Main Street wins Best Economic Recovery Initiative award from North Carolina Department of Commerce

As the COVID-19 crisis hit Morganton in March 2020, forcing business closures and changing the way we led our lives, the City’s Main Street Office acted rapidly to mitigate the impact the crisis would have on businesses in Downtown Morganton. Now, the City of Morganton Main Street Office is being recognized for their efforts in helping minimize the damage the COVID-19 crisis caused our downtown merchants.

During a virtual ceremony Wednesday night, the North Carolina Department of Commerce gave Morganton’s Main Street Office the Best Economic Recovery Initiative Award for its COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Strategy. This strategy saw the creation of curbside pickup, the installation of parklets and streateries to increase outdoor dining spaces, and permitting business operations to extend into the streets of Downtown Morganton during certain times.

“When COVID-19 forced our downtown businesses to change the way they operated on such a tremendous scale, we knew we had to help,” said Main Street Manager Abby Nelson. “We are very thankful we were able to put something together that was worthy of statewide recognition, but more importantly, we are glad we created something that helped our downtown businesses maintain a level of cash flow to mitigate the negative economic impacts of COVID-19. We could not have done this without the support of our City Council and community.”

Within four hours of indoor dining being closed in North Carolina, the City’s Main Street Office had created and placed signs designating curbside pickup locations outside of 20 downtown restaurants, and had posted a map online showing the sites. This immediate response allowed for restaurants to transition quickly from indoor dining to takeout and delivery only, which, in turn, allowed them to maintain revenue streams.

Once restaurants opened with limited indoor dining operations, with capacity limits reduced by almost two-thirds to meet social distancing requirements, it became apparent that customers were more comfortable dining outside. The Main Street Office worked with the Morganton City Council to approve the closing of a portion of King Street and parking spaces in downtown to expand outdoor dining.

The installation of curbside pickup areas, parklets and streateries ensured that restaurants could maintain some level of business during the shutdown and phased re-openings. While Downtown Morganton still has fewer customers than it did before the COVID-19 crisis, these economic recovery initiatives were able to boost sales and retain businesses that may have otherwise closed permanently. Additionally, having outdoor dining in front of businesses created a positive atmosphere that has increased Downtown Morganton’s vibrancy. Testimonials from downtown businesses have conveyed that customers feel safer outside and that the improvements helped businesses make up significant revenue that would have been lost without the City’s COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Strategy.

“Our parklets and streateries were a huge hit, with both our businesses and residents. We are elated that we were able to provide much needed aid to our downtown businesses in the form of innovative thinking and adaptations that helped them persevere during the economic crisis of the past year,” said Department of Cultural and Creative Development Director Sharon Jablonski. “We are hopeful that we are close to moving out of this crisis, and there is hope on the horizon. Once it is safe to do so, we cannot wait until Downtown Morganton can be packed with people again enjoying all our businesses have to offer.”