On the 9th Day of Christmas shop Downtown at Kate McCall

Kate McCall, located at 317 E Pine St, offers a great assortment of gifts and Christmas ideas that will get you ready for the holidays!

For the home, Kate McCall has pillows, tree skirts, stockings, and other unique accessories. For holiday parties you will find invitations, Aspen Mulling Spices, and a great selection of hostess gifts that are wrapped and ready to give!

As always, Kate McCall’s children’s room is stocked with lots of fun items and great gifts. You can find collegiate gifts for guys, Trapp candles and jewelry for the girls, and the perfect couple gift…a personalized stamp or embosser.

Come take a peak at all the great things Kate McCall can offer and the beautifully decorated shop at its 6^th Annual Holiday Open House on Friday Nov. 28^th and Saturday, Nov. 29^th 10 – 5:30 each day.

The Holiday Open House will feature evergreen wreaths and kissing balls!

For more information call (704) 748-6533

Holiday Open House

The Last Picasso will have a holiday open house this Friday the 27^th, Saturday the 28^th and Sunday the 29^th from 10am until 5pm. Sunday from 1pm - 5pm.

21 artists, wood turners, potters and crafters will be on hand to pedal their original and handmade wares for Christmas.

It’s 3 DAYS ONLY and everyone is invited!!! It will take place on the first floor Lincoln Cultural Center.

On the 8th Day of Christmas shop Downtown at Court Street Grille

Anyone on your shopping list will be pleased to receive a gift certificate from Court Street Grille. Located at 113 Court Sq, Court Street Grille offers a variety of cuisines for anyone’s taste buds. Great menu items include Homemade Pizzas, Tortilla Pizzas, Salads, Pastas, Calzones, Stromobli, Sandwiches, Subs, Pitas, Wraps, and Kids Meals.

Don’t forget about the daily specials, $1.99 beer specials, and fabulous desserts!

Enjoy Friends, Food, and Drinks at Court Street Grille this holiday season!

For more information call: (704) 732-3242

On the 7th Day of Christmas Shop Downtown at Heavenly Paws

This holiday season shop at Heavenly Paws located at, 213 N Aspen St, for your four legged friends or family members. Heavenly Paws specializes in dog grooming and has a great assortment of dog and cat bowls that start at $10 and up.
You will also find pet collars and pet care products.

Keep your furry friend warm this winter with a handmade coat or get a handmade dog tote to carry their favorite toys!

Heavenly Paws provides ordering services for pet products, gift basket options, and gift cards for all products and grooming services to make your hound’s holiday shopping easy!

For more information call (704) 732-8000

On the 6th Day of Christmas Shop Downtown at the Lincoln County Farmers' Market that will take place Saturday, November 22

“Find holiday food, decor, and gifts from local hands and local lands” at the Holiday Farmers Market located at 225 West Water Street.

Farmers and artists will have their goods for sale at the Lincoln County Farmers Market that will make unique holiday gifts for anyone on your shopping list. You will find unique items like woven baskets, candles, fiber crafts, wood crafts, and gourds amongst others.

The market opens at 8 a.m. Refreshments, entertainment and cooking demonstrations begin at 9 a.m.

For more information call: 704-736-8461

On the 5th Day of Christmas Shop Downtown at Hi-Lites!

This Holiday Season shop at Hi-Lites located at, 116 E Main St, and save 25-70% every day on department store name brands, specialty store labels, and catalog name brands. Hi-lites offers Juniors, Misses, and Plus sizes.

Find the perfect gift from a great selection of work wear, school wear, weekend and family wear, get-together and special night out apparel at outlet prices you’ll love!

New shipments arrive weekly so you can find the latest styles for all the ladies on your shopping list!

For more information call (704) 732-6761

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.....

It's that time of year again and it shows in downtown Lincolnton. The City of Lincolnton Electric and Public Works crews have been fast at work decorating the downtown commercial district for the 2008 Holiday Season. Downtown's holiday centerpiece - a 30 ft. Cedar Christmas Tree - was delivered this morning to round out the decorations of garland and bows that were put up last week.

