There is strong evidence that a locality’s economic health connects directly to its physical beauty, opportunities for socializing and openness to all people. Where can you start to make a difference for your community’s best future? Start downtown!

The Main Street Approach™ offers a practical, adaptable framework for downtown transformation that you can tailor to local conditions. To explore how to utilize the Main Street Approach for impacts and outcomes, start with the essentials, the Virginia Main Street Essentials series.

Promotion positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics.

Highlight: The festival is another type of event, which can be over multiple days and include food, music, and overlapping activities for all ages. While festival benefits can include tourism dollars, local business revenue, and community marketing, the affair can a have a hefty price tag for infrastructure and funding, as well as considerable time, volunteer resources and public support.

So, make the most of your events! Determine whether they are providing the community with the necessary outcomes, i.e. economic gains. Are they helping to advance the downtown vision or attracting the target market? A good evaluation will provide information about customer demographics, spending profiles and satisfaction