Uptown Business and Professional Association is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt non-profit organization that was started by a group of entrepreneurs in the city of New Bern’s Five Points District, a historically African-American neighborhood.  Although the neighborhood was full of successful business owners, Five Points had not been included in past downtown revitalization efforts. 

 Mary Peterkin, Uptown’s President

     In efforts to lay the foundation for improvements for the Five Points area and to get things on the road to revitalization, Mary Peterkin, shown above, utilized any and all available resources and networked with community leaders, business owners, and citizens to initiate the revitalization plan. Mary Peterkin totally believes that successful businesses are the key to a neighborhood health.

    
     Today, Uptown Business and Professional Association is a major player in local development activities, providing workshops for new and existing entrepreneurs, job training and skills training for young people in the community, and assistance to individuals who may need jobs after being released from prison. 

     Because of Uptown’s efforts then, the number of new businesses has increased in the Five Points area and throughout New Bern.

     Uptown believes that our youth are our future and we are building on their futures by investing time, energy, and determination in our youth.