WHITEVILLE NC — A new non-profit organization is launching a major revitalization initiative designed to capture regional highway traffic and steer thousands of new visitors directly into the heart of downtown Whiteville.
Organizers behind the newly established Gateway Project, founded by local leader John Fisher, have set an ambitious goal: divert an estimated 60,000 travelers annually off the U.S. 701 Bypass and into the city’s commercial district. By creating clearer pathways, enhanced visual corridors, and strategic incentives for highway motorists, the project seeks to transform pass-through traffic into local economic activity.
The non-profit operates independently to complement ongoing municipal infrastructure and streetscape improvements. Project leaders focus heavily on increasing foot traffic, boosting sales for local storefronts, and supporting small business owners along Columbus Street and surrounding downtown avenues.
According to organizers, capturing even a fraction of the daily traffic traveling along the bypass could provide a sustained boost to Whiteville’s restaurants, retail shops, and cultural destinations. Additional details on specific corridor design plans and community partnership opportunities are expected as the initiative progresses.
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