Commissioners support Main Street program, donĀ't give funds

HALIFAX ‹ Commissioners voiced their support for the Main Street program

yesterday but put no money toward the initiative led by a group of Roanoke

Rapids business owners.

Halifax County Commissioner Rives Manning told Kim Simpson, president of the

Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance, funding the $5,000 the organization

requested would require the county to dip into its fund balance. ³I don¹t

know if we can make the financial contribution.²

The money the Alliance is seeking would fund a director for the Main Street

program, Simpson told the board.

Board Chairman Gene Minton explained to Simpson commissioners just approved

the county¹s budget last week. ³We support what you¹re doing,² he said,

saying, however, the county would have to dip into the fund balance to come

up with the money.

Commissioner James Pierce said his only concern was whether giving money to

the Alliance would set a precedent if other municipalities in the county

wanted to enter the program.

The board ended up striking a compromise agreement on the matter, with

Manning suggesting the county support the Main Street program and,

contingent on the city being accepted into the program, look at the

possibility of funding it then.

Simpson told the board the Alliance should know by October whether it is

accepted into the program. She said she knows there are seven other cities

in the state applying for entry in the program.

Outpouring from private sources for the program has been overwhelming,

Simpson said, with some $14,000 in private donations received. ³There is a

lot of community support.²

She said the Alliance also plans to apply for grant funds.

Following the meeting Simpson said she was pleased with the support. ³We¹re

just so pleased with the community's response for the project,² she said.

³We have received numerous letters of support. We understand they have a

tight budget. We appreciate their support so much.²