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Advertise With UsSwiss Bear, Inc. is proud to announce that Downtown New Bern has as soon as once more earned Fundamental Road America™ Accreditation, the best stage of recognition awarded to native Fundamental Road packages, for its excellent efficiency in 2025.
The accreditation, awarded via Fundamental Road America and the North Carolina Fundamental Road & Rural Planning Middle, acknowledges communities that show excellence in preservation-based financial improvement, downtown revitalization, organizational energy, and neighborhood engagement. New Bern is considered one of solely 49 North Carolina communities to obtain the designation for 2026.
“This recognition displays the dedication of our downtown companies, property homeowners, volunteers, neighborhood companions, and native leaders who work collectively day by day to maintain downtown New Bern vibrant and thriving,” mentioned Karen Sullivan, Government Director of Swiss Bear, Inc.
To attain Fundamental Road America Accreditation, communities should meet rigorous efficiency requirements and show distinctive achievement in six key areas: broad-based neighborhood dedication to revitalization, inclusive management and organizational capability, diversified funding and sustainable operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based financial improvement, and measurable impression.
“The Metropolis of New Bern is proud to rejoice this achievement alongside Swiss Bear and our downtown stakeholders. Fundamental Road America™ Accreditation displays the energy of the partnership that continues to drive funding, protect our historic character, and create a vibrant downtown that serves residents, companies, and guests alike. We respect the dedication of Swiss Bear, our enterprise neighborhood, volunteers, and numerous companions whose efforts make this recognition doable,” mentioned Foster Hughes, Metropolis Supervisor, Metropolis of New Bern.
The designation highlights the success of Swiss Bear’s ongoing efforts to strengthen downtown New Bern via financial improvement, historic preservation, enterprise recruitment, and neighborhood engagement.
Throughout North Carolina, Fundamental Road packages proceed to drive important financial impression. Since 1980, N.C. Fundamental Road communities have leveraged greater than $6.1 billion in private and non-private funding, created 39,530 web new jobs, and rehabilitated 8,419 downtown buildings. In 2025 alone, Fundamental Road and Small-City Fundamental Road communities nationwide generated $518.7 million in funding, supported 288 web new companies, created 1,925 web new jobs, accomplished 364 façade enhancements, and contributed greater than 127,800 volunteer hours.
“Downtown New Bern is considered one of our neighborhood’s best belongings, and since being elected I’ve been impressed by the dedication and impression of Swiss Bear’s work to help our companies, protect our historic character, and preserve downtown thriving. This accreditation is a testomony to that work. I look ahead to persevering with the Metropolis’s partnership in constructing on the success of downtown, together with creating new alternatives to strengthen and develop the Fundamental Road footprint alongside the Pollock and Broad Road corridors,” mentioned Trey Ferguson, Ward 1 Alderman.
Swiss Bear serves as New Bern’s designated Fundamental Road group and has been main downtown revitalization efforts since 1979. By means of a public-private partnership mannequin with the Metropolis of New Bern, the group works to develop and maintain a vibrant downtown district by supporting native companies, creating financial alternatives, preserving historic character, and activating public areas via community-centered programming.
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