VMS Community News:

• The Town of Lawrenceville became an Exploring Main Street (EMS) community and formally joined the powerful, grassroots VMS network!
• The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) launched its first cohort-based Mobilizing Main Street (MMS) program with 10 participating communities across the state.

Grant Project Examples:

• With support from a VMS Community Vitality Grant (CVG), Downtown Colonial Beach (DCB) developed a design & marketing project to attract developers and investors who prioritize the community’s revitalization through preservation. Click here to learn more!
• Utilizing CVG funds, Main Street Buena Vista (MSBV) is transforming their downtown district through an intentional and people-driven beautification project. Click here to learn more!
• The Town of South Hill offers a variety of business incentives to foster an attractive climate for local businesses and spur economic growth. Two of these incentive programs – the Facade Improvement Program and the Building Up-Fit Grant – recently received additional support from a $50,000 Virginia Business District Resurgence Grant (VBDRG) from Virginia DHCD. Click here to learn more!

Grant Advice:

• Planning your Community Business Launch (CBL) program? Click here to view seven steps to help you ensure that your place-based entrepreneurial development strategy to fill a critical mass of vacant storefronts with expansion or start-up ventures is a great success!

Team Building:

• Thinking about how to start an upcoming meeting or training? Consider a fun icebreaker to break down barriers and encourage interactions that normally wouldn’t happen. Click here to learn more about an icebreaker that the VMS team used at its last mini-retreat, as well as some other examples you can use!

Upcoming Events:

• Registration is open for the 2023 Main Street Now Conference! Join fellow commercial district revitalization leaders from across the country for three days of education sessions, special events, mobile workshops and opportunities to explore the host city (Boston), including 20 local Main Street neighborhoods. Click here to register today!