Special to IFN

The Downtown Statesville Development on Thursday recognized Jim Duffey as its 2024 Main Street Champion during the North Carolina Main Street Conference in Mooresville.

Duffey has been a cornerstone of American Renaissance School, a Downtown Statesville charter school, for 26 years. Under his visionary leadership, the school has doubled its student enrollment by improving accessibility through transportation options and a free and reduced lunch program. These initiatives attracted families from diverse backgrounds who might not have otherwise connected with Downtown Statesville, helping to create a more inclusive community.

Duffey has been instrumental in establishing the ARS Arts and STEM Center. His dedication to fostering creativity and innovation extends beyond the students, as the school offers its facilities for community use, including musical and theatrical performances, further expanding the arts in downtown.

He has also played a key role in the revitalization of Downtown Statesville, leading the school through significant adaptive reuse and infill projects. Over the past four years, the construction of a new gym and the renovation of two historic buildings have preserved vital pieces of Statesville’s history, making American Renaissance School one of the largest stakeholders in the district.

About Downtown Statesville Development Corporation

DSDC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization charged with administering the Main Street program for Statesville and whose mission is to champion, promote and lead Downtown Statesville as the economic, social and cultural engine in the region. This is achieved in collaboration with public-private partners working together to enhance the appearance, desirability and vitality of downtown. Visit www.downtownstatesville.com.