This is achieved in collaboration with public-private partners working together to enhance the appearance, desirability, and vitality of downtown.
DSDC has administered the Statesville Main Street Program at the local level since 1982. The organization is governed by an 18-member Board of Directors and has numerous volunteer committees including the Promotions Committee, Design Committee, Economic Vitality Committee, and Organization Committee that work to implement our programs, goals, and objectives.
Our goal is to create an environment that fosters the redevelopment of Downtown Statesville’s Central Business District and serves as a catalyst for private development and public partnerships.
Our Mission
Downtown Statesville Development Corporation (DSDC) champions, promotes and leads Downtown Statesville as the economic, social and cultural engine in the region. This is achieved in collaboration with public-private partners working together to enhance the appearance, desirability and vitality of downtown.
Our Vision
Downtown is the center of community life for Statesville and Iredell County, and exemplifies the characteristics of a livable and walkable neighborhood. Fostering a collection of independently owned destination businesses for goods and services, downtown is the hub of diverse cultural amenities, entertainment, governmental and educational experiences.
Our Team
Our team consists of 2 full-time members of staff and 1 part-time assistant.
Our office is located at 300 S Center St in Downtown Statesville.
Normal operating Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Annual Budget
The 2023/2024 operating budget for DSDC is approximately $305,800. Funding comes from the following sources:
| Statistical Accomplishments | Fiscal Year 2023/2024 | Fiscal Year 2022/2023 | Fiscal Year 2021/2022 | 1982-Present |
| Facades Improvements | 5 | 6 | 3 | 171 |
| Building Renovation | 12 | 2 | 2 | 209 |
| Net Job Gain (not including part-time) | 17 | 46 | 11 | 1066 |
| Net Business Gain | 16 | 20 | 4 | 257 |
| New Public Investment | $ | $161,000 | $207,832 | $59,401,318 |
| New Private Investment | $11,051,937 | $9,346,272 | $2,663,000 | $68,575,913 |
| Total Investment | $11,051,937 | $9,507,272 | $2,870,832 | $94,077,424 |
The DSDC Board of Directors is comprised of 18 volunteers that share a common vision for Downtown Statesville and direct and administer activities implemented by a full-time staff. Board members serve voluntary three-year terms and represent a diverse population of interests, including downtown merchants, property owners, businesses, educational institutions and other community organizations. The Board meets once a month, on the 3rd Wednesday at noon.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Childress, Chairman Banner Drug | Kathleen Vogel Eisele Vogel Dixon, PLLB | Lisa Pearson Statesville City Council | Tanisha Schoolfield Creations by TYS |
Timber Ralston, Treasurer Norris, Stewart & Ralston | Kevin Hollifield Jenkins Cleaners | Thomas W. Gregory Lake Norman Realty | Marin Tomlin Allen Tate Realtors |
Donald Hicks, Jr., Secretary Statesville Housing Authority | Amy Sullivan Amy Sullivan Fine Art | Kelli Simko Walker 220 Cafe | Billy Buck Blevins WAME Radio Station |
Joaquin Jiminez, Vice Chair Godspeed Real Estate and Development | Hannah Scott Mitchell Community College | Trey Robertson KAM/Bee & Barrel | Dean Wooten Wooten Insurance |
Jennifer Grant Stantec Consulting |
EX OFFICIOS
Asst. Chief John Ivarsson Statesville Police Department | Lisa Meier & Beth Packman Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce | Doug Hendrix, Mayor City of Statesville |
Cindy Sutton, Executive Director Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau | Todd Black Iredell County Economic Development Corp. | Sydney Koppelmeyer Iredell Arts Council |
Ben Hardy, Downtown Impact Officer Statesville Police Department | Ron Smith, City Manager City of Statesville | Jim Duffey American Renaissance School |
Suzanne Wallace, Director Small Business Center, MCC |
Meets the first Wednesday each month at 2:00 PM in City Hall (227 S. Center St), 3rd Floor Conference Room
Design means getting Main Street into top physical shape and creating a safe, inviting environment for shoppers, workers and visitors. It takes advantage of the visual opportunities inherent in a commercial district by directing attention to all of its physical elements: public and private buildings, storefronts, signs, public spaces, parking areas, street furniture, public art, landscaping, merchandising, window displays and promotional materials. An appealing atmosphere, created through attention to all of these visual elements, conveys a positive message about the commercial district and what it has to offer.
Design activities also include instilling good maintenance practices in the commercial district, enhancing the district's physical appearance through the rehabilitation of historic buildings, encouraging appropriate new construction, developing sensitive design management systems, educating business and property owners about design quality and long-term planning.
