Town of Sparta
Economic need
Sparta (population 1,800) has endured ups and downs on the road to economic recovery. In the late 1990s, it recruited a plant to be its economic centerpiece only to see it—and several others—close. In the past two years, four of Alleghany County's largest private employers, all located in Sparta, have shut their doors. A quarter of the labor force was thrown out of work between 2000 and 2005. The tier 1 county ranks first in the net percentage of job loss statewide. The effects run deep in Sparta, the county seat, where the poverty rate is 18 percent.
History
But Sparta is resilient, pushing forward on several fronts. Martin Marietta Composites located a new manufacturing plant in vacant but modern space in Sparta and has become the center of a regionwide drive to develop an advanced materials cluster. Two other endeavors have put previously vacant textile factories back to good use. One is occupied by the Blue Ridge Business Development Center and the Alleghany Center of Wilkes Community College. The second houses a custom-manufacturing company with potential for expansion.
A more unusual development centers on plans for a $10 million, 30,000-square-foot Sparta Teapot Museum. Made possible by the gift of a private teapot collection, the museum is seen as the cornerstone for downtown revitalization and cultural tourism development. It is scheduled to open in spring 2008.
At the same time, the town continues to add amenities to improve quality of life and help small businesses. The Alleghany Wellness Center opened in March 2004. Plans call for a new farmers market, and the town is working to develop plans for recreation and pedestrian pathways.
Vision/Goals/Expectations
With STEP, the town seeks to improve its coordination of these varied efforts—to avoid duplication and enhance communication with and engagement of local residents. Among its goals is the creation of a unified master plan for allocation of resources.
Contact
Bryan Edwards, Manager
P.O. Box 99
Sparta, NC 28675
Phone: 336-372-4257
Fax: 336-372-2051
E-mail: spartamgr@skybest.com