Be sure to attend the lighting of our largest-ever downtown Christmas Tree on Sunday, November 30th following the Lincolnton Christmas Parade. For more information, call Lincolnton Business & Community Development at 704.736.8915 or email lynnbrinson@ci.lincolnton.nc.us.

The Last Picasso Grand Opening

The Last Picasso, located at the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 East Main Street in Lincolnton, celebrated its Grand Opening on Tuesday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. The event, sponsored by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, was attended by several Chamber Ambassadors, City officials, fellow downtown business owners, and patrons of the new Cultural Center Gift Store.

The Gift shop features unique items that owner and artist Kae Wright along with other artists create. A few items in the store possess Lincoln and surrounding counties history.

Everyone who participated in The Last Picasso Grand Opening was very pleased with the shop and the contribution it gives to Downtown Lincolnton.

We invite you to browse the new Studio and Gift Shop.
For more information call 704.732-9055

On the 4th day of Christmas Shop Downtown at House of Trophies & Engravings/Classic Art & Framing

House of Trophies & Engravings/Classic Art & Framing offer personable gifts that will be special for everyone on your Christmas shopping list.

House of Trophies specializes in art preservation, custom framing, and custom shadow boxes and offers custom engraving for gifts you bring in or pick from a great selection of brass, pewter and glass gift items.

Its customizable gifts include pictures frames, photo albums, key chains, desk name plates and plaques that will commemorate your family and friends. Also shop the stores wide variety of original art and poster prints.

House of Trophies is located at 118 E Main St. For more information call 704 735-2668

On the 3rd day of Christmas Shop Downtown at Color Me Pretty!

This Holiday season, shop at Color Me Pretty for the women in your life. Color Me Pretty, located at 109 E. Main St., offers high fashion hand bags, jewelry and clothing any woman or young girl would love.

Also find a great assortment of fragrances, makeup, and hair products from the hair salon that make great stocking stuffers.

If you’re not quite sure what to get, gift certificates are offered for store and hair salon.

For more information call:
(704) 732-0270

Business After Hours with DDA & LEDA Nov. 20

Race on over to the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, Thursday, November 20th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., co-sponsored by the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton and the Lincoln Economic Development Association.

The event will be held at LEDA's new offices, located at 502 East Main Street, with special guests Crawford & Crawford Racing and hometown favorite Doug Herbert. Plenty of food, drinks, and motorsports-themed activities will be on hand....and we may even have a few surprises along the way.

To reserve your pit pass, call 704.732.1511 or email leda@lincolneda.org.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas Shop Downtown at Melamoose Scoops & Java!

Anyone on your holiday shopping list would be delighted to get a gift certificate from Melamoose Scoops & Java for a sweet treat!

Located at 119 E Main St, Melamoose Scoops & Java offers a little bit of everything for every taste including Pizza, Subs, Hotdogs, Ice Cream, and Espresso Bar!

You can never go wrong with a gift certificate for the holidays!

For more information call: (704) 735-0355

On the 1st day of Christmas Shop Downtown at Merle Norman!

Merle Norman located at 224 E Main St, offers a great variety of holiday gift sets which are sure to please your family and friends!

Skincare Stars - $25.00
Includes: Cleanser, Toner, Clay Mask and Preventage Moisturizer
Lip Stars - $25.00
Includes: 4 Merle Norman Lipsticks and Carrying Case
Brush Stars - $35.00
Includes: Foundation Brush, Blush Brush, 2 Eyeshadow Brushes, Eyeliner Brush, Carrying Case, and Brush Cleaner
Merry Kisses - $ 35.00
Includes: Carrying Case, 3 Lip Pencil Plusses, and Sharpener
Angel Eyes - $38.00
Includes: Eye Makeup Remover, Xtra Length Mascara, Perfecting Eye Base, Wrinkle Eye Smoother
Let It Glow - $ 40.00
Includes: Derma Peel System, Energizing Concentrate, Wrinkle Smoother

Come take a peak at all the great things Merle Norman can offer at its Holiday Open House Friday, November 14^th and Saturday, November 15th (refreshments provided). And don’t miss Merle Norman’s exclusive FREE gift offered through the month of November with any purchase.

