During the month of December, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published seven blog posts, highlighting the latest community-vitality news, events and more! Here’s a recap:
Training / Education
- In October, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Virginia Main Street (VMS) team welcomed Joe Borgstrom of Place + Main Advisors to Virginia to conduct a series of workshops focused on what it means to be a “development-ready” community. Each training provided participants with a deeper understanding of real estate development and showcased how being development-ready should be considered a strategic investment in the sustained vitality of local economies, ensuring that any community can remain dynamic, competitive, and resilient in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities. Click here to learn more!
Mobilizing Main Street
- In fall of 2023, two of 10 Mobilizing Main Street (MMS) communities – Martinsville’s Uptown Partnership and The Phoebus Partnership – engaged in fund development training with consultant Jennifer Goldman of Jennifer E. Goldman, LLC. Board members and staff participated in a training and strategy session that included a presentation, discussions, and activities with an end goal of creating a comprehensive fund development plan and fundraising strategy. Click here to learn more!
Alleyway Activation
- With support from a Virginia Main Street (VMS) Downtown Investment Grant (DIG), St. Paul recently completed an alleyway activation project, creating a pocket-sized outdoor eating space between two restaurants that hosts both permanent and temporary art exhibits. Click here to learn more!
Effective Partnerships
- In early October, Rebecca Rowe, Associate Director of Community Vitality at DHCD, presented “Virginia Main Street: Partnering for Success” to the towns meeting at the Virginia Municipal League Conference in Norfolk. Click here for a synopsis of the key takeaways from that presentation!
7 Actionable Principles
- Through Virginia Main Street’s (VMS) Firm Principles, Flexible Paths series, the Center of Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is diving into their 7 Actionable Principles (7APs) to strengthen nonprofits and their relationships with funders. The 7APs offer a common language around key and proven practices, infused with values of equity and growth. The third principle emphasizes the importance of building relationships. Click here to learn more!
Community Business Launch (CBL) Spotlight
- This month, the Waynesboro Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) Community Business Launch (CBL) project, Main and Wayne 2023, was selected as one of the Virginia Economic Development Association’s (VEDA) Top Projects of the year! Click here to learn more!
A Year in Review
- This season often prompts reflection as the days wind down and offers the opportunity to review the year’s challenges and achievements. Virginia Main Street (VMS) communities, as well as the Coordinating Program itself, have had a very eventful 2023. Click here to learn more!
Stay tuned for lots more great content in January!
Virginia Main Street 