Department of Housing and Community Development

Downtown Intersections Early Bird Registration Now Open!

March 30, 2018

Register now to attend Downtown Intersections! Presented by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Main Street Program, in partnership with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, this event promises a packed schedule full of sessions spanning topics geared toward organization and promotions, as well as a Main Street 101 track. There will be real-life examples … More Downtown Intersections Early Bird Registration Now Open!

What are you doing this weekend? Spend it on Main Street!

March 8, 2018

The weather is starting to turn the corner from Winter to Spring (right? please?) and you might find yourself struck with spring fever! So what’s the cure? A day trip to one of Virginia’s beautiful Main Streets! There is literally something for everyone happening around the state, and here is a sampling of what is … More What are you doing this weekend? Spend it on Main Street!

Save the Date! Downtown Intersections 2018

February 26, 2018

The District Digest Vol. 3 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work

February 8, 2018

Virginia Main Street staff spends a lot of time on the road. One trip might take you from Richmond to Berryville to Bristol – all in one day (true story). That is a lot of miles logged and a lot of down time behind the wheel. How do we stay awake, and maybe even spend … More The District Digest Vol. 3 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work

Virginia is for Entrepreneurs!

January 5, 2018

Governor McAuliffe and Senator Warner recently announced a new initiative to match Virginia entrepreneurs with investors, called “Virginia is for Entrepreneurs” (VA4E). This initiative includes a new website (va4e.org) that includes a standardized online application to better link entrepreneurs with more than 50 investment firms and potential funders to help launch or grow their Virginia-based businesses. Any … More Virginia is for Entrepreneurs!

Vacation Inspiration: I’m Never Not Working

December 14, 2017

I was recently going through the 8,952,423,065 pictures on my phone – saving some, posting some, even printing some, and deleting a lot. This exercise in photo curation is a great walk down memory lane from my past year. It is a reminder of all of the places I have been and interesting things that … More Vacation Inspiration: I’m Never Not Working

BEE Innovation Day 2017

November 30, 2017

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be holding a Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Wednesday, December 6, in Charlottesville, VA. Community leaders and small business enthusiasts will discuss innovative ideas in entrepreneurship development, as well as offer inspiration and education to plan for and create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem … More BEE Innovation Day 2017

VMS Commercial District Affiliate Grants Now Available!

October 24, 2017

Virginia Main Street has opened the application process for our first ever Commercial District Affiliate Grants! Affiliate Grants are designed to assist organizations and communities in achieving their downtown revitalization goals and be used for projects or planning purposes. The maximum grant amount is $7,000 and can be used for… non-profit organizational development; vision/mission development; … More VMS Commercial District Affiliate Grants Now Available!

The Destination Express: Enhancing the Visitor Experience with History

October 18, 2017

The Ashland Main Street Association and its local partners are dedicated to making downtown an amazing destination. How? By embracing their transportation history they are improving the visitor experience and creating memorable central gathering spaces. Executive Director Tom Wulf is our guest blogger with the details. Earlier in 2017, mural artist Ed Trask and … More The Destination Express: Enhancing the Visitor Experience with History

Webinar – Business Booster: Recruitment and Retention Tactics for a Vibrant Downtown

September 14, 2017

On October 2, 12 – 1 p.m., Virginia Main Street is offering a free webinar focused on encouraging business growth in your downtown and helping existing businesses keep their doors open. One of the of the primary responsibilities of a Main Street program is to boost the economic growth of the business district. With … More Webinar – Business Booster: Recruitment and Retention Tactics for a Vibrant Downtown