Excitingly, Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) received a 2021 VMS Merit Award for Best Bounceback Strategy, which recognizes worthy examples of how local Main Street programs “bounced back” after the pandemic began to recede and supported businesses, while also demonstrating commitment to community. In order to raise funds for their Downtown Recovery Initiative and other small … More Downtown Lynchburg Association Receives Merit Award for Best Bounceback Strategy – DOWNTOWN-A-THON

Excitingly, the 2022 Community Revitalization Office (CRO) Calendar of Events is now available! As always, the CRO team remains committed to providing opportunities to connect like-minded leaders and best practices to help bolster economic development and community vitality in localities across Virginia, and we look forward to seeing stakeholders throughout next year, virtually and in-person. … More 2022 Community Revitalization Office Calendar of Events Now Available!

Excitingly, the Gloucester Main Street Association and Main Street Preservation Trust received a 2021 VMS Merit Award for Best Business Support Program, which recognizes an outstanding business support program or project. Supporting new and existing small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who run them, represents a vital aspect of a vibrant downtown economy.  Strategies to foster … More Gloucester’s Main Street Program Receives Merit Award for Best Business Support Program – Pandemic Response

Excitingly, Experience Old Town Warrenton (EOTW) received a 2021 VMS Merit Award for Best Outdoor Placemaking Project, which recognizes local Main Street programs or municipalities that have designed and implemented attractive and dynamic improvements to enhance outdoor spaces that build community / support businesses during the pandemic. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the … More Experience Old Town Warrenton Receives Merit Award for Best Outdoor Placemaking Project – Farmers Market

Excitingly, Fredericksburg VA Main Street, Inc. (FVMS) received a 2021 VMS Merit Award for Best Downtown Business Promotion, which recognizes a successful district-wide promotion event or marketing campaign designed to attract customers and increase revenue for local businesses. Through the Scan & Love project, FVMS activated district storefronts by creating a digitally immersive experience telling … More Fredericksburg VA Main Street, Inc. Receives Merit Award for Best Downtown Business Promotion – Scan & Love

Excitingly, Kirsten Moore, owner of Magpie Diner and The Perch at Magpie, received a 2021 VMS Merit Award for Best Adaptive Reuse, which recognizes an entity, individual or business that has completed an outstanding historic rehabilitation and/or adaptive reuse of a building. Moore was nominated by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR), the city’s local Advancing Virginia … More Kirsten Moore Receives Merit Award for Best Adaptive Reuse Project – Magpie & The Perch

The Rural Leadership Institute (RLI) is a rural leadership program that develops and supports highly-skilled, highly motivated leaders who are committed to revitalizing their communities across the Commonwealth. RLI addresses the need for high-quality, professional leadership and economic development training that equips community leaders with the skills they need to lead long-term economic advancement in … More Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Now Accepting Applications for 2022 Cohort Members

Our guest blogger, Brian Ostrovsky, is the founder and CEO of Locable and the author of “Marketing 3-4-5™: The Business Owner’s Guide to Effective Local Marketing in 15-Minutes or Less. He has taught Marketing 3-4-5™ to thousands of small businesses with dozens of local workshops with Main Streets and state program around the U.S. – … More Four Impactful Marketing Tips for Main Streets and Destinations

As small businesses continue to feel the impact of the pandemic, many of them still need support to keep their doors open. To back underrepresented small business owners as they navigate the pandemic and plan for long-term success and resilience, American Express has partnered alongside Main Street America to launch a $1.65 million year-round program called Inclusive … More Inclusive Backing: New Grant Program Helps Underrepresented Small Businesses Thrive

Undoubtedly, localities across Virginia rallied their communities around the small businesses at the heart of their downtowns during Small Business Saturday! As commercial districts continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, local Main Street programs have pivoted their traditional #ShopSmall plans or started new traditions to accommodate health and safety guidelines. Let us … More Share Your Story: Tell Us How Your Community Celebrated Small Business Saturday!