In Case You Missed It: September 2024 Digest

Posted on by Department of Housing and Community Development

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

Grant Opportunities

  • The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is excited to present a monthly grants opportunity brief that could be a game-changer for your growing communities! This brief is designed to empower and uplift communities throughout the Commonwealth, equipping them with the necessary resources to thrive. For the month of September, the Virginia Tourism Corporation‘s (VTC) VA250 Tourism Marketing Program and Tourism Development Finance Program were highlighted. Click here to learn more!

Economic Vitality

  • Earlier this month, Main Street America (MSA) published the results of their Spring 2024 Small Business Survey, which revealed that small businesses are facing ongoing challenges, particularly with rising costs and shifting consumer behaviors. Despite these difficulties, many businesses are optimistic and are actively seeking ways to adapt and innovate, with support from local Main Street organizations. Click here to learn more!
  • Main Street communities are much more than picturesque avenues with historic charm and walkable sidewalks. They are vibrant corridors with strong community pride and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem that are lifelines for small businesses—providing support and resources essential to their success. Main Streets do such a great job supporting local, small businesses that we often see business expansions across multiple Main Street communities. Click here to learn more!
  • The Town of Marion recently took a significant step forward on its revitalization journey by completing a financial feasibility study on a one-story building that currently houses a brewery. Once underutilized, the 1960s-era commercial building has found new life under the care of its current owners but has the ability to be further updated and transformed. With the help of the Marion Downtown Revitalization Association (MDRA), the property owners utilized the study to not only enhance their business but also contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Marion. Click here to learn more!

Bringing People Downtown

  • In August, the Farmville community extended a warm and enthusiastic welcome to students returning to both Longwood University (LU) and Hampden-Sydney College (HSC). To encourage students to visit downtown and celebrate their return, Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP) – an Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) program – organized a special “Welcome Back Week” event and promoted all that downtown Farmville has to offer. Click here to learn more!
  • The holidays are often an underpinning of larger conversations around vibrancy and sense of place, and it’s a transformative time for Downtowns. To leverage the vibrancy that the holiday season brings, the Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA), with support from the City of Lynchburg, invested in a holiday lights display that would capture the attention of their residents and bring in tourists to their downtown district. Click here to learn more!

Riding the Rails

  • A couple of years ago, Rebecca Rowe had the opportunity to take the train from Richmond to Northern Virginia for the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference (VAGHC). It was her first train trip in decades, and she was immediately hooked. Now whenever Rebecca travels, she checks Amtrak first to see if the train is an option and has created long weekend itineraries with friends just to have an excuse to ride the rails! Click here to learn more about why Rebecca loves the rails and how they connect Main Streets across the Commonwealth!

Strategic Planning

  • In the heart of the unincorporated town of Toano, on the western edge of James City County, lies a small nonprofit with a big vision: the Toano Historical Society (THS). In 2023, THS partnered with The Spark Mill, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit capacity building, to bring their vision to life. Click here to learn more!

Stay tuned for lots more great content in October!