There are five basic areas of focus for Design: Buildings, Displays Streetscapes, Signage, Public Spaces and right of ways and parking. Some of the projects or areas we work on include streetscape improvements, wayfinding signage, parking issues and solutions, handle the Christmas decorations and American Flag installations, graffiti removal program, façade grant program, etc.
Kevin Hollifield, Chairman Jenkins Cleaners | Anita Johnson The Johnson Group, Inc. | Marci Sigmon City of Statesville, Planning Department | Re Johnson |
| Robb Collier | Kelli Simko Walker 220 Cafe | Dough Hendrix, Mayor City of Statesville | Dean Wooten Wooten Insurance |
Meets the first Wednesday each month at 8:30 AM in City Hall (227 S. Center St), 3rd Floor Conference Room
Promotion takes many forms, but the goal is to create a positive image that will rekindle community pride and improve consumer and investor confidence in our commercial district. Advertising, retail promotions, special events and marketing campaigns help sell the image and promise of Main Street to the community and surrounding region. Promotion communicates our commercial district's unique characteristics, business establishments and activities to shoppers, investors, potential business and property owners and visitors.
There are three primary areas of work for Promotion: Image Building Campaigns, Retail Promotion and Special Event Development. Some of the projects or areas we work on include building our online presence, advertising for downtown and a variety of special events including Art Crawls, Wine Walk, and Ghost Tours.
Promotion Sub-Committees
Statesville Pumpkin Fest Committee – Meet Monthly beginning in March
Christmas Committee – Meet Monthly beginning in April
Friday After Five Committee – TBD
Jennifer Grant, Chairman Stanter Consulting | Kali Bailey City of Statesville | Valerie Chambers Red Buffalo Brewing Co. | April Nesbit City of Statesville |
Cathy Cash Piedmont Folkways | Tanisha Schoolfield Creations by TYS | Donald Hicks Statesville Housing Authority | Wes Davidson First Flight Bicycles |
Dean Wooten Wooten Insurance | Emilio Lopez States Farm Insurance | Haley Jones Mitchel Community College | Melanie Taylor Wine Maestro |
Joanna Gerchak The Watering Hole | Hannah Scott Michell Community College | Rachel Gaitin Rachel's Crafty Corner |
Meets the second Tuesday each month at 11:00 AM in City Hall (227 S. Center St), 3rd Floor Conference Room
Overview: Economic restructuring strengthens your community's existing economic assets while diversifying its economic base. This is accomplished by retaining and expanding successful businesses to provide a balanced commercial mix, sharpening the competitiveness and merchandising skills of business owners and attracting new businesses that the market can support. Converting unused or underused commercial space into economically productive property also helps boost the profitability of the district. The goal is to build a commercial district that responds to the needs of today's consumers.
There are five basic areas of work for Economic Restructuring:
Some of the projects or areas we work on include business and developer recruitment, available property list, working with the city to create incentives.
Donald Hicks, Chairman Statesville Housing Authority | Anita Johnson The Johnson Group, Inc. | Carole Hendrix OPUS Financial Advisors, Inc. | Tip Nicholson Statesville ABC Board |
Doug Hendrix, Mayor City of Statesville | Joe Bondi Red Buffalo Brewing Co. | Wes Davidson First Flight Bicycles | Dean Wooten Wooten Insurance |
John Childress Banner Drug | Emilio Lopez States Farm Insurance | Marin Tomlin Allen Tate Realtors | Josh Speer Stewart & Ralston |
Todd Black Iredell County Economic Development |
Organization is the guiding force behind the individual NC Main Street organizations. In the case of DSDC, it is our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors consists of 15-20 members who meet monthly in order to decide the direction in which the staff and committees should be working. Each member of the board is expected to participate in one of the Committees so that those who are doing the work of DSDC are those who intimately know what its determined needs and goals are. According to the National Main Street Center, the definition of Organization as it relates to Main Street is “Building human and financial resources, through public/private partnerships to achieve a common vision.”
The major responsibilities of Organization are managing the staff and volunteers by recruiting people, supervising them and rewarding good work; promoting the program to downtown interests and the public, and managing the finances by developing good accounting procedures.
John Childress, Chairman Banner Drug | Timber Ralston, Treasurer Norris, Steward, & Ralston | Donald Hicks, Secretary Statesville Housing Authority |
Joaquin Jiminez, Vice Chairman Godspeed Real Estate and Development | Lisa Pearson City of Statesville |