Downtown for the Holidays

Tis’ the season for holiday shopping! Business and Community Development along with Downtown Businesses would like to help you get your holiday shopping done early with our own version of the 25 days of Christmas!

Starting November 14^th a new holiday gift idea from downtown businesses will be featured on the blog each day. So make your list, check it twice and bring it to Downtown Lincolnton.

The best way to avoid being a holiday Grinch is to avoid busy malls during the holidays!

If you are a business and have a great holiday gift idea please contact us!
704-736-8915 or candacehelms@ci.lincolnton.nc.us

Veteran's Day Parade and Ceremony

Please join and Salute the Veterans of Lincolnton Tuesday November, 11 as they gather to remember past and present wars.

The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. around Flint St. and E. Main St. (across from the Police Department) and will end in front of the James W. Warren Citizen’s Center. No application is required to be a part of the parade. Entries are to line up on Water Street before the start of the parade.

A ceremony will be held immediately following the parade on the west side of the court square to honor veterans. The ceremony will feature a speaker from the new VA Clinic in Hickory and will include the presentation of the Veteran of the Year Award.

Veterans Appreciation Cruise-In Sunday

The semi-annual Downtown Lincolnton Veterans Appreciation Cruise-In will take place this Sunday, November 9th, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The event is being hosted by Holy Cross Lutheran Church and the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton.

All cars and trucks manufactured before 1974 are welcome to cruise in to the event, which will be held in the 100 through 400 blocks of East Main Street. Organizers request a $2.00 flag donation from attendees, and ask that no cruisers arrive before 12:30 p.m.

LEDA Art Invitational

On November 3, 2008 The Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) announced its Third Rotation of the LEDA Art Invitational 08’.

The Leda Art Invitational is a collaborative effort between the Economic Development Organization and invited professional artists that have worked or lived in Lincoln County. The purpose of these exhibits is to showcase the cultural richness of Lincoln County to visitors who visit the LEDA facility.

Featured 2008 artists:

Karen Banker www.karenbanker.com
Ginny H. Boyd www.silvermosquito.com
Lynn Dermott
Tom Owen http://owenart.us
Dene Scott Smith
Zac Vinson
Kae Wright
Beth Yarbrough www.bethyarbrough.com

This exhibit will run through January 7, 2009 in the LEDA Board Room Gallery located at 502 East Main Street Downtown Lincolnton. View times are Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm.

If you missed the Second Rotation it is not too late. The artists have donated their work from the Second Rotation to be displayed again at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church from November 2 to November 30. Show hours for the Second Rotation are Mon-Thurs 9 am-12:00 pm. For additional availability call 704-732-9179.

A reception will be open to the public on Friday, November 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church located at 315 North Cedar Street Lincolnton, NC.

November's Book of the Month!

Find our Book of the Month on the right side of the blog. Go to the Charles R. Jonas Library and order the book through inter-library loan http://catalog.glrl.lib.nc.us/polaris/Search/default.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1
or for your own copy call North State Books 704-732-8562

November's Book of the Month is:
New Towns For Old: Achievements In Civic Improvement In Some American Small Towns And Neighborhoods by John Nolen

A Place to Grow Trick-or-Treats Downtown

Downtown Lincolnton was abuzz Friday morning as students from A Place to Grow strutted their Halloween costumes down Main Street and filled their treat bags with loads of goodies.


About 40 students from the school made the annual trip to downtown, where business owners displayed Jack-O-Lanterns in their windows to signal that they had treats for the youngsters. Many parents were there to share the experience with their little ones, who were dressed to impress in their Halloween gear.


It is especially heartwarming to see the downtown business owners spill out onto the streets to fill the kids' bags with candy and snacks as they march through downtown. After all - it's not everyday that you see a giraffe, a giant banana, and Elmo walking down Main Street!

