Today, Governor Josh Stein visited the Town of Clyde to discuss the Small Business Infrastructure Grant program. The town has received funding through this initiative to support local businesses and improve infrastructure.
Governor Stein stated, “Western North Carolina is open for business, and I am grateful to see exciting new development activity in downtowns across the region.” He highlighted that Clyde has been awarded a grant to enhance its sidewalks, curb appeal, and downtown parking. This investment aims to boost local commerce and attract more visitors to western North Carolina.
Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley added, “This recovery project for the Town of Clyde will repair the sidewalk so folks can more easily walk in the downtown business district. Getting people back downtown will speed recovery as we welcome residents and visitors back to Clyde.”
The grant provided $737,477 for Clyde’s Downtown Commercial Business District Repair Project. The Small Business Infrastructure Grant program was launched in March by Governor Stein and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It offers up to $1 million for local governments to rebuild public infrastructure impacting small businesses. The program is funded by state allocations from the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1.
In conjunction with these efforts, Governor Stein and VisitNC are promoting a new tourism campaign titled “Rediscover the Unforgettable.” This initiative encourages visits to western North Carolina during the summer tourism season and supports promotional activities by local chambers of commerce, tourism boards, and small businesses.
