Department of Housing and Community Development

Downtown Lynchburg shines for cabinet community day

October 22, 2009

Governor Timothy M. Kaine, his cabinet and members of his senior staff conducted their sixteenth and final Cabinet Community Day on a sundrenched, autumn Tuesday, Oct. 20 in downtown Lynchburg. The Governor holds four Cabinet Community Days every year, visiting eight regions of the state twice over the course of the administration. Executive Director Angela … More Downtown Lynchburg shines for cabinet community day

It’s getting scary downtown

October 20, 2009

So blend the turrets and shadows there That all seem pendulous in air, While from a proud tower in the town Death looks gigantically down. Some words from Edgar Allan Poe (“The City in the Sea”, 1845) warm us up for the tricks, treats, and other Halloween horrors planned on Main Street this year. First, … More It’s getting scary downtown

A press interview with Rocky Mount’s Katie McElroy

October 13, 2009

A recent Roanoke Times article gave newly hired executive director Katie McElroy an opportunity to promote the work of the Community Partnership for Revitalization, the nonprofit organization that coordinates Rocky Mount’s uptown and downtown revitalization efforts. The article, “Future the Focus in Rocky Mount”, spotlighted McElroy, who used the media’s interest in her hiring to get word out about the organization’s strategies … More A press interview with Rocky Mount’s Katie McElroy

Abingdon puts policy tools to work

October 7, 2009

Public policy can direct private investment. By creating opportunities and incentives that align with a community’s economic development strategy, a locality, whether small or large, can put the tools in place to turn the vision into a reality. Abingdon, the historic Washington County town, recently approved two new tax credits to help local property owners … More Abingdon puts policy tools to work

Increasing happiness on Main Street

October 1, 2009

Even with the economic struggles of the recession, it turns out there are plenty of reasons to be happy, especially if you’re an entrepreneur, says one recent study. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index is taking a 25-year look at our lives through an ongoing 100,000-person survey. The self-employed, citing the greater control of outcomes and the civic ties and … More Increasing happiness on Main Street

Who needs all that negativity?

September 29, 2009

It turns out you do. At least if you are trying to gain traction and trust in the online world. It may seem purely intuitive that bad press or reviews are not good for sales, but this short article from Fortune magazine says otherwise. This article is geared toward online sales, but the idea can … More Who needs all that negativity?

Intensive two-day training attracts 60

September 21, 2009

Virginia Main Street’s annual essentials training provided a two-day session focused on economic restructuring and design challenges facing communities today. A group of more than 60 participants gathered in the heart of Old Town Manassas at the renovated Candy Factory, now home to the Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas and Prince William County. Hilary … More Intensive two-day training attracts 60

Towns that build entrepreneurs

September 18, 2009

A recent Daily Yonder article was forwarded to the VMS Blog from the City of Martinsville, which is pulling together community investment in their central business district through the Uptown Partners project. “The Town that Builds Entrepreneurs” uses data from Oklahoma communities to demonstrate the power of the Main Street economic restructuring approach: an incremental effort to … More Towns that build entrepreneurs

Take the Holiday Retail Poll

September 8, 2009