Singer Aiken helps out hometown of Raleigh

Singer Clay Aiken is helping to reinvigorate his hometown's downtown.

A new eight-minute promotional video, proclaiming "Downtown Raleigh (N.C.) Open for Business," includes a brief appearance from Aiken, an "American Idol" runner-up.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance, a booster organization, started distributing 200 copies of the video Monday to real estate brokers and others with their sights on downtown.

Viewers can see interviews with Harvey Schmitt, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Charles Meeker; and Orage Quarles III, president and publisher of The News & Observer of Raleigh.

Aiken appears in the video and says: "I've traveled all over the country and seen lots of downtown areas, but one of the reasons that I really love coming back to my hometown of Raleigh is to see all the exciting changes that are happening in downtown, right here in Raleigh."