Since 2023, Mobilizing Main Street has helped Exploring Main Street communities build capacity by establishing and developing their Main Street nonprofit organizations. The biennial education program prepares communities for the highest tier of participation in Virginia Main Street: Advancing Virginia Main Street.
Along the way, the Virginia Main Street team has learned a great deal about what helps new Main Street organizations take root and grow. To put those insights to work, Virginia Main Street will pause Mobilizing Main Street for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027) and use the year to review and strengthen the program for future rounds. This means applications will not open in fall 2026.
We recognize that some communities have been preparing to apply, and we appreciate your continued commitment to downtown revitalization. While the program is on pause, this is an excellent opportunity to focus on strengthening your Main Street organization, building local partnerships, and laying the foundations for long-term success. Communities that invest in these fundamentals today will be well-positioned when future opportunities to progress toward the Advancing Virginia Main Street level become available.
While no two Main Street organizations are exactly alike, best practices can help every community succeed, regardless of size, by investing in their organization’s practices, community engagement, strategic planning, and volunteer leadership. Fortunately, Virginia Main Street has published a variety of free resources to help Main Street communities build capacity, and every one of them is available to you right now.
Fellow Main Street Directors and Virginia Main Street Program Administrators also contribute to the Virginia Main Street blog, sharing insights, strategies, and success stories from communities across the Commonwealth. Virginia Main Street publishes blogs weekly, so be sure to subscribe using the “Subscribe” function under the Search bar on the right side of the website page.
Main Street Essentials
Every successful Main Street program builds on Main Street America’s Four Point Approach: Design, Organization, Promotion, and Economic Vitality.
Virginia Main Street’s Main Street Essentials series introduces each principle and highlights how communities across the Commonwealth are putting it into practice.
Getting Started With Main Street
Is your community interested in taking its first step into Virginia Main Street as an Exploring Main Street community? Every historic commercial district is eligible to become an Exploring Main Street partner. This blog outlines the first steps to engaging with the Virginia Main Street program.
Virginia Main Street Program and Grant Guidelines
Virginia Main Street is a Main Street America State Coordinating Program that offers a range of services and assistance to communities interested in revitalizing their historic commercial districts. The Program and Grant Guidelines are a great resource to help prospective communities better understand the Virginia Main Street program and the responsibilities and benefits associated with each designation tier.
Getting Started: 25 Things to Do First
Organizing a Main Street program can feel overwhelming. This practical guide outlines 25 foundational actions – from building a board of directors to identifying early projects – that help create a strong organizational foundation.
2024-2026 Mobilizing Main Street Application
Although applications will not be opening this fall, the 2024-2026 Mobilizing Main Street Application remains an excellent self-assessment tool available to your organization. Reviewing the previous application can help your organization understand the types of organizational practices, partnerships, planning, and leadership that Virginia Main Street looks for in a strong Main Street program.
Virginia Main Street Upcoming Trainings
Virginia Main Street continues to offer two Regional Rev Up Workshops a year, one in the spring and one in the fall, hosted in at least three different localities across the Commonwealth. These half-day seminars focus on the Main Street Four Points and provide practical lessons, strategies, and resources to support local revitalization efforts.
Many Main Street organizations across the Commonwealth have used Virginia Main Street grants or local funding to support organizational development. Virginia Main Street’s grant application process typically opens in February, so while the 2026 cycle has closed, the next one is only a few months away. If organizational development is on your list for the coming year, now is the time to start shaping a project.
Below are a few examples of communities that recently used Virginia Main Street funding for organizational development:
- Town of Urbanna – FY’24 Urbanna Main Street Community Vitality Grant ($5,500) supporting organizational development.
- Town of Bowling Green – FY’25 Bowling Green Main Street Group Development ($7,000) supporting the formation of Bowling Green Main Street.
In addition to Virginia Main Street resources, Main Street America offers a variety of technical assistance services, including Transformation Strategy workshops. These workshops use quantitative and qualitative community data to help identify opportunities and develop a focused strategy for a commercial district.
Not to toot our own horn, but one of the most valuable resources available to your community is your Virginia Main Street Program Administrator.
Our team works with nearly 100 communities across the Commonwealth, and we’ve seen firsthand what it takes to move from Exploring to Advancing. We can answer questions, provide guidance, connect communities with resources, and help organizations prepare for future opportunities that advance their historic commercial districts.
Whether your organization is just getting started or preparing for the next step in its Main Street journey, we encourage you to stay engaged, continue building local capacity, and keep the momentum going.
If you’re not sure who your Virginia Main Street Program Administrator is, reach out to mainstreet@dhcd.virginia.gov. Otherwise, find your Virginia Main Street Program Administrator below.
Virginia Main Street 