If you were asked to describe an entrepreneur, what words would you use? Maybe terms like “bright, energetic, or magnetic.” This 2004 article in the aptly named magazine Entrepreneur, gives a whole host of other terms, not all of them complimentary. Two descriptions of an entrepreneur that most people would not use are “ex-felon,” and … More The unexpected entrepreneur
The weather has been perfect lately for a good walk, so on Sunday, I invited some retired friends for one. They declined, choosing instead to join the centrifugal crush of their comfortably dressed peers at the mall. The mall? I couldn’t imagine any place I’d rather avoid at on a sunny afternoon, but it got me thinking. Can downtowns … More These streets were made for walking
In the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s asset-based downtown planning process, the agency recommends that an out-of-town visitor be included in the assessment of the community and its potential. The reason: the uniqueness of place is often most overlooked by those who know it the best. The point was demonstrated a few weeks ago when a Giles … More A Japanese city assesses its attraction of tourists, and its character
Downtown revitalization is problem solving with a wide variety of variables, and while we share best practices, each community must develop its own strategies and solutions. Take the problematic pedestrian-automobile relationship. The 1970’s pedestrian mall solution of removing cars altogether worked in a few places but not in most, and it turns out that the most workable response … More Rightsizing traffic for a people-friendly place
In an ongoing celebration of the Virginia Main Street’s 25th anniversary, the Virginia Main Street program has announced a rare funding opportunity specifically for designated Virginia Main Street communities. Downtown Improvement Grants of up to $2,500 per designated community are now available for special, one-time projects. The grant opportunity is designed to offer communities the ability … More Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities
If your travel budget didn’t allow you to connect with peers from across the country in Oklahoma, you can still take a little time out of your day this afternoon or tomorrow to virtually attend one these upcoming presentations from the National Main Streets Conference taking place now in Oklahoma City. Just visit the Web site at the designated time … More Be a virtual attendee at the Main Streets conference
In 2009 Virginia’s 21 designated communities employed a variety of organizational, design, promotional, and economic restructuring strategies to foster vibrant commercial districts. The Virginia Main Street 2009 Annual Report provides a summary of each community’s unique efforts and an overview of how, over the past 25 years, the program has sparked a total of more than $638 … More Virginia Main Street 2009 annual report available online
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