Governor McAuliffe announced that June will be designated as Virginia’s Business Appreciation Month to ensure that the history and growth of Virginia businesses are recognized across the Commonwealth. There is a crucial correlation between strong business and strong communities. To view the governor’s proclamation, click here. More information will coming out in the next few … More June is Business Appreciation Month
Applications due Monday, September 30, 2013 by 5:00 p.m. Financial Feasibility Grants of up to $25,000 per designated community are now available. Financial Feasibility Grants allow Main Street organizations to work with owners of significant “white elephant” buildings to identify the highest and best use of such properties and to develop sufficient information to allow … More VMS now accepting applications for Financial Feasibility Grants
Bristol, TN/VA is a unique place. “Two States; One State of Mind” is their motto, but navigating two sets of building regulations, garbage pickups, tax codes and general government type operations can get a bit confusing. However, Christina Blevins, executive director of Believe in Bristol, Bristol’s Main Street organization, bridges the gaps everyday in a positive, … More Gentlemen of the Road stopover in Bristol
Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy. They’re innovators, experimenters and risk takers, the driving force behind capitalism’s “perennial gale of creative destruction,” in economist Joseph Schumpeter’s evocative metaphor. So says Chris Farrell in this week’s Bloomberg Businessweek. But Mr. Farrell goes on to remind us that entrepreneurs are not only young, brash, rule breakers. … More Entrepreneurs. Better with age?
Remember flash mobs? Those quirky get togethers where groups of strangers would do the lambada in the middle of a bank plaza or dress like Pee Wee Herman? While those may have been fun and worthy of a few giggles, wouldn’t it be great to put that same premise to a productive use? Enter the cash mob. … More Could cash mobs strike your downtown?
Most businesses that use social media do so passively, using top-down, one-way communication to tell their customers about things. Often businesses don’t engage people by starting conversations or asking for ideas and input. This lack of engagement leads to missed opportunities for increased sales and valuable customer feedback. The people over at Inc. Magazine have a great number of … More Harnessing the Potential of Social Media
Waynesboro City Council unanimously approved a resolution to support city staff in gaining recognition as an official Appalachian Trail Community on October 25, 2011. This designation would officially recognize the ongoing partnership between the city of Waynesboro and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and provide the city with promotional and economic development support. Benefits of this … More Waynesboro Applying to Become Designated Appalachian Trail Community
Those who follow the VMS blog are well aware of the benefits of sustaining local investment by urging consumers to eat local foods and to shop in local stores. Amy Cortese insists that this same approach is applicable to portfolio investments. Her most recent publication, Locavesting: the Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit … More Locavesting: “Investing in Main Street instead of Wall Street”
On October 13, 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $9.2 million investment in the promotion of local farmers markets through the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP). As the FMPP website states, “These grants are targeted to help improve and expand domestic farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agricultural programs, agri-tourism activities and other direct … More Partner in Promotion: The USDA Farmer’s Market Promotion Program
On October 5, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance joined community leaders and green energy advocates to unveil a new electric vehicle charging station downtown. The first of its kind in the Shenandoah Valley, and one of only 30 in the Commonwealth, this charging station allows downtown visitors to plug-in, charge-up and patronize local businesses. The level two charging station … More Harrisonburg Unveils New Electric Vehicle Charging Station Downtown
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