Carpenter comes most recently from the Asheville Downtown Association where she was events and operations manager, producing several large events in Downtown Asheville including the Independence Day Celebration and Downtown After 5 Summer Concert Series. She also recently earned a Master of Public Affairs from Western Carolina University.

 

Other past experience includes working in Colorado for Downtown Colorado, Inc. a state-wide nonprofit that advocates for downtowns and educates communities of all sizes about downtown revitalization in Colorado, and at HandMade in America, a nonprofit that focused on community and economic development in small towns in Western North Carolina. She brings a wide range of experience, including the development of a downtown market analysis for her hometown of Lincolnton, writing grants, managing large-scale events and coordinating volunteers.

“Tryon is such an impressive small town with so many great assets and a rich cultural heritage,” Carpenter says. “I look forward to working with the TDDA board to achieve their goals in economic restructuring, promoting local business, and implementing a streetscape design that will enhance the Tryon experience.”

Jamie will work closely with Tryon’s Community Development Director Paula Kempton and the chairman of Tryon Travel & Tourism, Mary Prioleau. She will also seek input from the Polk County Economic Development & Tourism director and the Polk County planning director.

“It is important that all our efforts are coordinated whenever possible” she says. “We have many resources and by working in partnership, we’re sure to make great things happen.”

TDDA is a non-profit organization, incorporated in Tryon in 1999. It received IRS designation as a tax-free charitable organization in 2004 and became a designated North Carolina Main Street Community in 2007. The purpose of TDDA is to guide the on-going revitalization of the downtown core in Tryon.  The group works closely with the Town of Tryon to foster excellent design standards as well as to promote and support local businesses and recruit new businesses to the downtown commercial district, ensuring the long-term success of the community.

Everyone in the community is invited to be a member of TDDA. Volunteers are always needed for a wide range of interesting projects.  For more information, call the TDDA office 859-6484 or go to the TDDA website, www.downtowntryon.org. The TDDA will hold its annual meeting on Monday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Sunnydale. Please call 859-6484 to make a reservation.

– Submitted by Wanda May

Photo: Jamie Carpenter