Clayton's "Main Street" Earns Accrediation

Clayton's "Main Street" program has earned official accreditation for 2012, joining 25 other towns across the state in meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center.

Clayton has earned the honor each year since 2007.

“We are pleased to have Clayton’s Main Street program accredited for the fifth year in a row,” said Downtown Development Association President Richard Rairigh. “This recognition by the state and federal programs means we are doing many of the things we should be doing in the continuing revitalization of downtown Clayton, and we are glad to be a Main Street community.”

North Carolina’s accredited programs are Albemarle, Brevard, Burlington, Clayton, Concord, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Garner, Goldsboro, Hendersonville, Hickory, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Monroe, Morganton, New Bern, Newton, North Wilkesboro, Salisbury, Shelby, Statesville, Wake Forest, Waynesville and Wilson. Each town’s performance is annually evaluated by the North Carolina Main Street Center, which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet top performance standards.

The N.C. Main Street program assists selected communities across the state in restoring economic vitality to their historic downtowns, using a comprehensive downtown revitalization process developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Clayton was selected as a Main Street Community in 2006, and is one of four Main Street-related communities in Johnston County. Smithfield is also a Main Street Community, selected in 1986. Benson (2008) and Selma (2009) are part of the Small Town Main Street program.