SPENCER -  It's a big honor for two small downtowns in our area. Cherryville and Spencer have been named to the state's Small Town Main Street program. It means they will get valuable technical expertise on how to revitalize the downtown areas and hopefully lead to economic development and more jobs.

That is the hope.

It begins with access to help that the town's probably wouldn't be able to afford on their own. Small towns across the state compete to be part of this program.

Debbie Barnhardt started her jewelry business in her basement and moved to downtown Spencer 21 years ago. But the railroad that defines the town runs through her blood.      

"I lived in Spencer all my life," Barnhart told WBTV. "My father was a conductor and my grandfather was a boilermaker over at the Spencer Shops, and I love this town, it's precious."

SALISBURY -  Food Lion launched today its new brand strategy in 269 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, including its headquarter city of Salisbury.  The new strategy is based on customer feedback and continues to position the company for future success. 

“Today’s launch is a pivotal turning point for our company as we have implemented our new strategy in more than 700 stores,” said Cathy Green Burns, president of Food Lion.  “We invite customers to visit their local Food Lion, where they will experience firsthand the enhancements we have made in our stores.  We are committed to being recognized as a price leader, making our stores easier to shop, offering the greatest value in store brands and providing the freshest produce.  We are pleased to bring the strategy to our hometown markets, where we have served Food Lion customers for 55 years.” 

To celebrate the launch, Food Lion is holding grand re-opening festivities at the 269 stores, including providing the first 50 customers at each location a bag of free groceries today through Saturday, July 21.  The company also plans to donate $30,000 in store brand food products to local charities, including $10,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, N.C.; $10,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in Winston-Salem, N.C.; $5,000 to MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, N.C.; and $5,000 to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Greenville, S.C.

From June 28-July 31, Men’s Wearhouse will be holding its annual National Suit Drive, the country’s largest collection of gently used professional clothing.  This will be the fifth year that the company is hosting this effort to encourage Americans to transform their unwanted business attire into a fresh start for millions of disadvantaged men who are trying to re-enter the workforce.

Held at more than 900 Men’s Wearhouse locations across the country, National Suit Drive collects men’s and women’s suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts, and shoes and distributes them to approximately 200 local charities who in turn, outfit those who are re-entering the workforce so they can make a great first impression.