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Fayetteville Main Street director reports rising downtown visits, events and a state DIG grant
Summary
Amy Byrd, director of Fayetteville Main Street, told the board Main Street saw more visitors and online engagement in 2024, has a growing youth leaders council and has signed a state DIG grant contract to fund downtown property improvements and greenway lighting.
Amy Byrd, director of Fayetteville Main Street, told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen the Main Street program saw increased downtown visits and engagement in 2024, has an expanding youth leaders council and will receive state Downtown Initiative Grant (DIG) funds that will be distributed to property owners downtown.
“We have been super busy these past 3 months since we last presented,” Byrd said, and described programs that include a youth leaders council, monthly merchant mixers, expanded First Saturday attendance and special events such as a chocolate walk and a Slawburger Festival planned for April. Byrd said First Saturday events attracted about 32,700 people across seven events in the prior year and that roughly 50% of attendees live within the 37334 ZIP code.
Byrd told aldermen the DIG contract was signed that week and staff expect guidance from the state for a public meeting and an application process for property owners to receive grant funds for downtown property improvements. She also said the grant will fund new greenway lighting to connect Stonebridge Park to downtown; staff member Nathan was identified as the point person for ordering the lighting.
Byrd reported social media reach of about 1.4 million views in 2024 and roughly 240,000 unique users, up about 25% from 2023, and nearly 13,000 website hits in the prior 30 days. She described efforts such as “Third Thursdays” and a monthly “Love Thy Neighbor” mixer to support merchants, and said the Main Street organization will award scholarships and continue business‑support activities in 2025.
Byrd gave a preview of upcoming events: a fashion brunch March 22, a storybook “Read Across Fayetteville” kickoff on March 1, First Saturday returning April 5 (vendor registration opens March 15), and the Slawburger Festival on April 19. She also said Main Street will be featured in the Taste of the South magazine’s small-town issue in March.
Board members asked a few brief questions and thanked Byrd for the report. No board action was required; the presentation was received as an informational standing report.
