Where rivers converge, history lives, outdoor adventure calls, and North Carolina begins! Serving as the county seat of Cherokee County in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, Downtown Murphy serves as a beacon for endless fun featuring connections to outdoor recreational opportunities; the center of commerce with a host of locally owned restaurants and authentic shopping ventures; and Appalachian culture.    This is the vision of Downtown Murphy!

As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Downtown Murphy, North Carolina is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.   

Murphy is a new Main Street Community, having just transitioned from a Downtown Associate Community to Main Street under the guidance of the North Carolina Main Street Center. Main Street Murphy is housed within the Town of Murphy. This department was formed to create new opportunities for downtown economic development while maintaining the charm and history of the beautiful downtown. 

Mission: The Downtown Murphy organization serves to channel and coordinate the voices of all downtown stakeholders creating strategies promoting and encouraging economic development that preserves and enhances the culture, history and natural environment of Downtown Murphy using the National Main Street Center’s Four Point Approach to accomplish our mission.

    Board of DirectorsThe Murphy Main Street Board of Directors is composed of locally-elected officials, property owners and civic leaders. This group leads the overall direction of the Murphy Main Street Program.
    Main Street Board Members
  • Walker-Stansell, Gail
  • Smith, Brian
  • Radford, Tim
  • Jenkins, Kathryn
  • Scionti, Cabrina
  • Smith, Charlene
  • Wilder, Kristin
  • Moore, Callie
    • Ex-Offico Main Street Board Member
  • Worley, Paul
    • Alternative Board Members
  • Patton, Aaron
  • Raines, Sherry

Committee for the Murphy Main Street Program
Originating from the Vision for Murphy Main Street, three committees have also been established to develop and guide specific actions related to Downtown Murphy.


1. Outdoor Recreational Committee
GOAL: Work to attract downtown businesses that connect to outdoor recreation and/or compliment the outdoor recreational aspect.


2. Center of Commerce Committee
GOAL: Work toward growing locally owned businesses within the downtown district.


3. Appalachian Arts Committee
GOAL: Build on becoming the beacon of Appalachian Arts in Downtown.

WHAT IS MAIN STREET AMERICA? 

Main Street America TM is a movement. Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. It is the leading voice for preservation-based economic development and community revitalization across the country. Made up of small towns, mid-sized communities, and urban commercial districts, Main Street America represents the broad diversity that makes this country so unique. Working together, the programs that make up the Main Street America network help to breathe new life into the places people call home.

Main Street America is a mark of distinction. It is a seal, recognizing that participating programs, organizations, and communities are part of a national movement with a proven track record for celebrating community character, preserving local history, and generating impressive economic returns. Since 1980, over 2,000 communities have been part of Main Street, bringing renewed energy and activity to America’s downtowns and commercial districts, securing $61 billion in new investment creating more than 525,000 net new jobs and rehabilitating 251,000 buildings. Main Street America is a time-tested strategy.

Main Street America communities are encouraged to make use of a time-tested approach, known as the Main Street Approach. The Main Street Approach is rooted in a commitment to broad-based community engagement, a holistic understanding of the factors that impact the quality of life in a community, and strategic focus on the core principles of downtown and neighborhood revitalization: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization. 

More Questions?

If you have further questions, please contact:
Laura Lachance - Downtown Development Director
at 828-837-2510 ext. 6