need for the committees being formed for each strategy to meet independently:
1. Downtown Murphy connects to outdoor recreational opportunities.
2. Downtown is the center of commerce with a host of locally owned restaurants and authentic shopping ventures.
3. Downtown is the center of Appalachian art forms.
Program director Laura Lachance shared how residents can volunteer outside of last week’s meeting. Please include your name and contact number:
- Email downtowndirector@townofmurphync.com.
- Call 828-541-1212.
The virtual audience was attentive during the hourlong meeting, with even a non-resident taking part in the call to learn more about Murphy.
“I’m thrilled with the participation,” Ramsey said, to which Adams added, “Now the vision needs action.”
The only cost to Murphy is about $5,000 per year over two years. Here is an overview of the Downtown Associate Community Program, according to the coordinators:
- The two- to three-year process “provides communities with the organizational foundation necessary for long-term downtown economic development success.”
- The program is the pathway to move into a N.C. Main Street designation, which is economic development within the context of historic preservation.
- Main Street uses a four-point approach focused on organization, promotion, design and economic vitality.
- That approach features eight principles: comprehensive, incremental, self-help, partnerships, builds on assets, quality focus, change and implementation.
- The benefits includes being involved in a partnership that includes design expertise, specialized training, technical assistance and networking with other downtown professionals that smaller communities often can’t afford.