Thomasville paces community for downtown economic development
During the July meeting of the Thomasville City Council, Downtown Economic Development Director, Tammy Joyce, presented findings and goals for economic development in downtown Thomasville. Joyce discussed meeting with PACE (People Achieving Community Enhancement) and the NC Main Street Program to review input from 148 residents and create a new vision statement for The Chair City. She emphasized preserving local entrepreneurship and promoting the district's creative arts and multigenerational activities.
More will be discussed at council meetings in August. The Thomasville City Council briefing will occur on Monday, August 12th, at 4 p.m. at 20 Stadium Drive, Thomasville.
Over the next five years, the focus will include retaining existing entrepreneurship, promoting creative arts events such as the Piano Festival and Everybody's Day and potentially restoring the Palace Theater into a functioning theater space.
Joyce also mentioned updating the Downtown Social District map for better flow, including improved signage. Other key items discussed during the meeting included homelessness and shelter options with local churches, representatives and city leaders.
A grant funded study by North Carolina Main Street Program revealed that 175,600 unique visitors came to Downtown Thomasville last year, with peak visiting times from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and during major events such as Everybody's Day, Chair City Christmas, Memorial Day Parade, Light Up the Holidays, Spring Daze, and the Christmas Parade. The study also provided demographic insights, including a median household income of $53,300 and an unusual mix of residents: 56.5% white, 20.8% Hispanic/Latino, 17.8% Black and other racial groups.
Joyce announced funding updates for the project. Thomasville Community Foundation awarded a grant, matched by Tourism, to fund streetscape projects on commerce, including a vegetable mural crosswalk and 3-D sidewalk vines near the Farmers Market. Additionally, progress has been made on the Palace Theater restoration and efforts are underway to register the 7 West Guilford Street property on a national market registry.
Thomasville received two years of downtown technical assistance valued at $30,000 in services from the NC. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, with the potential to be upgraded to an official Main Street designation by February 2025, pending successful completion of requirements.
Liz Parham, the former director of Uptown Lexington, is currently directing the NC. Main Street & Rural Planning Center and expressed enthusiasm in an earlier statement for collaborating with Thomasville to enhance downtown revitalization efforts through the Downtown Associate Community (DAC).
