Main Street America (MSA) has partnered alongside The Hartford to support small businesses through The HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program as they work to reopen safely. The new program will assist brick-and-mortar businesses in commercial districts across the nation, funding solution that help merchants respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as … More The HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
The Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) new WanderLove Recovery Grant Program will provide more than $866,000 to 90 destination marketing organizations (DMO) across Virginia, helping localities severely impacted by the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic strengthen their recovery marketing efforts and develop creative campaigns to encourage both in-state and out-of-state travelers to explore the natural beauty of Virginia … More VTC Supports 90 Virginia Destinations through the WanderLove Recovery Grant Program
Last week, Fredericksburg’s city council unanimously approved to allocate $500,000 of its CARES Act COVID-19 Relief Funds to support small businesses. Of that funding, $42,000 will be channeled directly to Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street (FVMS) to help the organization continue assisting downtown businesses with technology and COVID-associated safety needs. FVMS has been instrumental in supporting … More Fredericksburg VA Main Street Awarded CARES Act Funding for Downtown Business Support
The Commonwealth of Virginia has created a new grant program to assist small businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the state who have faced unprecedented economic distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide Rebuild VA program will provide grants of up to three times the applicant’s average monthly eligible expenses up to a maximum award … More BREAKING NEWS – Rebuild! VA: Small Business Grant Program
Main Street America will be a co-sponsor of the new awards program sponsored by CivicPlus, Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA). The national program will honor 100 extraordinary public service volunteers in smaller localities, shining a spotlight on the growing need for citizens to fill critical civic roles that support key local government functions. … More Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award
During the rapid changes in the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, many retailers and restaurants set up online sales from scratch. Our guest blogger today is Kevin Clay, partner and communications director at Big Spoon Co., a Richmond-based PR and marketing firm. He helped numerous food-based businesses get online during COVID-19 lockdown and below … More 10 Steps To Take A Retail or Restaurant Business Online
Have you and your community partners ever gotten stuck on a major initiative? To succeed, Main Street must show visible results that can only come from completing projects – both short- and long-term activities that add up to meaningful change. Yet, before any undertaking, local leaders need to work together to identify key strategies that … More DI20 Day Three: Move the Conversation Around Action!
Small businesses in Luray, VA are thriving due to the efforts of the designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) community’s revitalization organization, Luray Downtown Initiative (LDI). Excitingly, the organization received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) VMS program that allowed LDI to provide local merchants with “Back to Business” … More Getting “Back to Business” in Downtown Luray
The Main Street Approach is most effective in places where community residents have a strong emotional, social and civic connection and are motivated to get involved and make a difference. To hold up this principle for a sustainable revitalization effort, day two of the Downtown Intersections Virtual Conference focuses on cultivating community relationships for investment, … More DI20 Day Two Content You Cannot Miss!
In mid-May, Main Street America (MSA) began advocating to Congress for $100 million to be included in an upcoming stimulus package to sustain and expand the essential work of Main Street leaders throughout the nation. MSA needs the support of the public to effectively advocate for small businesses, historic resources and thriving downtowns and commercial … More Speak Up for Main Street
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