Cook Out Receives Polished Apple Award

Pictured L to R: Tommy Gleiter, Cook Out of Lincolnton Manager; Mayor David Black; and Stacy Bryant, DDA Design Work Group Chair


Cook Out of Lincolnton has been chosen as the recipient of the City of Lincolnton Polished Apple Award.

The program, developed to recognize excellence in physical improvements to commercial property in Lincolnton, is awarded regularly by the City of Lincolnton to encourage positive design improvements within the city.

Cook Out of Lincolnton was chosen to receive the award by the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton Design Work Group, in response to physical improvements made to its facilities located at 1437 East Main Street in Lincolnton.

Polished Apple Award criteria and nomination forms are available from the Lincolnton Business and Community Development office, 114 East Main Street.

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Downtown Directory

Please take notice of the new Downtown Directory section on the right side of the blog. Here you will find some of Downtown Lincolnton's retail, dining, and service providers’ web sites. More links will be coming soon!

If you are a downtown business and don’t see your link, please contact us at:

Business and Community Development
114 E. Main St.
704-736-8915
Or
candacehelms@ci.lincolnton.nc.us

Cycle NC Descends on Lincolnton

The streets of downtown Lincolnton were filled with the sounds of The Ocean Blvd. Band as a special Alive After Five concert was held on Monday night in coordination with Cycle North Carolina. More than a thousand bicyclists descended on Lincolnton for a respite on their annual ride "from the mountains to the coast."

The cyclists began to arrive in town late Monday morning, as was evident by the scores of bicycles parked outside local restaurants and cafes. Many of the cyclists camped at Betty Ross Park, while a few others rested their heads at local hotels.

The cyclists enjoyed shuttle service to the specially scheduled Alive After Five concert, where vendors and local businesses set up tents to welcome the visitors to Lincolnton. The tour left Lincolnton early Tuesday morning for its next stop in Concord. The cyclists are scheduled to reach Oak Island, the final stop of the tour, Saturday.

For more information about Cycle North Carolina, visit
http://www.ncsports.org/nccyclemain.php.

VIP FISH FRY POSTPONED

Due to the threat of bad weather Thursday the Downtown Development Association has postponed its VIP Fish Fry until a later date. DDA plans to have a stand alone recognition in the next few weeks to thank all our supporters. More information will be forthcoming.

Singing and Dancing in the rain = FUN

Frying Fish in hot oil in the rain = NOT FUN ;-)

Come Out and Shag with the The Ocean Blvd. Band

Come out for great entertainment from The Ocean Blvd. Band on Monday, September 29, 2008 at the Griffin Insurance Agency/ Nationwide Insurance Alive After Five concert series.

In coordination with Cycle North Carolina, Ocean Blvd. will be in town to deliver the soulful sounds that captured the hearts of east coast beach goers. Ocean Blvd. is a variety band that offers beach, funk, retro, disco, and motown music. Their exciting playlist includes “Let's Go Shaggin' Tonight”, “Up on the Roof”, “Ladies Night”, “Margaritaville”, “Myrtle Beach Days”, and “Twist/Twist Again”. For more information on The Ocean Blvd. Band, check them out online at http://www.oceanblvdband.com/.

Come out and enjoy great music and dancing! Several downtown restaurants will be open for the show as well. Watch downtown Lincolnton come alive as concert-goers gather at East Main Street and Court Square for the free show, which starts at 6:00 p.m. Lawn chairs are encouraged, but no coolers will be allowed. For information regarding the event or to reserve handicap parking for the show, please call Lincolnton Business & Community Development at (704) 736-8915.

Also, don't forget about Alive After Five with the Extraordinaires on Thursday, September 25.

Great Weather Brings Crowd for the Annual Apple Festival

This past weekend the streets of downtown were crowded with people enjoying the annual Lincolnton Apple Festival. This years Apple Festival was a huge success with fall-like weather, and lots of great food, crafts, and activities.

