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Downtown Rutherfordton continues to thrive thanks to the vibrant small businesses and the strong spirit of collaboration fostered through Rutherford Town Rising (RTR). "Today marks an exciting milestone in that momentum: with support from the ARC Ready-2-Grow Program, the Town of Rutherfordton in partnership with RTR is launching a full-time Main Street Program Coordinator position," said Doug Barrick,Town Manager. "This step directly advances the Town's Strategic Action Plan and strengthens our long-term commitment to supporting downtown's continued growth," he said.
A Rutherfordton native, Miranda Parker brings the right mix of local pride, diverse professional experience, and community-focused leadership to help the business community collaborate, thrive, and continue building the momentum we're experiencing downtown, Barrick said.
Her background in communications, event and project management, and community engagement will be an asset as she builds relationships and supports the heart of our community our small businesses.
"Miranda brings the perfect mix of local pride, broad experience, and community-minded leadership to help our businesses collaborate and thrive. Downtown's vibrancy comes from the creativity and commitment of our small businesses, and Miranda's leadership will help build on that momentum to continue shaping a thriving, family-centered downtown," said Barrick.
Christy Houser, President of RTR, added, "The board and I are thrilled to welcome Miranda into this full-time coordinator role. Our past directors were dedicated and cared deeply for downtown, but the part-time structure made it challenging to fully support the nearly 100 small businesses that make Rutherfordton's downtown so special.
This full-time position strengthens the town's ability to support those businesses, improve communication with the Town, and bring renewed energy to programming, all while preserving the small-town charm. With the bypass on the horizon, having someone who can consistently manage outreach and keep Rutherfordton front and center is more important than ever.
Miranda shared, "I'm honored to step into the role of Main Street Coordinator for the Town of Rutherfordton. Our Main Street is the heart of this community, rich with history, passion, and pride. I look forward to working alongside residents, businesses, and partners to celebrate what makes Rutherfordton unique while creating new opportunities for our downtown to grow and thrive. Since beginning this role on November 17, I've already felt the incredible support and excitement surrounding Downtown Rutherfordton, and I can't wait to build on that momentum.
As we head into the holiday season, I hope you'll join us tomorrow for Rutherfordton's Annual Christmas Parade, a beloved tradition that showcases the spirit and togetherness of our community. While you're downtown for the festivities, I encourage you to shop and eat local as we celebrate the season and the bright future ahead for our downtown."
Rutherford Town Rising (RTR) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to leading and preserving the unique character of historic Downtown Rutherfordton while developing and enriching assets that promote economic vitality, community connection, and quality of life. Working in partnership with local government, businesses, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and other agencies through the dedication of our board members and volunteers, RTR provides businesses with support, programming, and promotional assistance, along with a forward-thinking vision to help our town flourish. As a Main Street America™ Accredited Program, RTR is recognized as a leading organization among the national network of communities committed to high-quality placemaking and preservation-based economic development.
