The North Carolina Downtown Development Association (NCDDA) is proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Downtown Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact in downtowns across North Carolina.
The awards program honors projects, programs, and individuals advancing the vitality of downtown districts through economic development, placemaking, organizational leadership, clean and safe initiatives, strategic planning, and community-building efforts. This year, NCDDA recognized one Downtown Leader of the Year, two Emerging Leaders, and twelve outstanding Downtown Impact Award-winning projects and programs. Award recipients represent communities and organizations of varying sizes from across the state, reflecting the diversity and strength of North Carolina’s downtowns. The Gem Theatre won in the Catalytic Projects category which honors major investments and developments that have fundamentally changed the trajectory of a downtown district, stimulating private investment, activating underutilized assets, and creating lasting economic and community impact that would not have occurred otherwise.
“The Gem has been a community touchstone and economic anchor in downtown Kannapolis for decades. Recent renovations have enabled us to welcome new generations to this iconic movie theatre. We are pleased that our community supports the theatre by attending movies and supporting the first two phases of the renovations. Future renovations will include more concession and lobby space and improvements to the second floor. The completed and expected renovations allow us to offer a modern first-class movie experience in a historic setting. We look forward to continuing the tradition of seeing a movie at the Gem for decades to come," said Kannapolis Director of Parks and Recreation Gary Mills.
Award Winners:
Downtown Leader of the Year
- Hayden Plemmons — Asheville Downtown Association
Emerging Leaders
- Christina Haley — Wilmington Downtown, Inc.
- Shakira Hodges — University City Partners
Downtown Impact Awards
- Brand Camp SouthPark — SouthPark Community Partners
- Downtown Dickinson Giveaway — Downtown Greenville Partnership
- Downtown Holiday Lights Program — Wilmington Downtown, Inc.
- Gem Theatre Renovation — City of Kannapolis
- Hillsborough Street Trick or Treat — Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation
- Small Business Initiative — University City Partners
- SouthPark Skipper — SouthPark Community Partners
- SouthPark Window Walk — SouthPark Community Partners
- The Bull Ride — Downtown Durham, Inc.
- The Lofts at Osage Mill — City of Bessemer City
- Two-Hour Free Parking Program — Downtown Raleigh Alliance
- Wilson Visitor Center — Wilson Downtown Development Corporation
“We were thrilled by the response to this inaugural program. The breadth and quality of submissions reflects just how much outstanding work is happening in downtowns across the state,” said Jeff Murison, President of NCDDA. “These recipients represent some of the most impactful and forward-thinking work in North Carolina, and their leadership and creativity help strengthen local economies, improve quality of place, and advance vibrant community centers throughout the state.”
Award recipients were selected by a jury of experienced downtown professionals and industry leaders based on criteria including community impact, innovation, measurable results, and applicability as a best practice for other downtowns and districts.
The awards are being announced as downtown leaders from across North Carolina gather this week in Wilmington for NCDDA’s 2026 Large Cities Conference, hosted by Wilmington Downtown, Inc., July 8-10.
Additional information about award recipients and winning projects is available at:
ncdda.org/awards/