SALISBURY — The new state secretary of commerce will speak Friday at the N.C. Main Street Conference in Salisbury.
Sharon Allred Decker, tapped by Gov. Pat McCrory to head the Department of Commerce, will address conference participants Friday morning at the Meroney Theater.
Decker’s appearance raises the profile of the conference, which has attracted the second-highest number of attendees in the event’s 12-year history.
“I think it’s exciting that the secretary is coming,” said James Meacham, executive director for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This shows the importance to the state of the Main Street Program, and we are honored to have her in town.”
The keynote address is only open to conference participants, and Friday’s events are sold out.
Decker, a former business owner and pastor in Rutherfordton who worked with McCrory at Duke Energy, is expected to speak about the impact of downtowns on the overall economy.
Some 450 people from 120 communities descended on downtown Salisbury Wednesday for the three-day conference.
Salisbury competed against other cities to host the 2013 conference, which attracts people interested in downtown revitalization.

Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.