CLYDE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Gov. Josh Stein visited the town of Clyde on Tuesday to highlight the state’s Small Business Infrastructure Grant program and its role in revitalizing downtowns across western North Carolina.
Clyde recently received $737,477 through the program for its Downtown Commercial Business District Repair Project, which will fund sidewalk repairs and improvements to curb appeal and parking access.
“Western North Carolina is open for business, and I am grateful to see exciting new development activity in downtowns across the region,” Stein said in a news release. “The Department of Commerce has awarded Clyde a Small Business Infrastructure Grant to enhance its sidewalks, curb appeal and downtown parking. This investment will strengthen local commerce and allow more people to rediscover what makes Western North Carolina unforgettable.”
The grant is part of a broader $55 million initiative launched in March by Stein and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The program allows local governments to apply for up to $1 million to rebuild public infrastructure — such as sidewalks, utility lines and water and sewer systems — that support small business access. Funding was appropriated by the North Carolina General Assembly under the 2025 Disaster Recovery Act.
Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said improvements in Clyde’s downtown district are expected to help speed recovery efforts and draw more visitors to the area.
“This recovery project will repair the sidewalk so folks can more easily walk in the downtown business district,” Lilley said in the news release. “Getting people back downtown will speed recovery as we welcome residents and visitors back to Clyde.”
Stein’s visit coincides with a new tourism campaign, “Rediscover the Unforgettable,” launched by VisitNC to promote travel to western North Carolina. The initiative offers promotional resources to local chambers of commerce, tourism boards, and small businesses.