Downtown Boone Development Association

The mission of the association is to improve the Municipal Service District of Boone by encouraging property owners to maintain, improve and beautify downtown; providing more cultural events; promoting “smart commercial development”; encouraging transportation and parking improvements; and encouraging greater involvement of all property owners, professionals, and stakeholders in the district. Funding for the DBDA comes from two major sources; taxation and private funding

The next meeting of the DBDA Membership will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Watuaga County Library, located at 140 Queen Street in Downtown Boone.  Please see the follow links for more information:

• January 13, 2011 DBDA Membership Meeting – Invitation Letter

• January 13, 2011 DBDA Membership Meeting – RSVP & Proxy Information

• January 13, 2011 DBDA Membership Meeting – Agenda

Questions?  Contact the DBDA Office at 828-262-4532 or dbda@boone-nc.org.

Are you looking for something unique to put under the Christmas tree or for a Chanukah gift?  To provide that, “ooh,” factor, shop at your local independent merchant stores.

You don’t have to take our word for it….  DeBaise, Colleen, Maltby, Emily,  & Sarah E. Needleman. (1 December 2010.) “Need a Gift to Wow? Try an Indie Merchant.” The Wall Street Journal.

Local 3/50 Project in action:  The Mountain Times, “Blue Ridge Black Friday: Your Comprehensive Guide.”

Boone Christmas Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 18th at 10:00 a.m. Line-up will begin at 8 a.m.

2010 Boone Christmas Parade Application – pdf download

Facade Incentive & Sign Incentive Grants are Now Available!

The grant application period begins November 5, 2010 @ 5pm and will end Friday, November 19th, 2010 @ 5pm.  Mailed grant applications must be postmarked by November 19th.  Only fully completed applications will be considered.

As part of the Boone Main Street Program, the DBDA is offering facade incentive grants and sign incentive grants to property and businesses owners located within Boone’s Municipal Service District.  Projects do not have to be completed at the time of application, but must be completed within six months of the final award date.   Please follow the links below to view the application for each grant and the design guidelines for facade grants.

Sign Incentive Grant Information & Application

Maximum Award for Sign Incentive Grants = 50% of project costs, up to $1,000

Facade Incentive Grant Information & Application

Facade Incentive Grant Design Guidelines

Maximum Award for Facade Incentive Grants = 50% of project costs, up to $2,000

** Note: Facade applications must include a physical improvement to the front of the building to be eligible for a grant.

Please contact Mary Baker, Director, at the DBDA for more information.

Phone: (828) 262-4532

Email: dbda@boone-nc.org

Special Meeting of the Board of Directors – Agenda

Annual Membership Meeting Minutes – August 16, 2010

Doc Watson Downtown Project

Doc Watson Downtown Project Contribution Form

Purchase an Engraved Brick at the Sculpture Site

A Permanent Place to Pick: “Doc Watson Sculpture Planned for Downtown Boone,” High Country Press.

Doc in Bronze, The Mountain Times.

July 19, 2010 – Downtown Boone Development Association Receives 2010 National Trust Main Street Accreditation

Boone, NC, July 19, 2010 – The Downtown Boone Development Association (DBDA) has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center. Each year, the National Trust and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street® programs that have built strong revitalization organizations and demonstrate their ability in using the Main Street Four-Point Approach® methodology for strengthening their local economy and protecting their historic buildings.  The DBDA has been an active member of the NC Main Street Program for 17 years.

“We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for meeting our established performance standards,” says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs are meeting the challenges of the recession head on and are successfully using a focused, comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep their communities vibrant and sustainable.”

The organization’s performance is annually evaluated by the Main Street Center of the NC Department of Commerce, which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet 10 performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information on the national program accreditation program, visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.PreservationNation.org) is a nonprofit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history – and the important moments of everyday life – took place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of America’s stories.

Established in 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center® helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 30 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $48.9 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 417,919 net new jobs and 94,176 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 214,263 buildings, leveraging an average of $27 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.

Downtown Boone Ghost Walk & Historical Tour

Come to downtown Boone on Saturday, June 26th to celebrate 75 years of the Blue Ridge Parkway with the DBDA and Brad Harmon of Harmon’s Dixie Pride as Brad leads downtown Boone’s first Ghost Walk  & Historical Tour!!

The tour will meet at the Downtown Boone Post Office and begin at 6:00 p.m.  The 1 1/2 hour guided tour will travel on foot throughout downtown Boone to discover Boone’s hidden past and tales.  This is a free event, but participants must register before the event through the DBDA office by calling 828.262.4532.

We look forward to seeing you there!

2010 Tracking form Letter

Business & Property Owners: Please complete the 2010 NC Main Street Statistical Tracking form by Friday, June 18th.

This form records the amount of private investment in Downtown Boone over the past year & is required by the NC Main Street Center for grant eligibility in the upcoming year.

The Main Street Center recently awarded $1.95 million to North Carolina communities through the Main Street Solutions Fund Grant.

2010 NC Main Street Solutions Fund Grant Award Winners

Thank you for your assistance!