A yellow and green banner featuring the Spindale brand flies above the newly widened street in Spindale

Celebrating Spindale’s Downtown Revitalization Project

The DbD team joined community leaders to cut the ribbon on downtown Spindale’s $1.45 million Main Street revitalization project, unveiling a new streetscape and connection to the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. The historic textile community has embraced place-making to encourage economic development and position Spindale as a primary destination along the nearly 14-mile trail.

“What the commissioners and leaders have done here is create a platform to grow small businesses and to make entrepreneurship flourish in Rutherford County.”

Eric Woolridge, Director of Planning at DbD

Phase One of the streetscape project included several features, such as widened sidewalks, street trees, custom bike racks and benches, street lighting, and new crosswalks linking Main Street to the Thermal Belt Rail-Trail. These improvements are the first major renovation in downtown Spindale in 100 years and represent a step forward in becoming a memorable stop along the Rail-Trail.

Citizens walk across a new crosswalk in downtown Spindale, surrounded by light posts featuring the Spindale brand.

Looking forward, Spindale’s vision includes modernized public spaces, enhanced retail opportunities, and heightened pedestrian access to welcome trail users and promote small business growth in downtown. This project has been spearheaded by local leaders and the Spindale community and is one of the many infrastructure projects throughout Rutherford County that are part of the Rutherford Bound initiative.

A wayfinding sign in downtown Spindale directs pedestrians to various locations.

Rutherford Bound aims to place quality-of-life infrastructure across all of Rutherford County through streetscape enhancements, improved parks and pedestrian areas, and a system of greenways, trails, and river access points. Rural communities embracing this kind of change are creating exciting new places for visitors, where families can call home and local businesses and investors can seek growth opportunities.

Aerial view of a new crosswalk which was added during the streetscape revitalization project, featuring the Spindale brand prominently in the foreground.

“This project is about connecting people with places. It’s about connecting the community together here. It’s about placemaking. All of these things are what brings a community together and what makes us a thriving community.”

Scott Weber, Spindale Town Manager
A light post featuring a flag with the Spindale brand. A tree with yellow fall leaves is directly behind the light post.
Downtown lighting featuring Spindale brand.
Aerial view of walkways, parking improvements, and widened roads in downtown Spindale.
Aerial view of downtown streetscape project.
A branded trash can on the sidewalk that was added during the downtown revitalization project.
Custom branded trash cans line the street as part of the downtown revitalization project.
The mayor speaks to the crowd gathered at the ribbon cutting ceremony. He is wearing sunglasses and a purple plaid jacket.
Mayor Bland speaks about Spindale’s downtown revitalization project.
A local leader speaks to the crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black suit. She is in front of a red brick building with white pillars.
Local leaders joined the community for ribbon cutting ceremony.
An aerial view of downtown Spindale highlighting many of the improvements made to the streetscape during the downtown revitalization project.
Aerial view of downtown streetscape project.