FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Old Fort continues with efforts to revitalize the town through their partnership with the N.C. Rural Center’s STEP (Small Town Economic Prosperity) initiative and grant. A portion of the grant funds, were used to create and landscape three new “Welcome to Old Fort” signs. The photo includes, Mayor Pro Tem Carroll Miller, Alderman Greg Piercy and Norman Logan, along with Chairman Terry Wilson of the Old Fort Mountain Heritage Alliance, a sub-committee of the town. Also shown here are Amanda Cable and Nita Fletcher, owners of Lawn Ladies Landscaping.
Working with Dr. Jay Tomlinson’s students in the N.C. State University Community Design program, a new town seal was chosen as the focal point of the new signs. Installation sites are located at the intersection of Highway 70 and Old Highway 70, the intersection of the I-40/Exit 73 West exit ramp and Catawba Avenue, and on Highway 70 West a few yards past the intersection at Curtis Creek.
After consulting local sign companies, Graphics Warehouse constructed the signs while Nita Fletcher and Amanda Cable, owners of Lawn Ladies, completed the rock and landscape installation process. Plants were chosen for their year round color and low maintenance.
In addition to the new town seal designs, the college students created a design and planning report for Old Fort, as a guide for future changes in the downtown area. For example, redirecting traffic away from the Old Fort Depot and Arrowhead to the intersection of Water Street and Catawba Avenue.
Partnerships with both the N.C. Rural Center and HandMade in America continue to provide Old Fort with resources and planning tools for future economic growth. If you are interested in joining the town in their efforts to revitalize downtown, join the Old Fort Alliance on the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. inside the Old Fort Depot, or email the Alliance secretary, Debra Smith, for committee meetings and times: ofmhalliance@gmail.com.
