City honored: Goldsboro again recognized for its thriving downtown

The city of Goldsboro has once again been honored for its work downtown. The National Main Street Program has selected Goldsboro as one of 39 cities and towns in the state to achieve its accreditation status this year.

We are not surprised.

The national program is administered through the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center, which evaluates local Main Street programs across the state every year to decide whether certain standards have been met or exceeded. The organization believes that strong, thriving downtowns are a key to ensuring strong communities, and Goldsboro certainly deserves that recognition.

The revitalization of downtown Goldsboro did not happen overnight and without much effort and commitment on the part of many people.  And it is not over. Following the completion of the Streetscape project and the continual growth that has accompanied it, the city has earned a reputation as one of the state's foremost Main Street cities, joining others such as Wilson, Smithfield, Clinton, Rocky Mount and Williamston in the eastern part of the state, along with more than a score of cities and towns in the Piedmont and mountains.

Goldsboro residents, whether they have an interest in downtown or not, should be proud of the Main Street recognition. It shows strong leadership and a willingness to look ahead.

Published in Editorials on July 18, 2017 9:48 PM