Colleagues, travel, meetings, etc.

I know that a "managers meeting" is usually enough to make folks run away, but I've just been to one that was uplifting, encouraging, and inspiring. It was the late summer Managers Meeting for the North Carolina Main Street Center. It didn't hurt that it was in Brevard and did not require me to drive five hours. But even if it had, I think I would have been just as inspired and upbeat.

Uptown Shelby Association is one of the five oldest Main Street programs in North Carolina and we've been represented at these meetings ever since the early 80's. But where the backdrop today might have been recession, credit freeze, and mounting unemployment, the Main Street Managers were a pretty optimistic group. We joked that it's because we've always been faced with doing a lot with little to no money. I fully believe that it is a skill set that has put us in good stead for a time of economic challenge.

But we also think that we see some strong signs of changing trends that promote independent start-up and local businesses. While not everyone reported upbeat results, the majority did report that our occupancy rates were up over recent years and that interest remains strong in new business formation within their communities.

Yes, we all have stories about native born, lifelong residents of our small towns and small cities who just have no idea that our downtowns have businesses where they are welcomed and served so well. But as long as we are reducing the number of such people in our communities I'll take that progress.

I loved Brevard, and I think it was my first visit, at least since infancy. With a chocolate shop and a great toy store, I'll be going back. But it also helped me appreciate my own corner of the world here in Shelby even more.