MISSION
Our mission is to facilitate collaboration & growth, enrich the Uptown experience, and promote the district in order to strengthen Uptown Shelby and enhance the quality of life for our community.
We work to grow a stronger, more viable district through promotion, partnerships, economic restructuring, and design.
Click here to read our 2021 Highlights.
ABOUT THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM
The North Carolina Main Street Program operates out of the state's Department of Commerce, but Uptown Shelby receives no state funding. Rather, those working in the state office provide self-help direction, technical assistance and produce an annual state-wide conference welcoming all Main Street cities. Designation as a Main Street City is an honor, and the Uptown Shelby Association has been recognized by the state and national Main Street Programs for its revitalization and promotional projects.
Over the past 40 years, the Main Street movement has transformed the way communities think about the revitalization and management of their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Cities and towns across the nation have come to see that a prosperous, sustainable community is only as healthy as its core. The National Trust Main Street Center's mission is to empower people, organizations, and 
communities to achieve ongoing downtown and neighborhood district revitalization based upon the principles of self-determination, resource conservation, and incremental transformation represented through the comprehensive Main Street Four-Point Approach®.
Uptown Shelby operates within the Main Street Program's Four-Point Approach: Economic Vitality, Organization, Promotion and Design.
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, the Uptown Shelby Association is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communitieswho are 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.
Uptown Shelby is a North Carolina Main Street Community, designated by the NC Department of Commerce and Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The Uptown Shelby Association is charged with administering the program at the local level and building public-private partnerships to spur economic development.
Economic Vitality
The Uptown Shelby Association (USA) provides advice and technical support to existing businesses within the uptown area, and is responsible for recruiting new businesses that would strengthen and improve the economic base of Uptown Shelby. USA strongly encourages the rehabilitation of existing spaces for retail, offices, residence, and other facilities.
Uptown business and property owners rely on the nonprofit Uptown Shelby Association to:
- Make referrals on Uptown properties available for sale or lease
- Encourage entrepreneurs and developers interested in renovation projects
- Provide information on Historic Tax Credits, the business Crime Watch program, and New Business Assistance Programs
- One-on-one assistance to Uptown business owners who request advice about marketing, advertising, strategic planning and event planning, as well as in-house design services for business cards, promotional pieces for print media or direct mail distribution and invitations.
Organization
Build partnerships among diverse groups and vision that encourage revitalization and development efforts. More specifically, we undertake training and projects that develop new board and committee members to take on leadership in the community. The board and staff of Uptown Shelby Association are also active in sharing leadership responsibilities with other major community organizations and institutions.
Promotion
Uptown Shelby Association sponsors special events, festivals and promotional programs to attract more people into the Uptown district and create a strong, positive image with the public. Our promotional programs may range from large scale events, such as Alive After Five concerts, to modest shop local advertising and public relations efforts.
Design
We work to strengthen the quality of the Uptown district through design principles employed in architecture, street landscapes, traffic patterns, public amenities and other techniques. Special attention is paid to historic restoration and adaptive reuse of existing properties, emphasizing the sustainable nature of the physical Uptown District.