Attendees shopped various apparel, craft, and merchandise booths set up along Main Street and enjoyed lots of food vendors ranging from great Bar-B-Que to Mexican cuisine. The highlight of the festival was the great NC Apples! Apple pies and fritters were gone within a few hours of the event and there was a shortage of apples toward the end.

During the event kids enjoyed Limbo and Hula-Hoop contests at the Downtown Development Association booth. Hula-Hoop was the most popular contest. There were great hula-hoppers with hula-hooping times over 10 minutes! A special thanks to Melamoose and 36^th Street Bakery for donating prizes for the winning contestants. Another big demand at the DDA booth was free balloons!

Pictures of the Apple Festival can be viewed on the right side of the blog.

Melamoose Scoops & Java presents...

On Friday, September 19, 2008 "The Bob Carroll Band"

The show will start at 6:30pm until 8:00pm so, come bring a chair and enjoy a great night of Bluegrass and Gospel Music.

While you are relaxing to the tunes of "The Bob Carroll Band" enjoy Melamoose Scoops & Java's fantastic menu that includes: Pizza, Subs, Hotdogs, Ice Cream, and Espresso Bar!

Lincoln County Apple Festival

The 2008 Lincoln County Apple Festival will be held in downtown Lincolnton on Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

The annual festival features arts and crafts, local business booths, music entertainment, food vendors, special children’s area, and lots of APPLES.

Lincoln County’s first Apple Festival was held on September of 1972 at the Boger City Methodist Church. Approximately 300 folks attended.

The next two festivals were held in the National Guard Armory that included entertainment and exhibits. With attendance and related activities increasing, the need for larger facilities prompted a move to West Lincoln High School in 1975 where food and craft vendors participated. In 1978, the Lincoln County Apple Festival was moved to downtown Lincolnton with approximately 30 booths and an approximate crowd of 8,000.

The festival continues to grow each year with booth numbers increasing and with crowds seemingly getting larger. Attendance estimates range around 80,000. Currently the booth number total is approximately 175.

For more information visit:

http://lincoln.ces.ncsu.edu/content/lincolncountyapplefestival

Volunteer Recognition Fish Fry September 25th

The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton will be holding its Volunteer Recognition Fish Fry in conjunction with the September 25, 2008 Alive After Five concert. A VIP area will be located in the 100 Block of East Main Street, where food will be served from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Entertainment will be provided by The Extraordinaires.

If you have volunteered with or donated to the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton within the past 12 months and plan on attending the Volunteer Recognition Fish Fry, please RSVP by September 22, 2008, by calling (704) 736-8915 or emailing lynnbrinson@ci.lincolnton.nc.us.

The Extraordinaires Are Coming To Town!

Come out and boogie to the tunes of The Extraordinaires on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at the Griffin Insurance Agency/ Nationwide Insurance Alive After Five concert series.

Tindall's Professional Photography & Apple Realty are proud to present one of the greatest up and coming bands in the area! The Extraordinaires are known for being one of the best bands in the Carolinas, “Brown Eyed Girl”, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, “My Girl”, “When A Man Loves A Woman”, and “Carolina Girls” are just a few songs from their extraordinary playlist! For more information on The Extraordinaires, check them out online at http://www.theextraordinaires.com/index.asp.

Additionally, a drawing for two $50 Downtown Dollars gift certificates will be held during the concert. Entries must be submitted to participating downtown businesses by the day of the show, and those who enter must be present when their names are selected to claim their prizes.

Come out and enjoy great music, dancing, and food vendors! Several downtown restaurants will be open for the show as well. Watch downtown Lincolnton come alive as concert-goers gather at East Main Street and Court Square for the free show, which starts at 6:00 p.m. Lawn chairs are encouraged, but no coolers will be allowed. For information regarding the event or to reserve handicap parking for the show, please call Lincolnton Business & Community Development at (704) 736-8915.

Book of the Month!

Find our Book of the Month on the right side of the blog.

