In July 2020, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) began working to provide comprehensive capacity building services through the federal Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) to six recipient organizations located in rural and/or economically challenged regions of Virginia. The RCDI program seeks to increase a community’s readiness to undertake community and economic development projects through technical … More Alleghany Highlands EDC Awarded $30,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant

Recently, Governor Youngkin announced more than $1.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for eight projects focused on creating critical talent pipelines to support regional economic growth, strengthen workforce development and support collaborative programs between localities, public entities and private businesses. “GO Virginia is fostering a regional collaboration among businesses, … More Eight Projects Awarded GO Virginia Grants to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Workforce Development

The number of coworking spaces popping up across Virginia and the country continue to rise, and these shared working spaces provide entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups, remote workers and others a place to work without many of the overhead expenses associated with a traditional office space. In Lynchburg, RE 5th is the newest coworking space and addition … More New Coworking Space Opens in Downtown Lynchburg!

In July 2020, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) began working to provide comprehensive capacity building services through the federal Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) to six recipient organizations located in rural and/or economically challenged regions of Virginia. The RCDI program seeks to increase a community’s readiness to undertake community and economic development projects through technical … More City of Norton Awarded $30,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant

Excitingly, Virginia Main Street (VMS) will host an Exploring Main Street (EMS) Community Interchange on June 16, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. This virtual gathering will focus on strengthening the program’s network of community leaders and boosting Main Street efficacy in EMS communities! If you’re an active EMS community, join us for June’s … More Registration Open for June 2022 Exploring Main Street Community Interchange

Ed McMahon, Chairman Emeritus of Main Street America and Senior Fellow at the Urban Land Institute in Washington D.C., recently published an op-ed in the Richmond Times Dispatch ahead of the 2022 Main Street Now Conference. The article explored the role of place and economic development in Virginia, the value of building strong entrepreneurial ecosystems … More Ed McMahon Publishes Op-Ed Focused on How to Breathe New Life Into Smaller Communities

In July 2020, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) began working to provide comprehensive capacity building services through the federal Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) to six recipient organizations located in rural and/or economically challenged regions of Virginia. The RCDI program seeks to increase a community’s readiness to undertake community and economic development projects through technical … More South Hill Chamber of Commerce Awarded $30,000 Rural Community Development Initiative Grant

The Town of Farmville’s local Main Street program, Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP), seeks a dynamic and highly motivated individual to serve as the organization’s new executive director and assist the organization’s board of directors, committees and volunteers, as well as the greater community, in the achievement of the FDP mission: The mission of Farmville Downtown … More Farmville Downtown Partnership Seeks New Executive Director

Excitingly, Todd Wolford, Executive Director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc. (DWI) in Wytheville, Virginia, an Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) community, received the prestigious 2022 Mary Means Leadership Award during the Closing Plenary session of the 2022 Main Street Now Conference! This award recognizes outstanding leaders in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization, highlighting the critical role … More Todd Wolford Named 2022 Mary Means Leadership Award Recipient

There simply aren’t enough words to express how incredible it was being together again in Richmond, Virginia for the 2022 Main Street Now Conference! It was a wonderful experience welcoming everyone to our great state, and all of us at Virginia Main Street (VMS) hope that attendees from across the country enjoyed the thought-provoking and … More That’s a Wrap on the 2022 Main Street Now Conference!