Boone is preparing for a major revitalization project in the downtown area. It's one of several rural communities in the state that is receiving funds from the United States Department of Agriculture to make the improvements.
The USDA recently announced grants and other funding to help support economic growth in rural areas in North Carolina. Boone is getting a nearly $10 million loan to finance what's known as the Howard Street Revitalization Project.
The roadway runs parallel to King Street, which is the main artery downtown.
The plan calls for making Howard a one-way street and placing the utility lines underground. There will also be water and sewer upgrades, new streetscaping, crosswalks and bike lanes. And, the town will continue replacing sidewalks in the downtown district with brick pavers.
“It's a very exciting project," says Boone Downtown Development Coordinator Lane Moody. "It's been talked about for many years and so we are hoping to double our retail corridor in downtown Boone once those revitalization projects are completed.”
Moody says the timeline for the project is still being worked out since local officials are in the early stages of the bidding process.
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