HI,

I am a business owner in Downtown Smithfield, NC. Myself and several other businesses are trying to get a neglected but awesome small town out of its presently unkempt rather sad appearance. Close to Raleigh NC, within 2o minutes due to a new bypass, this place should be alive with merchants, restaurants, music and art. Smithfield NC is on the Interstate 95 corridor, intersected by Highway 70 and Highway 301. It was, up until 25 years ago, a vibrant town with an ice-cream shop, hardware stores, clothing store, pharmacy and many other privately owned businesses. We even had a small Belks department store. Walmart moved in, the smaller Carolina Pottery became Factory Stores of America and this charming downtown came to a screeching halt.