Go to the Charles R. Jonas Library and order the book through inter-library loan http://catalog.glrl.lib.nc.us/polaris/Search/default.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1
or for your own copy call North State Books 704-732-8562

October's Book of the Month is:
The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition by Michael Shuman

September's Book of the Month is:
Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age by Michael Shuman

Here at the DDA, we hope you enjoy reading these books as much as we have. Please share with us some of your favorite books that you think would be helpful to Downtown Lincolnton and we will post them to our booklist!

Helpful Business Resources

Located under the Useful Links section at the upper right hand side of the blog, are now several helpful resources for local businesses. The first eight links offer marketing, financial, and other helpful information that can guide a business into future success!

Virgin Money, is a website organization that helps facilitate small business loans from friends & family.

Shopify, is a website designed to provide eCommerce for businesses. The website takes care of hosting, bandwidth, and security, so you can focus on your business

Risk Management Association, allows a business owner to look at RMA’s statement surveys and compare their financials to other businesses' financials in their category.

Angel Capital Association, is a true peer-to-peer organization. ACA is already starting to change the nature of early-stage investments for entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. This website provides thought-provoking discussions and valuable information.

The other websites offer valuable marketing tips including: small business marketing articles, marketing strategies, and some of the best marketing tools available.

Let Us Help You!

Businesses in downtown Lincolnton will soon have a special opportunity to be heard!

Business and Community Development is unveiling their new business owner survey. The survey is one part of a comprehensive market analysis that will help downtown businesses be more successful and improve the quality of retail and service opportunities available to area residents.

*SURVEY LINK COMING SOON*

Alive After 5 Drawing Winners Announced

On Thursday, August 28, 2008 two names were picked for the Alive After 5 Drawing during the Griffin Insurance Agency/ Nationwide Insurance Alive After Five concert series. The lucky winners were Emily F. Edwards, who entered her drawing entry form at Kate McCall. Also a winner, Bill Heafner, shown left. The winners received two $50 Downtown Dollar Gift Certificates. The event featured music from Coast to Coast, dancing, food vendors, and lots of fun! Drawing entry forms can be found at participating downtown businesses and submitted during the Alive After Five event. The next Alive After Five is scheduled to be September, 25 2008.

Coast to Coast to Perform in Downtown Lincolnton

Downtown Lincolnton will be shagging to the sounds of Coast to Coast as the Griffin Insurance Agency/Nationwide Insurance Alive After Five concert series continues on Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Coast to Coast, a hometown favorite based out of Lincolnton, will be presented by Bank of America. The self-proclaimed "beach, boogie, and blues band" is sure to strike a note that resonates with everyone with a playlist that includes "Mustang Sally," "This Magic Moment," "Under the Boardwalk," and "I Want to Love You." For more information on Coast to Coast, check them out online at http://coasttocoastband.com/index.html or http://www.myspace.com/coasttocoastband.

Additionally, a drawing for two $50 Downtown Dollars gift certificates will be held during the concert. Entries must be submitted to participating downtown businesses by the day of the show, and those who enter must be present when their names are selected to claim their prizes.

Food and fun will abound with vendors, a NASCAR Nationwide Series show car, and plenty of music. Several downtown restaurants will be open for the show as well. Watch downtown Lincolnton come alive as concert-goers gather at East Main Street and Court Square for the free show, which starts at 6:00 p.m. Lawn chairs are encouraged, but no coolers will be allowed. For information regarding the event or to reserve handicap parking for the show, please call Lincolnton Business & Community Development at (704) 736-8915.

Lovable Lincolnton Featured Tar Heel Town in September Issue of Our State Magazine

When citizens of Lincolnton pick up their September issue of Our State Magazine they’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Lincolnton is the featured Tar Heel Town. D.G. Martin penned the article that highlights the many uniques places downtown that give Lincolnton its classic character and makes Lincolnton such a great place to live, work and play.

Ask Dr. Downtown

Dear Dr Downtown:

Q: What incentives are available for building rehabilitation downtown?


