Think Main Street is Doomed? This Small Town Says No

Small towns across America are watching their once thriving downtowns decay. But Marion, North Carolina found an unexpected solution. By betting on local entrepreneurs instead of big employers, they transformed vacant storefronts into thriving businesses. Now, they face a new challenge: success is driving up costs. Can they keep their small-town charm while managing big-city growth?

Support for ncIMPACT is provided by UNC Health.

ncIMPACT
North Carolina faces critical policy questions in a wide range of areas, including health, education, economic development, criminal justice, public finance, and the environment. In response, ncIMPACT was launched through the UNC School of Government. ncIMPACT is hosted by Anita Brown-Graham and David Hurst. Watch Fridays, 7:30 PM on PBS NC and the PBS app.

Subscribe to the North Carolina Channel for more stories from ncIMPACT: ‪@NorthCarolinaChannel‬

Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS app: https://pbsnc.org/app/.

This program is made possible by viewers like you!
Support PBS North Carolina today: https://pbsnc.org/donate