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Sanford staff outlines 'GREAT' Goldsboro arts-and‑entertainment track, seeks $75,000 start-up funding
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Summary
City staff proposed a targeted Goldsboro Redevelopment entertainment and arts track called “GREAT,” asking the commission to confirm an initial $75,000 allocation and to empanel a Main Street‑led committee to set grant parameters; staff said a resolution will return in about two weeks.
Sanford city staff on Monday described a proposed Goldsboro Redevelopment entertainment and arts track — styled by staff as “GREAT” — and asked the commission to confirm an initial $75,000 in seed funding and to authorize the Main Street Board to serve as the initial management committee.
Rich, the Economic Development lead who presented the proposal, said the program is not intended to be a downtown community redevelopment agency (CRA) duplicate but “a hybrid” with many similar goals. He told commissioners that $75,000 for year one is currently available in an undesignated account earmarked by Cynthia Lindsay and that staff plans to return in about two weeks with a resolution to empanel the committee and attach operating parameters as an exhibit.
Pamela Lynch of the Economic Development Department said the Main Street Board has agreed to accept the management role and that the board’s local knowledge will guide grant parameters for facade improvements, cultural events and small‑scale entertainment facilities. Pamela said community outreach and Main Street meetings will be used to ensure residents and stakeholders know about grant opportunities.
Mr. Bentley, who spoke about community engagement, said the Main Street meetings will welcome public input: “We’ll make sure that nobody in the community say, I didn’t know anything about this.”
Staff asked the commission to confirm two items: that the $75,000 sit in the city budget for the program and that the Main Street Board, using a staff‑prepared operating manual or exhibit attached to the resolution, set the initial grant parameters subject to commission approval.
Why it matters: staff framed GREAT as a focused tool to direct limited resources to properties that abut historic Goldsboro Boulevard and to spur local cultural programming and facade work where impact is most likely. By asking Main Street to lead parameter‑setting, staff aims to leverage community knowledge while retaining commission oversight through the forthcoming resolution.
Next steps: staff said it will return in approximately two weeks with a resolution to empanel the committee and attach the operating manual/exhibit for commission consideration.
