In Case You Missed It: June 2024 Digest

Posted on by Department of Housing and Community Development

During the month of June, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published seven blog posts, highlighting the latest community-vitality news, events and more! Here’s a recap:

Accessibility

Design

  • Last year, Mecklenburg County received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding – distributed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) – with the aim of revitalizing tourism in the region following the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this initiative, Mecklenburg Tourism embarked on a project to enhance the county’s appeal by commissioning interactive murals in each of the county’s six towns. Click here to learn more!
  • A building inventory is essential for a thorough understanding of the physical and economic makeup of your commercial district. Creating and maintaining a current inventory is foundational for your local Main Street program and integral to activating vacant and idle spaces in your district. Most importantly, an inventory is a tool that helps your program achieve results, catalyzing property development and moving your downtown closer towards fulfilling the needs and desires of residents and visitors alike. Click here to learn more!

VMS Community News

  • In early 2023, Destination Downtown South Boston (DDSB) adopted a new Transformation Strategy, centering on South Boston’s agricultural economy, to help guide the local Main Street organization’s work. A primary objective is to elevate the Downtown South Boston Farmers Market to new heights, and substantial efforts were dedicated to enhancing engagement, expanding activities, and bolstering marketing initiatives. These endeavors have yielded tangible results, manifesting in heightened vendor and customer interest. Click here to learn more!

VMS Merit Awards

  • Virginia Main Street (VMS) recently had the honor of joining the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) at their summer membership meeting centered on exploring the intersection of community and economic development. VMS presented the annual Merit Awards highlighting the outstanding achievements of Main Street communities and their impactful projects, partners, and initiatives. Click here to learn more!

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)

  • Founded in 1983, the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) was developed as a non-profit, community-based organization to address the gaps in resources to refugees and asylum-seekers from Ethiopia. Over the years, the organization’s work grew into additional resettlement branches across the country, as well as a separate 501(c)(3) known as Enterprise Development Group (EDG), a Small Business Administration (SBA) intermediary and certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to helping refugees, immigrants and low-income individuals achieve America’s promise of opportunity by providing them access to technical and financial support to start their own business. Click here to learn more!

Virginia Rural Leadership Institute

  • The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) kicked off its first session of the year in Danville, Virginia (with a stop in South Boston), convening 28 distinguished individuals from 24 counties and cities across rural Virginia. Over the course of three engaging and highly educational days, cohort members had the opportunity to connect with each other, hear from local leaders and immerse themselves in the community. Click here to learn more!

Stay tuned for lots more great content in July!