Some of our small towns Map From the Old Fort Charrette

Economic & Community Development: Revitalization

Small Town Revitalization Program


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The Small Towns program applies community-driven methods for rejuvenating the physical and civic infrastructure of a community by utilizing an asset-based planning approach in Western North Carolina’s small towns.

Over the past fifteen years, HandMade Small Towns have attracted $52 million in investment and created hundreds of new jobs - learn how by reading our new report Crafting Large Successes in Small Towns.

Currently, HandMade in America works with 13 small towns in 10 counties to connect them with funders and resources that support their community projects. The program also works to develop local leadership capacity in these communities, which are typically too small to have professional managers and planners. Residents apply their new skills in project planning and management to actual projects in the community. There is an emphasis in helping one another, both through mentorship and through partnerships with sister communities in the region.

If you would like to find out more information, please check out our HandMade Small Towns Brochure in pdf format or Join our E-Newsletter to keep updated. (Small Towns Newsletters Archive)


Although our Small Towns program primarily works in Western North Carolina, we provide consulting services outside of the region. We have helped other communities develop regional, place-based strategies for sustainable and creative economic development. If you would like information about consultation services and training sessions, please read more about the HandMade Institute (www.handmadeinamerica.org/institute) and contact us (info@handmadeinamerica.org). We would be happy to talk to you about consulting with your community.

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  • Current Small Town Projects

    Andrews


    Andrews When engaging in its community projects, Andrews looks to other HandMade Small Towns as mentors. Andrews has just finished its first mural project, inspired by West Jefferson's many murals. The town now seeks advice from Bakersville for the Andrews Valley Cultural Arts Center renovation project and it also continues work to bring broadband service to Andrews. The town's best ideas come from their partners!

    Image, downtown Andrews illustration, Terry Meek

  • Bakersville


    Bakersville The Mitchell County Historic Courthouse celebrated its grand opening May 22nd. The building is close to being LEED Certified and will soon be upfitted with state-of-the-art technology to allow for better use of a small business center, community center and classes held by Mayland Community College. Bakersville plans to hold a community design charrette with NC State's design students in the fall.

    Bakersville recently completed a market analysis for the community. Read the Report here.

    Image, Historic Mitchell County Courthouse

  • Bryson City


    Brysoncity The Planning Board in Bryson City is working on Form Based Codes, a zoning change that will improve the look of downtown Bryson City. The town is continuing streetscape improvements with new crosswalks, sidewalk repair, and more. They are also working on waste water improvements, with help from the NC Rural Center.

    Image, street scape plan implementation

  • Chimney Rock


    Chimneyrock The first phases of Chimney Rock's new amphitheatre are complete and the site will be completed this summer. The village will rent out the amphitheatre and host community events there. Chimney Rock also is enjoying the town's new rest rooms, renovated last year, located in the Rocky Broad River park. Image, site for new Chimney Rock gathering place

  • Crossnore


    Crossnore Crossnore has a landscape design intern this summer, Martha Eberle, who is working to design pathways and bridges for a new trail system that will run through the community. Crossnore Community Enhancement (CCE) hopes to find resources to begin work on completing a bridge design for passage over Highway 221. Crossnore received funds from the NC Rural Center to improve its sewage treatment plant. With the strong partnership between the Town Board and CCE, progress looks promising!

    Image, Footbridge Concept by Terry Meek

  • Hayesville


    Hayesville Nelson Heritage Park recently welcomed the addition of the Cherokee Summer House to the Cherokee Winter House finished last fall. Volunteers also finished a corn crib with mural panels that stretch the site and hope to add a traditional Cherokee garden in the near future. Hayesville next plans to begin work on the Clay County Courthouse restoration with a newly revised board and mentoring assistance from Bakersville. The DCA landscape design intern, Martha Eberle, will help with landscaping plans for each of these projects as well as a path linking to the Heritage Park with nearby archeological sites.

