About Downtown Garner
About Downtown Garner
Downtown Garner is the historic heart of the community—originally shaped by the railroad and local commerce, and today a walkable, welcoming district where small businesses, events, and civic life come together. While the downtown continues to evolve, it remains rooted in its small-town character, historic buildings, and strong sense of place.
Downtown Garner Association (DGA)
Founded in 2005, the Downtown Garner Association (DGA) leads efforts to strengthen and revitalize Historic Downtown Garner. Working in close partnership with the Town of Garner, local businesses, property owners, and community stakeholders, DGA focuses on economic vitality, reinvestment, promotion, and placemaking to ensure downtown remains a thriving destination for residents and visitors alike.
DGA develops a Plan of Work each fall during the board’s annual retreat to set priorities for the coming year. In addition, the Historic Downtown Garner Plan (2010) and the North Garner Plan (2003), developed with input from the community and adopted by the Town of Garner, continue to provide a long-term vision for this area.
2026
Board of Directors
MARY SMALLING
STEVE CICCI
KELVIN STALLINGS
TORREY BEATTY
KATHY BEHRINGER
DAVID FORREST
KAREN PUNTCH
JOYCE STEPHENs
Main Street Program
Garner is a nationally accredited Main Street community and the Downtown Garner Association has been leading downtown economic revitalization since 2009 with the help of the Main Street Four Point Approach. The Main Street Approach™ offers community-based revitalization initiatives with a practical, adaptable framework for downtown transformation that is easily tailored to local conditions. The Main Street Approach is implemented through comprehensive work in four broad areas, known as the Four Points – ORGANIZATION, PROMOTION, DESIGN, & ECONOMIC VITALITY.
The Downtown Garner Association has four standing volunteer work committees that are responsible for implementing DGA’s annual work plan. Each committee focuses on one of the Four Points, and together, DGA’s committees form a comprehensive, practical, and effective organization for leading downtown economic revitalization.
Community Engagement
The Community Engagement committee builds on the DGA’s role as the downtown advocacy ORGANIZATION to create a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district.
Event
Planning
The Event Planning committee uses the principles of PROMOTION to position Garner’s downtown district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases the community’s unique characteristics.
Design &
Public Art
The DESIGN & Public Art committee supports Downtown Garner’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart.
Downtown Development
The Downtown Development committee is modeled on ECONOMIC VITALITY, which focuses on economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive the local economy.