A: There are five (5) different incentives available for rehabilitating buildings downtown three (3) City of Lincolnton Grant Programs that provide cash, a local bank loan pool that provides loans at ½% below the prime rate, and state and federal tax credits that are a dollar for dollar reduction in your income taxes up to 40% of the rehabilitation costs.

Incentive Grant for Storefront Rehabilitation:
Provides 50% of the total cost of approved projects up to $40 per linear foot of front façade. Side facades are eligible on corner buildings and buildings where the side façade is clearly visible from a public right-of-way

Architectural Services Grant:
Provides 50% of the design cost of up to $2,500

Substantial Building Rehab Grant Program:
Provides $10.00 per $100 (10%) of assessed value of the building as a matching grant. The required match is 50% of the improvements value of the property as determined by the tax assessor.

Low Interest Loan Pool:
An additional incentive is a loan pool from Lincolnton's banks. This program provides a 1/2% below prime rate loan for a 15 year term for the acquisition and rehabilitation of downtown buildings.

Tax Credits:
Federal & State Tax Credits are available for Rehabilitation for buildings in the Lincolnton Commercial Historic District. Rehabs could be eligible for a 20% federal tax credit and 20% state tax credit on the amount of the building rehabilitation.

More information is available at www.downtownlincolnton.org

Personal Artist Studio & Gallery Celebrates Grand Opening

Personal Artist Studio & Gallery, located at 105 East Main Street, in downtown Lincolnton, celebrated its Grand Opening on Tuesday, August 12, at 11:00 am. The event, sponsored by the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, was attended by several Chamber Ambassadors, City officials, fellow downtown business owners, and patrons of the studio and gallery.

In her remarks to those gathered for the ribbon cutting, owner Laurie Bostian commented that though the studio has been open for a year, it took her a while to "define just what Personal Artist Studio & Gallery is all about."

While Bostian specializes in portraiture, she also offers classes, workshops, and art camps for those interested in expressing their own creativity. For those interested in browsing, the gallery features works from a diverse group of artists, including Bostian herself.

For more information about Personal Artist Studio & Gallery, visit www.personalartist.com, or call Bostian at (704) 773-3088.

DDA Premiers First Downtown Lincolnton Video Business Highlight

As you may have noticed by this blog, the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton is beginning to adopt a more modern approach to public communication. With the wealth of Web-based networking tools now available, DDA is taking advantage of these opportunities to reach new people; garner feedback from the public at large; maintain constant contact with those whose lives involve Downtown Lincolnton; and to showcase the people, places, and things that make us so proud of downtown.

If you look just to the right of this entry, you will see the first of many Video Business Highlights that we will use to spotlight the businesses and business owners who make Downtown Lincolnton unique. Each week, a new business will be featured in this spot - and all of our highlights will be accessible at http://www.youtube.com. We would like to thank Nick and Judy Komas of House of Trophies & Engraving and Classic Art & Framing for agreeing to be our "guinea pig" for this endeavor, and Stephen Starnes for loaning to us his hosting talents. Be sure and check back regularly - you never know who will be showcased next!

Ask Dr. Downtown

Dear Dr. Downtown:

Q: What efforts are being made to attract new businesses downtown?

A: There are four primary techniques the Downtown Development Association uses to market downtown to reach a target business and attract potential investors downtown: Publicity, Promotional Materials, Direct Mail and Personal Selling. Given its limited financial resources, DDA must create the greatest number of positive impressions for the least cost.

Using community volunteers, volunteer interns and city staff, DDA is currently conducting a market analysis--including a community survey--to determine the amount of space and types of uses downtown Lincolnton can realistically support. This information also helps the community identify, evaluate and prioritize new market opportunities.

An example of the information gleaned from this market analysis, is that the Lincolnton market area has a retail leakage (retail sales leaving) of over $29 million in restaurant retail sales. This is a strong indication that existing restaurants could expand and new restaurants could be successful by capturing some of the current sales going to surrounding communities. Restaurants therefore are a target business category and a high priority.