Investors spend $3 million in
Downtown Kinston developments

In what was described as a "profile of belief in our town," Pride of Kinston has revealed that $3 million have been invested in developing downtown business growth over the past two years (2005-2007).

The results of an investor survey were released during a Wake Up Lenoir Breakfast Series featuring economic development sponsored Aug. 7, 2007 by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce.

Pride director Adrian King shared the speakers podium with Mark Pope, executive director of Lenoir County's Department of Economic Development; and Albert A. Delia, President & CEO of North Carolina's Eastern Region, a 13 county economic development agency.

King reported that since early 2005, some $2.5 million have been spent on purchasing and renovating buildings, and that an additional $303,000 have been spent on inventory for many of the businesses.

He also reported that 21 individual downtown properties have been impacted by the investments, housing 19 different businesses being operated by 17 different companies.

In addition, Pride of Kinston has spent nearly $180,000 over the past two years in downtown developments, including facade grants, parking lot developments and landscaping installations and maintenance, he said.

He added that Pride's work "is not simply to put a shine on things. We use our bully pulpit role, some elbow grease and some hard cash to make downtown Kinston a desirable place for our residents, our visitors, our businesses and our investors."

King also noted that "every penny" spent on recent downtown developments "has come from local people, local business, local investors, local sources."

The profile which emerged from the survey, he said, "is more than a calculation of real estate dollars and cents...It represents a profile of hope...of risk taking...a profile of belief in our town...a belief in our future."

Craig Woolard Band Highlights Aug. 9 Concert

Craig Woolard, whose name is synonymous with eastern Carolina beach music, brings his band to Kinston's downtown Neuseway Park Thursday (Aug. 9, 2007) for the fourth Sand in the Streets concert sponsored by Pride of Kinston.

The long-time vocalist with the Embers until he formed his own band in 2004, Woolard has received numerous awards from the music industry for his brand of music and performing style. Event sponsor for the concert, which begins at 6:00 pm, is R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company. Robert Jeffreys will be on hand to welcome the crowd to the Woolard concert.

Bill Sutton, fast becoming a fixture at Kinston and Lenoir County events reporting for WCTI television in New Bern, will be the celebrity emcee for the evening.

The Sand in the Streets concerts have become a must-do for growing crowds of Kinston fans. The 2007 series is the most ambitious yet launched by Pride of Kinston as a part of its overall business strategy to attract people to downtown.

Co-producers of the 2007 series are Realo Discount Drugs and the Kinston Free Press. The concerts are also being made possible in part by support from the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority.

Two new sponsors have signed on in recent days: Sammy C. Aiken, Connoisseur of Photography, to sponsor Dick Knight Express Band on Sept. 6; and Woodmen of the World, a series general sponsor. Other supporters of the series include Wachovia, King's Restaurant, Perry Management, Bojangles, Lenoir Memorial Hospital, Corporate Resources, Christopher's Restaurant, Chick-fil-A, TACC 9 television, m3 Consulting & Services and Alison and Company.

SPONSORSHIP: Woodmen of the World Lodge 46 member Earl Hughes (right) presents a check to Adrian King, director of Pride of Kinston, to support the 2007 Sand in the Streets summer concerts. The presentation was made at the Band of Oz concert held July 26, 2007 in Neuseway Park.		FLAGS: Pride of Kinston continues its mini-campaign Thursday at the Craig Woolard concert urging residents to fly Kinston’s official flag throughout the city. Pride director Adrian King is shown here describing the flag and the campaign to Heather King, host of WITN’s early morning show, when the On-The-Road series was broadcast live from Grainger Stadium July 25, 2007.

Concerts still to come are:

• Aug. 23: Mustang Sally
• Sept. 6: Dick Knight Express
• Sept. 20: The Embers

All concerts are free to the public, beginning at 6:00 pm at Neuseway Park, entrance at the intersection of Gordon and Mitchell Streets.

ONE DOWN &TWO TO GO: Salon Steven at 209 N. Herritage Street celebrated its opening day Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce. Joining owner Steve Parnell (third from right) at the opening event was his wife Regina (Parnell's right), Lenoir Community College President Brantley Briley, visiting stylist Homer Pre Fontaine, Adrian King Pride Director, Mr. and Mrs. Parnell, Parnell's assistant Stephanie Stroud, and Chamber president Laura Lee Sylvester. Across the street, two other new businesses are poised to open in August or September: Barbaros, a kitchen implements store at 204 N. Herritage; and Adriana's, upscale gift shop at 222 N. Herritage.