Business and District Vitality
Strengthening the downtown business environment through collaboration, visibility, shared resources and district marketing.
Explore this work
Old Town Cornelius · Community-driven nonprofit
Strengthening
Our Downtown.
Old Town Cornelius brings people, businesses, organizations and ideas together to build a more vibrant, connected downtown.
See what we're building for Old Town.
Old Town is entering an important new chapter. Public and private investment is growing, the arts are expanding, new businesses are opening, and opportunities are emerging across the downtown district.
Old Town Cornelius is helping connect that momentum, bringing together people, businesses, organizations, resources and ideas around a shared vision for a stronger downtown.
Explore Our 2027-2029 Vision
10+ YEARSBuilding momentum in Old Town
501(c)(3)Nonprofit organization
YEAR-ROUNDPrograms, partnerships and initiatives
What OTC actually does.
Strengthening a downtown takes more than any single event, project or organization. OTC works across four connected areas to build momentum, strengthen relationships and turn opportunities into action throughout Old Town.
Placemaking and Beautification
Improving the identity, character and experience of Old Town through public art, landscaping and creative placemaking.
Explore this workEvents and Destination Building
Creating programs and experiences that bring people downtown, increase activity and help establish Old Town as a destination.
Explore this workCommunity and Civic Partnerships
Connecting residents, businesses, nonprofits, institutions and public partners around shared opportunities.
Explore this workWhy Old Town. Why now.
Public and private investment is growing. The arts are expanding. New businesses are opening. Downtown development is accelerating, and the Town is planning for the next generation of downtown.
The pieces are here. Old Town Cornelius brings them together.
Our work in action.
OTC works where business, place, people and opportunity meet. The work is designed to reinforce itself: stronger businesses create more reasons to visit, better public spaces invite people to stay, programs create connection, and partnerships turn momentum into lasting progress.
Build a downtown businesses want to grow in.
Through the Old Town Business Collective, OTC strengthens relationships between local businesses, expands visibility, creates shared marketing opportunities and gives downtown businesses a stronger voice in the district's future.
View the Business Directory
Make Old Town feel unmistakably like Old Town.
Public art, landscaping, streetscape improvements and creative placemaking help shape a district people recognize, remember and want to spend time in.
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Give people a reason to come back.
2nd Saturdays and Tawba Walk bring arts, music, local business and community into the district, creating recurring experiences that build awareness and foot traffic.
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Connect the pieces of downtown.
The Community Shuttle is designed to improve movement between businesses, parking, destinations and experiences so Old Town works more like one connected district.
Open Shuttle Map
Build with the people already invested here.
OTC connects residents, businesses, nonprofits, institutions and public partners around shared opportunities, giving good ideas a path from conversation to action.
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Turning momentum into measurable progress.
OTC’s work is ultimately measured by what happens in Old Town: stronger connections, more activity, successful businesses, improved public spaces, meaningful partnerships and a downtown people want to experience.
7,000+Typical Tawba Walk attendance
Help Build What’s Next.
Great communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built by people who care about where they live, believe in what’s possible, and want to leave something better for the next generation.
Events and programs.
OTC creates reasons to discover the district, meet the people behind it and keep coming back. Events are one part of a larger year-round effort to build connection, visibility and energy downtown.
2nd Saturdays
A recurring district-wide experience built around local businesses, arts, music and the character of Old Town.
Explore the experience
Tawba Walk
Arts, music, local business and thousands of reasons to spend the day downtown.
Old Town Business Collective
Connections, shared visibility and collaboration for the businesses shaping the district.
View directory
Community Shuttle
Helping people move between businesses, destinations and experiences throughout Old Town.
View shuttle map
OTC BINGO
A playful way to discover more businesses, places and experiences across the district.
Get involved.
Old Town grows stronger when people bring their time, experience, relationships, ideas and support to the table.
Give your time
Volunteer
Help bring OTC’s programs, events and projects to life.
Bring your expertiseJoin a Working Committee
Put your experience, relationships and ideas to work for Old Town.
Build togetherBusiness Collective
Connect your business to the larger downtown effort.
Create something biggerPartner With OTC
Explore corporate, nonprofit, institutional and community partnerships.
Invest in the futureSupport Old Town
Invest in the organization or a specific initiative.
Founders Circle.
The businesses and organizations below made an early investment in the growth and future of Old Town Cornelius. Their support is helping provide the foundation for OTC’s continued growth, programming and work throughout the downtown district.
FOLLOW ALONG
FOLLOW @OLDTOWNCORNELIUSOld Town, in the moment.
See the latest photos, reels and stories from around Old Town Cornelius.