Douglas Charles Jackson

Small Town and Merchant Program brings relevant resources to downtown merchants

April 20, 2010

Virginia Main Street continues the partnership with Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), bringing the Small Town & Merchant Program to traditional commercial districts. In the workshop, “Staying Relevant to a Changed Customer,” retail expert Marc Willson positions the consumer in the recovering economy and provides real resources and information to help merchants retain existing customers and capture new … More Small Town and Merchant Program brings relevant resources to downtown merchants

Hi ho the derry-o, the farmer has e-mail

April 7, 2010

An article in the April issue of Inc. Magazine prompted one more look at that thought-provoking Permuto Discoveries graphic. We’ve looked at drugstores as a anchors on Main Street and at engaging downtown merchants in e-commerce. Now we’ll look specifically at the food, wine, and beer category, with about 57 percent of sales being catalog, telephone, and online sales. (That seems high, but consider specialty – … More Hi ho the derry-o, the farmer has e-mail

Congratulations milestone award winners

April 6, 2010

Nineteen communities received Milestone Achievement Awards or other special recognition at the Virginia Main Street 25th Anniversary Dinner and Award Ceremony on March 25 in Lynchburg. The 25 Year Club: Virginia Main Street’s Kyle Myer, Bedford Mayor Skip Tharp, Franklin Downtown Association President Victor Story, Winchester Old Town Development Board Member Dave Spence, and Virginia … More Congratulations milestone award winners

April 1 luncheon focused on supporting local businesses

March 29, 2010

The Virginia Downtown Development Association continues its popular Hot Topics Luncheon series in Martinsville on April 1, with a focus on nurturing a climate supportive of local businesses. Eddie Bumbaugh, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, will present on incentives instrumental to generating a strong business climate. The session will address how a downtown can serve as an entrepreneurial incubator and include … More April 1 luncheon focused on supporting local businesses

VMS to Celebrate 25 Years

March 18, 2010

On March 25, the commonwealth will officially celebrate 25 years of Main Street revitalization at Lynchburg’s Craddock Terry Hotel. The anniversary dinner will combine special acknowledgement of the quarter-century mark with the annual Milestones Award ceremony. The event will feature special guest speaker Chuck D’Aprix, president of The Downtown Entrepreneurship Project, dinner and live music. … More VMS to Celebrate 25 Years

Even stores on Main Street do it: Making e-commerce work downtown

March 15, 2010

Today we’re going to take a closer look at the crosshatched area in the Permuto Discoveries graphic. That shaded e-commerce portion of spending includes catalog, telephone, and online sales. Sure, the biggest piece of these sales is likely handled by Amazon’s high-tech automated warehouse distribution system or by a cheery voice at Chesapeake, Virginia’s QVC call center. But there is also a … More Even stores on Main Street do it: Making e-commerce work downtown

Anchors on Main Street

March 4, 2010

Every Main Street community is working to bring shoppers downtown, but what does that mean in the era of internet shopping? Shoppers are buying more online–but they don’t buy all products in an equal amount. In the next few posts, we’ll take a look at this sharp graphic from Permuto Discoveries, and offer some questions that might prompt … More Anchors on Main Street

Minds Wide Open contest features Main Street communities

February 23, 2010

Minds Wide Open, a statewide celebration of women in the arts, will highlight thousands of special events across the commonwealth between March and June of 2010. While any individual or group can participate by presenting at least one public program focused on women, and related events are taking place in nearly every part of the state, … More Minds Wide Open contest features Main Street communities

The Crooked Road on Dozen Distinctive Destinations List

February 8, 2010

Southwest Virginia’s “Crooked Road” region has been named one of the 2010 America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The 253-mile route through Virginia’s Appalachian region winds through 10 counties, three cities, and 19 towns. Originally conceived and incubated through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the project was designed … More The Crooked Road on Dozen Distinctive Destinations List

Hawk or ground squirrel?

February 5, 2010

“You have to ask yourself….are you the hawk, or are you the ground squirrel?” The question kicked off the 2010 Virginia Main Street Manager’s Retreat at Radford’s Selu Retreat Center last week. Eighteen Main Street program managers from across the commonwealth gathered for a day and a half of focus on mission-based financial management. And while the Main … More Hawk or ground squirrel?