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Great news, the Microfinance Webinar: How CDFIs Can Close the Wealth Gap Through Supporting Small Businesses has been rescheduled! Starting a small business is one of the best ways to build wealth. Join us on December 5, 2022 at 11:00 am to hear how three (3) different Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) from across the … More BREAKING NEWS: “How CDFIs Close the Wealth Gap” Webinar Has Been Rescheduled. Register Today!

On behalf of the Virginia Main Street (VMS) program, Frazier Associates has created a new tech sheet for localities across the state to utilize when considering the development of a wayfinding sign system, particularly one that’s customized. A wayfinding sign system is made of eye-catching, easily identified signs that are comprehensive and unified and direct … More New Tech Sheet Available to Help Localities Build a Customized Wayfinding Sign System

Do you know of innovative financing approaches that have succeeded in transforming a building (or buildings) in your locality? Are there any folks in your area, region or state that are trying to address the challenge of a lack of capital for small-scale development? If so, Patrice Frey, former President & CEO of Main Street … More Accelerating Investment in Small-Scale Real Estate Development Projects

The quality and quantity of housing stock in communities has become an increasingly important focus, particularly in downtown districts. In order to create a dynamic downtown, having a diversity of housing stock is an essential component for attracting a broad cross section of residents. Those considering their upper story housing potential are likely asking themselves, … More Creating Upper Story Housing in Your Downtown

Happy Tuesday, Main Street friends! The Community Vitality Office (CVO) team posted thirteen (13) post this month. Did you miss any of them? If so, don’t worry we’ve got you covered ! Catch up here with this month’s edition of “In Case You Missed It!“ NEWS : UPCOMING EVENTS: As the month comes to a … More In Case You Missed It: October 2022 Digest

With the generous support of the 1772 Foundation, Main Street America’s research team recently launched the At Home on Main Street project, a four-part housing research initiative that aims to provide action-oriented recommendations and support the network in strengthening Main Streets through thoughtful housing development. A few months ago, Main Street America shared its first … More At Home on Main Street: The State of Housing in Downtowns and Neighborhood Commercial Districts

Recently, an interactive mural was completed, adding color and vibrancy to a prominent, high-traffic area in Downtown Lynchburg. Apart from making downtown a more inviting and welcoming place, the new Creating Our Culture mural seeks to promote, elevate and raise awareness for Lynchburg’s artists of color. On the mural, a QR code is displayed, directing … More Creating Our Culture: New Mural Raises Awareness for Lynchburg Artists of Color

Virginia Main Street (VMS) remains one of the best community and economic development investments in state government, leveraging an average of $123 in private funds for every dollar of state funding. In 2021 staff worked with communities across the Commonwealth to employ the Main Street Approach™ to create qualitative and quantitative outcomes through targeted design, economic, … More DHCD Releases 2021 Virginia Main Street Annual Report

What does it mean to be a “Development Ready” community? The final webinar of our three-part series helped localities begin to answer that thought-provoking question. Guest speakers Sandy Ratliff, Vice President of Community Innovation at Virginia Community Capital, and Cathy Lowe, Executive Director at the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, walked participants through tips and … More Development Ready Webinar Series (Part 3): Supporting Small Business Development