Town Priorities

The town priorities section is designed to provide information about each of the towns participating in the Creative Communities Initiative.  Statistical data, progress reports, and community profiles on the towns will continue to be added to this section as this project unfolds.

The participating towns represent a mix of development challenges.  While Edenton is experiencing positive growth, there is a need to ensure economic and cultural diversity. Ayden is closely situated to rapidly expanding Greenville yet it faces the challenge of preserving its identity while developing an economic core than complements but is not dependent on Greenville's.  Hertford and Plymouth, both located on the Albemarle Sound, are rich in natural resources but lack the supporting infrastructure-housing and amenities-necessary to sustain a creative community.  Murfreesboro, close to Virginia's southern urban centers, has the potential to be an attractive alternative to the more populated, urban sprawl of Virginia's border towns though it currently suffers from a lack of coordinated effort to develop and market its assets. Tarboro, located at the confluence of Highways 64 and 258 and within a short distance of Interstate 95, has a town commons surrounded by restored historical homes and an accessible downtown, but lacks the population level to support a diverse business base. 

Despite the variety of challenges that these communities confront, FoR ENC believes that each in its way is united by a potential to be a creative community.  These towns share a desired to retain and augment cultural roots and enhance existing resources that are the cornerstone of creative communities: historic town centers built for foot traffic; space amenable to mixed use (business, entertainment, housing); and, easy access to green space.