<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4YIxUw_0vjcGb7w00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4YIxUw_0vjcGb7w00" width="541" height="376" ></figure>ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation has released its annual Main Street Impact Report, complete with an updated mission statement and vision.At the Albemarle City Council meeting on Sept. 16, councilmembers received a presentation from Main Street Manager Joy Almond, who provided the new organizational language based on revisions made at the ADDC Board of Directors’ annual spring retreat.The updated statement in the 2023-24 report reads as follows: “Embracing its rich history, Albemarle offers a welcoming downtown experience in the heart of Stanly County and the Uwharrie region. It celebrates abundant recreational activities, artistic creativity, culture, culinary delights, and libations. It is a destination for a thriving business community that is supported by engaged downtown residents and college students.”Almond added that the previous statement was changed to better reflect what the ADDC envisions as the downtown’s vision.“Formerly, it was listed as the Gateway to the Uwharries, and we felt that we were a part of the tourist destinations in our area — with our wonderful lakes, Morrow Mountain and the Uwharrie region — so we are now a part of the destination and all of the great things in our area. Our plan of moving forward is a reflection of that.”The ADDC report also included downtown Albemarle’s investment statistics, showing $1,625,673 in public investment and $11,664,679 in private investments.Additionally, the report noted two façade improvements, two overall building improvements, six net new businesses, and a net gain of 39 jobs within the municipal service district.“Our volunteers are very crucial to the work that we do here in downtown, whether it is with events or beautification projects such as the flower plantings and the concrete ones at our downtown key intersections,” Almond said. “We had a total of 497 volunteer hours with a total of $15,700 in the dollar value that is recommended by our North Carolina Main Street office.In the presentation, Almond went on to recognize John Williams, who was selected as the 2023 NC Main Street Champion; the 2024 champion has been selected and will be announced in March 2025.Highlighting the projects done by the ADDC throughout the past year, the report listed the ghost sign restoration on N. Depot Street, the first quarterly Downtown Art Walk in collaboration with the Stanly County Arts Guild, and the first annual Make Music Day, among others.During the past fiscal year, the ADDC awarded more than $5,000 to downtown businesses for matching grants in order to speed along projects.“These things just didn’t happen by happenstance,” Councilman Benton Dry said. “With the plans, the growth that we’ve seen, what the council has done, and what your group is doing, I think it’s just a marvelous thing. As people come in, they’re actually seeing the difference that we didn’t have five years ago, versus what we’re seeing today. I just want to compliment you on the job.”The Albemarle City Council is set to meet again on Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.</div></body>

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Albemarle City Council receives annual downtown report

ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation has released its annual Main Street Impact Report, complete with an updated mission statement and vision. At the Albemarle City Council meeting on Sept. 16, councilmembers received a presentation from Main Street Manager Joy Almond, who provided the new organizational language based on revisions made at the ADDC Board of Directors’ annual spring retreat.