.png){kind=small}
2024 NC Main Street Champion
Jim Duffey has been a cornerstone of American Renaissance School, a Downtown Statesville charter school, for 26 years. Under his visionary leadership, the school has doubled its student population by improving accessibility through transportation options and a free and reduced lunch program. These initiatives have welcomed many diverse families who might not have otherwise connected with Downtown Statesville, helping to create a more inclusive community.
Jim has been instrumental in establishing the Arts and STEM Center, enriching students’ education with future-ready skills. His dedication to fostering creativity and innovation extends beyond the students, as the school offers its facilities for community use, including musical and theatrical performances, further expanding the arts in downtown.
Jim has also played a key role in the revitalization of Downtown Statesville, leading the school through significant adaptive reuse and infill projects. Over the past four years, the construction of a new gym and the renovation of two historic buildings has preserved vital pieces of Statesville’s history, making American Renaissance School one of the largest stakeholders in the district.
Jim’s unwavering commitment to education and community development has had—and will continue to have—a lasting impact on Downtown Statesville. For his dedication and passion, Statesville is proud to celebrate Jim Duffey as its 2024 North Carolina Main Street Champion.