Business View Civil & Municipal Apr-2023

185 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 MOUNT AI RY, NORTH CAROL INA and its members for its efforts at growing the downtown community, development firm Sunhouse for its efforts with the Marriott Tribute Hotel and other projects, and Smith-Rowe, and construction firm Smith-Rowe for its bridge and road support. The State of North Carolina has been an important partner on many projects. Three additional individuals should be mentioned, Cawley says. Entrepreneur Gene Reese has “almost single-handedly helped to keep the occupancy level downtown high,” he added. Jessica Icenhour Roberts has used her tourism and development experience to support the city’s ongoing efforts to attract visitors, and Assistant City Mayor Darren Lewis has been responsible for maintaining much of the city’s greenway spaces. Says Cawley, “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else and when people come here they just seem to fall in love with the city and (the outdoors). “For a City our size, Mount Airy has much to offer.”