Brad Belo – Virginia Main Street – Page 4

Bringing New Businesses to Main Street

October 30, 2013

Retaining and growing existing businesses and encouraging the development of new businesses are primary goals of every Main Street organization. Here is how some of Virginia’s Main Street communities are working to strengthen and diversify their downtown business communities. Marion Downtown Revitalization Association (MDRA) is wrapping up the third round of its “Pop-Up Marion” Small Business … More Bringing New Businesses to Main Street

ArtScapes – Outdoor Art Galleries

August 30, 2013

2013 is the eighth year for the Rice Lake Main Street Association (Wisconsin) ArtScape, a banner program that showcases locally-created art, provides a unique twist on an outdoor gallery experience and encourages pedestrians to stroll and traffic to slow through downtown. Invited artists, who often range in age from 12 to 80, are given blank … More ArtScapes – Outdoor Art Galleries

VMS Essentials Workshop in Culpeper Sept. 11-12

August 7, 2013

Sept. 11-12, 2013 The Culpeper Center 137 South Main Street Culpeper, Virginia So, your community is known for a festival or two, and the historic commercial district is showing signs of life? It is time to take the next step. Design and economic restructuring strategies cannot only improve the appearance and vibrancy of your downtown, … More VMS Essentials Workshop in Culpeper Sept. 11-12

Marion Gets New Buy Local Mural

July 23, 2013

Murals provide unique and memorable public art to Main Street districts. As Lucy Meade, director of marketing and development for Venture Richmond stated to the Richmond Times Dispatch, “It’s fun for the community to have public art. Most people stumble upon (the murals), which is neat. It’s like a little gift around the corner.” Though … More Marion Gets New Buy Local Mural

Virginia Main Street Summer Toolkit

June 13, 2013

Location: Gateway Theater 329 West Main Street Waynesboro, Virginia Every Main Street community focuses its economic redevelopment on the assets that make it unique – its historic architecture, eclectic mix of shopping and dining and festivals. But only a short hike, paddle or bike ride away is often an undervalued asset waiting to be incorporated … More Virginia Main Street Summer Toolkit

Governor McDonnell announces designation of two new Virginia Main Street communities

June 10, 2013

On June 7, Governor Bob McDonnell announced the designation of two new Virginia Main Street communities. With the addition of Ashland and Fredericksburg to the network, the total number of designated Virginia Main Street communities now stands at 26. “I am pleased to welcome these communities to the Virginia Main Street program,” said Governor McDonnell. “By supporting … More Governor McDonnell announces designation of two new Virginia Main Street communities

State Theatre Reopens in Culpeper

May 21, 2013

Culpeper’s State Theatre is the topic of the National Main Street Center’s Main Street Weekly May 14 edition. The $9.3 million historic rehabilitation of the 1938 Art Deco theater replaced a blighting, vacant building with a 560-seat state-of-the-art entertainment venue in the heart of Culpeper’s bustling Main Street district. The theater’s restoration has already spurred … More State Theatre Reopens in Culpeper

2013 VMS Milestone Achievement Awards

April 16, 2013

On March 22, the Virginia Main Street Program presented Milestone Achievement Awards to 15 Designated Main Street communities. The awards were presented at Richmond’s historic Hippodrome Theater. At the ceremony that focused on the results of Main Street efforts, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng spoke to the audience of more than 70 downtown … More 2013 VMS Milestone Achievement Awards

Finding Main Street Customers Online

February 25, 2013

By encouraging and cultivating unique, local, independent commercial sectors, retail along Virginia’s Main Streets is on the rise. However, it is a brave new world that Main Streets retailers are operating in. “Capitalism is creative destruction,” Richard Sylla stated in a recent Entrepreneur article. “Old models get outmoded, and new models come in and take over.” Just … More Finding Main Street Customers Online

Marion Downtown Revitalization Association Provides Entrepreneur Training and Small Business Grants

January 15, 2013

Last fall, Marion Downtown Revitalization Association introduced a pilot project designed to help fill vacant downtown storefronts. Called “Pop Up Marion,” the project provides up to $5,000 in grant funds for qualifying new downtown businesses to help offset startup costs. The initial funding was provided by Virginia Main Street through a competitive … More Marion Downtown Revitalization Association Provides Entrepreneur Training and Small Business Grants