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Wilson’s Larissa Harper named Downtown Salisbury, Inc. Development Director

Wilson’s Larissa Harper named Downtown Salisbury, Inc. Development Director

Larissa Harper, downtown business specialist in Wilson, N.C., has been named the new Downtown Salisbury, Inc. (DSI) downtown development director, effective Monday, Oct. 9.

Harper is a five-year veteran of the City of Wilson planning and community revitalization department where she served as in-kind city staff for two non-profit agencies to provide development of vacant/underutilized buildings in the immediate downtown Wilson area. Her specific duties included business recruitment, retention, and advocate for the downtown community; managing and implementing the Strategic Action Plan for Economic Development for Wilson Downtown Development Corporation; and negotiating development agreements with the direction of the Board of Directors for Wilson Downtown Properties, Inc.

Previously, Harper served as executive director of Kernersville Downtown Preservation and Development Council, Inc. (KDPDC). There, she expanded the role of KDPDC to create an advocate organization for businesses within the downtown area of Kernersville. She also was instrumental in facilitating on-going, collaborative work sessions between merchants, residents, board members, as well as town officials and downtown business and property owners.

“We are fortunate that we were able to appoint a new development director with Larissa’s caliber to lead our efforts in developing Salisbury’s downtown area,” said City Manager W. Lane Bailey. “Larissa brings a wealth of knowledge to this position, but more importantly, a sense of the bright future of Salisbury and what it can become. I’m confident that she will do well in this position with support from the DSI Board of Directors and our local merchants.”

“As DSI solidifies its partnership with the City of Salisbury, we are very excited about Larissa Harper’s appointment as the new Downtown Development Director,” said DSI President Greg Shields. “Her extensive Main Street experience will bring tremendous value as we move forward with the Empire project and continue making Downtown Salisbury a great place to shop, dine and visit.”

“I am truly excited for this opportunity to return to the area and become a contributing member of the charming community that I visited often while growing up on High Rock Lake,” said Harper. “I see my role as an advocate for the Downtown Salisbury community, working together to grasp this trend of upward momentum, and creating an even more desirable destination. My goal is to introduce myself to business and property owners, as quickly as possible, to understand the needs of the community I will serve.”

Harper is a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. She is a licensed real estate broker, and has served as a board member of the Wilson Community College Small Business Advisory Board. 

 

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Monthly Newsletter

 TitleDescription
06/2025Lighting the Way and Giving Back | Legacy Mural | City Budget Review
05/2025Rock Out at Cheerwine Festival | Cheers for Shirt Design Winner | Festival Shuttle Service | Festival Information
04/2025Statewide Litter Sweep, Fair Housing Month, BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods, Sidewalk Poetry Call For Poets, Paint the Pavement Call for Artists
03/2025Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Contest, Spring Spruce Up Week, Protect Your Water Bill, Pilot Traffic Circle
02/2025Tips For Cold Weather, Cheerwine Festival on May 17, Join A City Board, Tree Give-A-Away
01/2025Downtown Winners, BlockWork T-Shirt Contest, MLK Weekend, Wine About Winter, Leaf Collection, Recycling Calendar
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
11/2024Holiday Events | Safe Shopping Tips | Toss The Grease | Greenway Committee | 130 S. Main St. Survey
09/2024Downtown Sewer Rehab | BrewFest at BTG | BlockWork Volunteers | Neighborhood Beautification Grant | Legacy Mural
09/2024Downtown Sewer Rehab | BrewFest at BTG | BlockWork Volunteers | Neighborhood Beautification Grant | Legacy Mural
08/2024Take A Tree Tour | Officer Awarded For Saving Baby | Sculptures in the Spotlight | Go Out on a limb for the Tree Board
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
06/2024EDK Awards | Street Repaving | City Budget | Rec/Senior Center Survey | Spruce Up Week
05/2024Cheerwine Festival: Band Lineup, T-Shirt Contest Winner, Free Shuttles, Safety Guidelines and Ways to Stay Connected.
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
02/2024Sign Up To Steer Salisbury | Save the Date for Cheerwine Festival | City Begins Budget Process | Protect Your Pipes This Winter
12/2023Public Art | Holiday Decor Contest | Main Street Project | Winter Spruce Up Week
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
09/2022Bell Tower BREWFEST | BlockWork | Salisbury Police Foundation | Transit Month | Rowan Creek Week
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06/2022Pool Opens For Summer | Reels and Riffs: Movie and Music Series | Wine About Winter ... In Summertime | Summer Spruce Up Week
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
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09/2021Safe, Clean Transit | McCoy Road Culvert Replaced | Cheerwine Festival Music Lineup
08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
06/2021Summer Camps | Transit Director Award | Hurricane Tips | Wine About Winter
06/2021Summer Camps | Transit Director Award | Hurricane Tips | Wine About Winter
02/2021New Fire Station & Memorial Event | Protect Your Pipes | Join A Board Or Commission | Save The Date For Cheerwine | Employee Spotlight
02/2021New Fire Station & Memorial Event | Protect Your Pipes | Join A Board Or Commission | Save The Date For Cheerwine | Employee Spotlight
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
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05/2020Virtual Cheerwine Festival | From The City Manager | Play At Home | BlockWork | From The Mayor | Alternative Bill Pay
03/2020Be Part of the Cheer | EDK Awards | 2020 Census | Hurley Park Spring Celebration | Forward 2040 | Fire Station #6
03/2020Be Part of the Cheer | EDK Awards | 2020 Census | Hurley Park Spring Celebration | Forward 2040 | Fire Station #6
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11/2019Bike Giveaway | Plan For Downtown's Future | Don't Get Clogged | Lost Families | Sculpture Show
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10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
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10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
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07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
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07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
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07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
05/2019Look Behind the Scenes | Cheerwine Festival | BlockWork Accepting Applications | #FeelingCuteChallenge | Watch Your Water Usage with EyeOnWater
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04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
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03/2019Celebrate Spring At Hurley Park | Runner-Friendly Community | Cheerwine Festival Volunteers | Employee Spotlight | SPD Ride-A-Long Program | Contact Directory
03/2019Celebrate Spring At Hurley Park | Runner-Friendly Community | Cheerwine Festival Volunteers | Employee Spotlight | SPD Ride-A-Long Program | Contact Directory
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury

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