Main Street Program

The City of Hendersonville is a North Carolina Main Street Community as designated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Main Street Communities use a comprehensive downtown revitalization process developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation.

The City of Hendersonville's Community Development Department oversees our Main Street Program. The Downtown Division of the department includes the Community Development Director, Downtown Manager and Downtown Events Coordinator. Staff work directly with the downtown advisory committees associated with the Main Street and Seventh Avenue municipal service districts, as well as the non-profit Friends of Downtown Hendersonville. Each of these groups consists of a mix of district business & property owners alongside community representatives who provide strategic program direction along with feedback on program quality and effectiveness.

The Downtown Advisory Board exist to identify, preserve and enhance the key factors that contribute to the authentic small town urban character of historic downtown Hendersonville. Organizational projects are identified, assessed and prioritized based on their contribution to and potential to enhance and support a vibrant entrepreneurial environment and the livability of downtown. The committees actively pursue project implementation, whether they be infrastructure improvements, special events, economic incentives, planning initiatives, etc, using the Main Street Four-Point Approach, in concert with the City of Hendersonville, downtown stakeholders and the larger community.

Are you interested in joining one of the Downtown boards? Read more on the positions available and please consider applying.

As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Downtown Hendersonville is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.

Hendersonville is a North Carolina Main Street community, designated by the N.C. Department of Commerce Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The City of Hendersonville & Friends of Downtown are charged with administering the program at the local level and building public-private partnerships to spur economic development that achieves measurable results such as investment, business growth, and job creation.

Funding:

The Downtown Division is funded by Municipal Service District tax on the Main Street and 7th Avenue Districts, and a percentage of sales tax.

Both the Main Street and 7th Avenue Municipal Service Districts are taxed at $.21 tax per $100 valuation (as of July 1, 2023)

The Friends of Downtown Hendersonville is a 501c3 nonprofit arm of the Downtown Division. The Friends budget includes income and expenses related to events: Garden Jubilee, Rhythm & Brews Summer Concert Series, Bearfootin’ Artwalk and Auction, Holiday Events, and the Hendersonville Farmers Market.

The Administration department serves all departments and the City Council. View the City's Vision and Mission here.

Downtown Advisory Board Members:

Board list and information can be found here.

The City of Hendersonville is committed to protecting the economic viability, physical infrastructure, and social fabric of Main Street, 7th Avenue and the entire downtown area. The Downtown Mainstreet Advisory and Seventh Avenue Advisory Committees were merged by City Council to form a the Downtown Advisory Board. The Board serves in an advisory role to the City Council in matters pertaining to the Hendersonville Main Street Municipal Service District and 7th Avenue Municipal Service District subject to such limitations as may be imposed by state law or by ordinances of the City. The Board works in concert with City Staff and City Council to implement the historic preservation based economic development strategy developed by the National Main Street Center and known as "The Four Point Approach." The Board is an active member of the North Carolina Main Street Program.

Membership & Terms

All appointments shall be made by the City of Hendersonville City Council. The Board shall consist of sixteen (16) members, including (14) voting members and (2) non-voting members. Membership shall be composed from the following membership categories:

(5) Stakeholders representing Seventh Avenue Municipal Service District (all voting members)

(5) Stakeholders representing Main Street Municipal Service District (all voting members)

(4) At-large members (all voting members)

(1) City Council liaison member (non-voting member)

(1) Representative (Director or designee) from the Hendersonville Rescue Mission (non-voting member)

Stakeholder members are defined as persons owning property within a municipal service district the City of Hendersonville, and business owners whose business is located within a municipal service district in the City of Hendersonville.

At-large members are defined as persons owning property or residing within the City of Hendersonville or Henderson County, or business owners whose business is located within the City of Hendersonville or Henderson County.

Members serve three-year staggered terms and may be reappointed to two consecutive terms, before being required to sit off the board for at least one year. Members serve without compensation.

Meetings

Regular Joint Meetings of the City of Hendersonville Downtown Advisory Board are held on the second Tuesday of every month beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Downtown Offices located at 125 5^th Avenue W. Suite 200, Hendersonville NC, Hendersonville NC. Meetings may take place virtually via zoom with notice. Meeting access information will be posted on the City's calendar in addition to any notice.