Registration Open for VMS Regional Rev Up Workshops: Preservation-Based Economic Development

Join Virginia Main Street (VMS) for an immersive half-day workshop that digs into Main Street America’s (MSA) fifth Accreditation Standard, Preservation-Based Economic Development. Led by Kathy Frazier, co-founder and Principal-in-Charge of Frazier Associates, this workshop will cover how successful Main Street efforts are built on the guiding principle that district economic development is obtained by … More Registration Open for VMS Regional Rev Up Workshops: Preservation-Based Economic Development

Virginia Tech Workshops Support Rural Small Businesses

Are you a rural business facing challenges with retaining employees, workforce productivity and a quality environment? If so, Virginia Tech’s Agricultural and Applied Economics Department, in collaboration with the Center for Cooperative Problem Solving and the Center for Economic and Community Engagement, is ready to help. They are conducting Small Business Health and Organizational Wellbeing … More Virginia Tech Workshops Support Rural Small Businesses

In Case You Missed It: July 2023 Digest

During the month of July, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published seven blog posts, highlighting the latest community vitality-related news, events and more! Here’s a recap: VMS Program News VMS Grant Project Highlights Main Street Boundaries Dementia Awareness T-Mobile Hometown Grant Training / Education Stay tuned for lots more great content in August!

Dementia Friendly Culpeper

Last month, Culpeper Downtown businesses and Culpeper Renaissance Inc. (CRI) staff members joined together for a dementia awareness training session hosted by Aging Together and the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. The session provided guidance to help restaurant, retail and service establishments feel more comfortable and capable assisting patrons living with dementia. Dementia Friendly Culpeper is … More Dementia Friendly Culpeper

Virginia Main Street Publishes One Thousandth Blog Post

Last week, Virginia Main Street (VMS) published its one thousandth blog post on the VMS blog! Hooray! The publishing of Kyle Meyer’s Why Main Street Programs Need Firm Boundaries blog post helped the VMS team reach this great milestone. To all those that have helped impart knowledge and inspiration to our audiences in Virginia and … More Virginia Main Street Publishes One Thousandth Blog Post

Why Main Street Programs Need Firm Boundaries

Why do Main Street programs need firm boundaries? Short Answer: A Main Street organization’s Articles of Incorporation, 501(c)(3) application, and Mission Statement all state that the purpose of the organization is to revitalize the historic commercial district or simply downtown. Therefore, by focusing its limited program resources on downtown, the organization is meeting the expectations … More Why Main Street Programs Need Firm Boundaries

A Welcome Space in Luray

One of the true pleasures of working on Main Streets is witnessing the transformation of ideas into realities that seamlessly integrate into the fabric of a community. During my recent visit to Luray, I was met with the sight of Creekside Commons, a captivating gateway pocket park that came to life thanks to the support … More A Welcome Space in Luray