Mount Olive, NC
Pickles, Students, and Progress: Mount Olive's Downtown Revival
In the small rural town of Mount Olive, North Carolina (population 4,200), a strategic partnership with Downtown Strategies sparked a revitalization revolution. By connecting the downtown core with the University of Mount Olive and Mt. Olive Pickles—the nation’s top pickle brand—a 5-year Strategic Action Plan turned vision into action. Within just four months, dedicated local teams transformed the heart of the community through small-scale projects, proving that incremental steps can yield big momentum, even with limited resources.
Challenge
Downtown Strategies partnered with the Town of Mount Olive, North Carolina to develop a 5-year Strategic Action Plan and provide Implementation Support to jumpstart action immediately. The plan focused on identifying practical, project-based strategies that could be implemented in the short-term to create a spark in Downtown Mount Olive. A major theme in the plan was to better connect the downtown core with the community’s two biggest assets: the University of Mount Olive (UMO), a small local college; and Mt. Olive Pickles, the top selling brand of pickles, peppers, and relishes in the United States.
Key Areas of Focus
- Design
- Tourism
- Policy
- Economic
Mount Olive is a rural community with limited resources, but they have a dedicated Core Team that bought into our short-term, incremental approach to downtown revitalization and started taking action immediately. Using our Implementation Support services, the Core Team organized 4 Action Teams (Design, Tourism & Promotion, Policy & Administration, and Economic Vitality).
Action
Within 4 months of receiving the plan, the Action Teams had undertaken numerous initiatives. Mount Olive is a great example of how communities, even small rural towns, can gain traction and build momentum quickly by focusing on small-scale, short-term projects.
Design
- Installed planters and benches along the downtown sidewalks
- Displayed American flags throughout downtown
- Pressure washed downtown sidewalks
- Explored a potential partnership with the Arts Council for sidewalk paintings
- Explored opportunities for a UMO-themed selfie wall mural
Policy & Promotion
- Developed a partnership with the UMO to better coordinate marketing and promotional efforts.
- Installed town/gown co-branded streetlight banners
- Hosted a “Welcome Back Students” Block Party which was the first time the town hosted an event specifically focused on inviting UMO students into downtown.
- Explored opportunities to update branding material for the town
Policy & Administration
- Established a Community Roundtable to engage representatives from the town, chamber, downtown, UMO, Mt. Olive Pickles, and other key institutions to improve communication and foster an environment of collaboration.
Economic Vitality
- Mt. Olive Pickles made the decision to relocate their gift shop from the factory to downtown. They are currently renovating a historic downtown building with plans to open in the summer of 2025.
A Collaborative Process
Mount Olive, North Carolina, stands as a shining example of how small towns can harness collaboration, creativity, and commitment to breathe new life into their downtowns. From welcoming university students with a vibrant block party to relocating the iconic Mt. Olive Pickles gift shop into a historic building, this community’s early wins showcase the power of strategic, short-term action.
Ready to spark change in your own town?
Contact Downtown Strategies today to kickstart your revitalization journey and turn vision into victory!