The head of Fayetteville’s Cool Spring Downtown District is going out with fireworks early this new year.
Bianca Shoneman, president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cool Spring Downtown District, submitted her resignation Wednesday, effective Jan. 2.
Shoneman’s resignation is the third in the Cumberland County region announced this month, with Police Chief Kemberle Braden announcing he will retire in March; and dr. Marvin Connelly, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools, announcing he will retire in July.
Shoneman told The Fayetteville Observer on Friday that she has accepted a job as vice president of community development for the NC East Alliance, a regional economic development organization focused on 29 “livable communities in eastern North Carolina.”
“I’m excited to take on this role in the new year, but I’ll be here for the New Year’s celebration, so I’ll literally go out with fireworks,” Shoneman said. “I absolutely loved Fayetteville, and it was brighter and better than I ever imagined. I feel like there have been many wonderful projects that I hope will leave a lasting impression on Fayettevilleians and visitors alike.”
Bianca Shoneman is president and CEO of Cool Spring Downtown District in Fayetteville, NC.
She said that if there is an opportunity to talk about Fayetteville in her new role, she will share with others that “Fayetteville is a great community.”
“It’s full of art. It is full of great culture and fantastic international cuisine,” said Shoneman. “It is one of the most charming cities I have had the pleasure of working with.”
Previous reporting: Cool Spring Downtown District is hiring a new CEO after a national search
Shoneman has served as the district’s director since 2019 and was previously CEO of Uptown Greenville, which is now known as the Downtown Greenville Partnership and supports business growth in the downtown area.
The Cool Spring Downtown District is a nonprofit organization that receives some financial support from the city and was founded in 2017 to create and sustain an arts and entertainment district in downtown Fayetteville through artistic, cultural, social and commercial activities.
Performance
During her time in Fayetteville, Shoneman has worked with community partners to host events here, such as the annual New Year’s Eve celebration and the Juneteenth Jubilee, along with bringing temporary art exhibits to downtown, a permanent mural on Old Street and the Can-Do Coldwell Banker Trolley . used for weekends and events in the city center.
She also worked with a team to formalize the Fourth Friday events, expand the monthly street festivals that bring pedestrians to downtown, and promote the quarterly residents’ meetings to keep downtown residents connected to each other and the community.
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“I think the creation of the Downtown Social District was an important post-COVID strategy to help restaurants and retailers,” Shoneman said.
The Cool Spring Downtown District supported the Downtown Social District which was approved by the Fayetteville City Council as a pilot district in 2022 and as a permanent district in December 2023.
The Downtown Social District is an area where people can drink alcohol in takeaway cups in designated public areas.
Shoneman said there are projects and programs such as hotel developments and the volunteer-based Cool Spring Safety Engagement Ambassador program that she would like to see continued by the new director.
“We have a very qualified workforce and I trust the good work they know how to do,” she said. “I look forward to seeing how a successor responds to this, trusts the staff and at the same time brings good energy and vision to the table.”
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared in The Fayetteville Observer: Bianca Shoneman, CEO of Cool Spring Downtown District, Leaves Fayetteville
