In Case You Missed It: July 2024 Digest

Posted on by Department of Housing and Community Development

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

2024 VMS Merit Awards

  • The VMS program’s Impactful Placemaking merit award highlights a community’s physical and visual transformation by recognizing an outstanding people-centered, placemaking project that bolsters the downtown’s uniqueness. The 2024 award went to Harrisonburg’s Downtown Ducklings project. Click here to learn more!
  • The VMS program’s Main Street Champion merit award highlights an entity whose generous support and partnership has furthered a Main Street organization’s work. The 2024 award went to the Danville Regional Foundation (DRF) in Danville, Virginia. Click here to learn more!
  • The VMS program’s Main Street Change Maker merit award highlights an individual that has shown strong commitment and extensive support for their local Main Street program. The 2024 award went to Tom Raab, South Boston Town Manager. Click here to learn more!
  • The VMS program’s Entrepreneurship Gamechanger merit award highlights programs, policies, or initiatives that nurture and support individuals or emerging small businesses to develop their ideas, products, and/or services into viable, competitive businesses. The 2024 award went to Downtown Wytheville, Inc. (DTW) for their Grow with Google program! Click here to learn more!
  • The VMS program’s Power of Preservation merit award highlights a preserved historic landmark and the actions taken by a community to restore this property through stewardship and innovation, preserving the historic character of their downtown. The 2024 award went to St. Paul Tomorrow (SPT) for their commitment to preserving the Lyric Theater! Click here to learn more!
  • The VMS program’s Promotional Innovation merit award highlights an innovative and successful district-wide special event or initiative designed to build a positive community identity and spirit or a district-wide marketing campaign designed to attract customers and increase revenue for local businesses. The 2024 award went to the City of Roanoke’s Department of Economic Development for their “It’s Here!” campaign that not only spotlighted Roanoke’s thriving arts sector but also fostered community unity. Click here to learn more!

Appreciative Inquiry in Urbanna’s Main Street Startup

  • The Town of Urbanna, an Exploring Main Street (EMS) community, is working to jumpstart a local Main Street effort aimed at embracing economic growth opportunities for their historic downtown located on the Chesapeake Bay. In the infancy of their program, the startup board wanted to focus on their initial steps to move toward a fully functioning and impactful organization. Click here to learn how Kyle Meyer, VMS Program Administrator, utilized Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to harness their leadership’s momentum and local assets and explore opportunities and possibilities.

Transforming Lynchburg’s Fifth Street District

  • Lynchburg‘s Fifth Street District was once the center of commerce for the city’s African-American community. In 2012, it formally became a National Historic District, undoubtedly worthy of preservation. Contributing to that designation, the building at 409 Fifth Street was originally constructed in 1936 to house the Moser Furniture Company and featured a charming colonial-style building in the front with a two-story warehouse at its rear. After nearly 70 years in business, Moser Furniture relocated, putting the building – a significant contributing landmark to the district – at risk for dilapidation. Having sat mostly empty for two decades, 409 Fifth Street has now undergone a remarkable transformation. Click here to learn more!

Stay tuned for lots more great content in August!