In 2025, Virginia Main Street (VMS) will celebrate its 40th anniversary of revitalizing the built and business environments of historic commercial districts across the Commonwealth. From 1985 to 2023, VMS communities created more than 8,200 businesses; 27,000 jobs; and generated more than $2.6 billion in public and private investment. Join the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and hundreds of our closest friends and partners as we celebrate milestones, impactful achievements, and long-lasting transformation!
Over the past four decades, VMS has been dedicated to revitalizing the historic commercial districts that are the heart of communities across Virginia. This anniversary is not just a celebration of our accomplishments but also an opportunity to highlight the vibrant VMS communities that make up our network.
Registration for the event is now open – click HERE to register – and we can’t wait to see you at Richmond’s historic Main Street Station on February 4th for this exciting celebration!

We are marking our Ruby Anniversary with a “There’s No Place Like Main Street” theme that will include a yellow brick Main Street, community highlights, lifetime achievement awards, and a keynote message from Main Street America CEO, Erin Barnes. And, the celebration wouldn’t be complete without you!
Virginia Main Street and DHCD thank our generous partners who are making this event possible:
- Virginia Housing
- The City of Richmond
- Virginia Tourism Corporation
- The Retail Alliance
- Letterpress Communications
- Vibrant Communities Development Corporation
- The Berkley Group
- Virginia Small Business Development Centers, and
- Friends of Southwest Virginia
If you are interested in supporting the VMS celebration or our robust and relevant community development training programs – please reach out to Rebecca Rowe at rebecca.rowe@dhcd.virginia.gov.