Over past year and longer, Virginia’s historic commercial districts and downtowns worked tirelessly to build vibrancy and economic opportunity as they experienced unprecedented challenges, pivoting quickly at the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic to help small businesses and other key stakeholders secure the resources necessary to survive.

Apart from their inspiring local efforts, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Virginia Main Street (VMS) program understood its crucial role to uplift communities in the face of adversity and provide immediate relief assistance to help Virginia’s historic downtowns maintain quality of life and continue serving as social, commercial and cultural centers. Through the 2020 Small Business Support Relief & Recovery Initiative, DHCD awarded 23 VMS grants, totaling $310,000, to immediately address the needs of local, small and independently owned businesses within Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) designated community districts that faced challenges due to the pandemic.

To learn more about the impacts from the funded grants, click to view the final report:

Old Town Warrenton, VA