    Hayesville recently completed a market analysis for the community. Read the Report here.
    Clay County Communities Revitalization Association:
    CCCRA began as a grassroots organization in 1997 to help offset economic decline in Clay County and to attract new businesses to the downtown area. We incorporated in 1998 with the help of HandMade In America and achieved non-profit 501-C-3 status in 2000. Early projects included downtown beautification, including a pocket park, a high school outdoor classroom and exterior restoration of our historic 1888 Courthouse. Visitors will enjoy the downtown Cherokee Heritage Exhibit as well as numerous shops and restaurants. “Concerts on the Square" run spring through fall. The recently completed Jackrabbit Hiking & Biking Trail was an eight year project in partnership with the Southern Appalachian Biking Association and allows visitors to experience the raw beauty of our county with its 15 miles of trails winding around the lake with mountain views. CCCRA Board meetings are the third Tuesday of the month, bimonthly starting in January, 5 PM at Moss Memorial Library. Annual meetings are in the spring and late fall and times vary.

    Image, Jack Rabbit Mountain Biking Trail

  • Marshall


    Marshall Downtown Marshall Association has created a new Marshall marketing campaign with a new logo, brochure, website, and social media. Marshall's new welcome signs and bike racks are installed, with hopes of encouraging cycling traffic. Marshall's island now has a fishing pier, a planting plan and will have an amphitheatre for community events by Fall 2010!

    Image, Historic Marshall sign by Doug McKenzie

  • Mars Hill


    Marshill The town's new library has been completed and is LEED certified. Mars Hill will next implement the landscape plan completed last summer.The town is working with other Madison County towns to make county buildings more energy efficient. For their part of that plan, Mars Hill is working to reduce water runoff at the new town hall and to improve quality of the water table.

    Mars Hill recently completed a market analysis for the community. Read the Report here.

    Image, Land Design Charrette work by Andy Cole

  • Old Fort


    Oldfort The town received graphic design and marketing assistance, with their NC STEP funds. The first new sign produced from this effort will be installed this summer, guiding visitors to Old Fort! The town is also working on a new trail system that will link Old Fort to Ridgecrest and eventually to Asheville. Old Fort has received design assistance this year from NC State and have been renovating buildings, working on ideas for a downtown river walk, and applying to place more buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

    Old Fort recently completed a market analysis for the community. Read the Report here.

    Image, Bradley Park

  • Robbinsville


    Robbinsville joined the NC Rural Center's Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program (STEP) and the STEP Leadership Team is currently working on two strategic plans to encourage tourists and retirees to "stop, shop and live" in Graham County. One of these plans includes walking paths around downtown Robbinsville along with murals and mosaics, a community garden, trees, benches and fountains including a water geyser for children of all ages. The Golden LEAF Foundation recently awarded over $2.2M in Graham County with 1M awarded to the Town of Robbinsville to build a new wastewater treatment facility and $44,888 for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to assist the Town with its Comprehensive Master Plan (Charrette) Process. Dancing on the Square has commenced for the summer and the annual Heritage Festival will be held July 2 and 3, 2011. Many artisans attend this event including jewelry making by the native Cherokee and others, photographs of the local area, handmade soaps and creams, and much good food to be enjoyed by all. Clogging and square dancing are also done to the tune of bluegrass and "old time" music by local and regional artists.

    Old Fort recently completed a market analysis for the community. Read the Report here.

    Image, Bradley Park

  • Todd


    Todd Todd is still working hard to find assistance creating a water and sewer system for the community so that downtown can expand its viable businesses. The Summer Music Series in Todd has been expanded this year to 7 concerts this year, with Doc Watson returning for the August 21 show. The Elkland Arts Center completed a workshop "From Trash To Puppets" at the Turchin Arts Center in Boone this summer, and coming up in October is the Todd New River Festival.

    Image, Todd Island Park

  • West Jefferson


    Westjefferson There have recently been many facade renovations projects completed in West Jefferson and the town used NC STEP funds to add a town clock to downtown. West Jefferson also plans to build a pocket park in an empty lot downtown which will house outdoor sculpture by local artists. The town holds concerts twice a month in Backstreet Park that will continue until late summer. There are lots of reasons to visit downtown West Jefferson!

    Image, path to renovated Ashe County Library