In Case You Missed It: December 2024 Digest

Posted on by Department of Housing and Community Development

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

VMS 40th Anniversary

  • In 2025, 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! Click here to learn more and register!

Disaster Relief

  • Small businesses in Southwest Virginia now have access to a vital new resource to help recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene. The Virginia Small Business Disaster Response Portal, funded by a grant through GO Virginia, is designed to streamline recovery efforts by connecting businesses with essential services, funding opportunities, and technical support. Click here to learn more!

VMS Community News

  • Every year, Main Street America selects three communities to receive the prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). The GAMSA is given to communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive, preservation-based revitalization efforts in the downtown. This year, Wytheville, Virginia has earned the well-deserved distinction of being named one of just eight communities nationwide to advance as a GAMSA semi-finalist. Click here to learn more!

Celebrating Success

  • As the year comes to a close, it’s an ideal time for local Main Street programs to reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments. This reflection shouldn’t remain internal—sharing successes with the public and key stakeholders is vital. Highlighting the organization’s achievements and its impact on enhancing downtown vitality reinforces its mission, builds community pride, and strengthens support for future initiatives. Creating an annual report and consistently communicating success stories and impacts is essential for local Main Street organizations for many reasons. Click here to learn more!

Small Business Support

  • In late 2023, the Town of Blackstone was awarded a $50,000 Virginia Business District Resurgence Grant (VBDRG) from the DHCD. This funding enabled the Town to collaborate with Downtown Blackstone, Inc. (DBI) – the local Main Street organization – to develop and implement a comprehensive small business support program within the community, with a particular focus on Blackstone’s Historic Business District (HBD). Click here to learn more!

Alleyway Activation

  • The Town of Berryville’s Hogan’s Alley has undergone a recent facelift. The once well-worn alleyway is now a vibrant space honoring the town’s beloved former manager, the late John Hogan. The alley connects West Main Street to the Crow Street parking lot and is a functional walkway for residents and visitors. Led by Berryville Main Street (BMS), the goal of the revitalization project was to create a more inviting space with improved pedestrian safety, along with a new public gathering space within the Main Street district. Click here to learn more!

Communicating With Your State Legislators

  • In the same way that you are a champion of the local Main Street program in your community, you can be an advocate for the Main Street program and your community’s needs in the Virginia General Assembly. Communicating with a legislator may seem daunting to those who have never done it; however, with a little knowledge and practice, you can be an effective advocate. Click here to learn more!

Virginia Rural Leadership Institute

  • The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) held its fourth and final session of the year in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, specifically in the vibrant city of Staunton, Virginia. While this culminating session offered participants valuable insights to enhance their leadership, community engagement and economic development kills, it was particularly momentous as cohort members celebrated their graduation from VRLI during a special ceremony. Click here to learn more!

Stay tuned for lots more great content in January!