During the month of August, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published eight blog posts, highlighting the latest community vitality-related news, events and more! Here’s a recap:
Harnessing Your Local Assets:
- Getting to that bright future Main Street-style is a combination of art and science: first you and your community need to learn about the local economy, its primary drivers, and its regional context (the science). At the same time the community needs to identify that special sense of place through storytelling, finding the valuables that set it apart, broad and inclusive civic engagement, and marketing (the art). By doing so you identify the key strategies that point the way forward. Click here to learn more!
- Successful Main Street efforts are built on the guiding principle that district economic development is obtained by leveraging and preserving its unique historic and cultural assets. By honoring your local history and engaging people in its stories, you can make your Main Street more livable, enjoyable and profitable. Click here to learn more!
The Cost of an Empty Building
- In most communities, there are buildings that are currently unoccupied for a variety of reasons. We all can agree they’re bad for downtown, and if they sit vacant for too long, these properties can have serious negative effects, harming the district’s image, economy and overall activity. Click here to learn more!
Promotions
- Harrisonburg is halfway through their 10-week summer concert series featuring a diverse line-up of national artists. Thousands of residents and visitors have enjoyed the concerts that covered wide range of genres including jazz, soul, bluegrass, indie rock, hip hop, and mariachi. Click here to learn more!
- This summer has seen a wave of pink splash onto Main Streets across Virginia. The new Barbie movie has inspired several of communities and their small businesses to participate in the phenomenon that has been growing worldwide. The buzz has provided a fun and creative means of promoting Main Street businesses, while joining in on the Barbie celebration. Click here to learn more!
Farmers Markets
- Every year, the first full week of August (8/6 – 8/12) is recognized as National Farmers Market Week! It’s a time where local farmers and others are provided with a special opportunity to market the goods they grow and/or make, as well as a chance to highlight the vital role farmers markets play in fostering local economic growth and enriching the community. Click here to learn more!
Small Business Health and Organizational Wellbeing
- Are you a rural business facing challenges with retaining employees, workforce productivity and a quality environment? If so, Virginia Tech’s Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, in collaboration with the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving and the Center for Economic and Community Engagement, is ready to help. Click here to learn more!
Virginia Retail Matters
- On September 22, an unmissable opportunity presents itself at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel from 11 AM to 2 PM – the Virginia Retail Matters event. At this event, a robust retail study, commissioned by Retail Alliance through Main Street America, focusing on small brick and mortar businesses in Virginia, will be unveiled, casting a spotlight on the trends, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Click here to learn more!
Stay tuned for lots more great content in September!
Virginia Main Street 