Board of Directors

A brief history of DSA

In 1993 a group of interested citizens and business owners formed a group, which in 1994 was incorporated as S.P.I.R. (Sylva Partners in Renewal). The original mission statement read “The mission of SPIR, Inc is to promote the economic growth and vitality of downtown Sylva, NC, through improved physical appeal, promotion, and diversification of businesses in a defined geographic area.”

The corporation was organized using guidelines from the National Main Street Center, which is an organization that bases downtown revitalization and economic development on historic preservation. S.P.I.R. applied to be a Main Street organization in 1995, and was accepted by Main Street North Carolina, part of the NC Department of Commerce.

Over the next several years SPIR used the “Main Street approach,” as spelled out by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main St. program. “It is a comprehensive self-help process that builds on the idea of the total image of downtown. It considers how people feel about downtown and how they can work together to maintain and improve it. Local people work together to rebuild a positive downtown image that will invite economic development.”

In the early years of SPIR, partnerships were forged and the focus was on Main St revitalization. In 1995 the Sylva Business & Professional Association merged with SPIR to avoid duplication of services, leaving SPIR, the EDC, and the Chamber of Commerce as the three main groups in Jackson County working for economic development in the area. SPIR was specifically focused on the downtown business district.

Enthusiasm was great, and workshops were held to determine a vision for what downtown Sylva could be. A streetscape plan was developed for Main St., and between 1996 and 1999, together with the Town of Sylva, SPIR actualized its goal of renovating Main St. This included new paving, sidewalks, streetlights, benches, and landscaping.

With the Main St renovations as Phase I, a Phase II of downtown revitalization was developed, which included Mill St and the surrounding area. The improvements made to Mill St in 2006 last year were part of the Phase II plans.

Besides the Main Street renovations, SPIR started Greening up the Mountains 10 years ago as an Earth Day/Springtime festival. It also cooperated with the town of Sylva on building improvement grants, then developed it’s own façade grant program and historic paint grants.

In 2004, the SPIR Board of Directors voted to change the name to the Downtown Sylva Association. The board felt that much successful revitalization had occurred, and that SPIR needed to be a group to maintain and continue the positive growth and development of the downtown business district, and to be seen as an advocacy group for downtown business rather than strictly a revitalization effort.

When shoppers buy goods from locally-owned businesses, they can do so knowing that three times more of their money stays home, creating meaningful jobs, recirculating among other businesses and supporting local charities. The more local business, the stronger, more resilient a community.

Downtown Sylva Association’s vision is to support a traditional, sustainable downtown economy that strengthens our community and allows businesses, organizations, government, education, and the arts to flourish.

We advocate the economic and philosophical importance of preserving and protecting historic downtown Sylva as “The Heart of Jackson County”. We encourage diverse opinions, ideas, and strategies for economic and cultural growth, and we serve as a researcher, consultant, and developer of actions that assure the continued revitalization of Sylva’s downtown business district.

Downtown Sylva Association (also called “DSA”) is a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic development and historic preservation of Sylva’s vibrant downtown. DSA was formally designated a Main Street organization in December of 1995 by Main Street North Carolina, a division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The National Main Street Program is a program of the National Historic Trust for Preservation and has been successfully replicated in communities all over the United States.

The Main Street Approach: Our Committees

The Main Street approach has four parts, which coincide with the four committees of DSA.

1. Organization - Consensus building, cooperation, and mobilizing a collective effort to focus on downtown’s possibilities. Forging public/ private partnerships, and creating a clear vision that has wide community support.

2. Promotions - Creating a highly visible positive image of downtown, through special events, joint retail marketing, and image development. Downtown is promoted as a unified entity.

3. Design - Encouraging well designed, carefully maintained buildings and store fronts, with respect to the historic character each property. This includes signage, façades, window displays, lighting, etc. Administering façade grants and historic paint grants. Working with town planning board on ordinances and relative design issues.

4. Economic Restructuring - Helping to create economic vitality downtown in the light of today’s economic trends. Creating incentives to promote and attract diverse businesses.