Author: Douglas Charles Jackson

Roanoke VA based writer and community coach.

Make the most of your Main Street Center member resources

October 21, 2010

Virginia has 21 designated Main Street communities, all of whom are accredited with the National Trust Main Street Center. One requirement for accreditaion is holding an active membership with the Center. And it’s more than just a box to check off; the membership brings access to valuable resources. Membership is open to anyone interested in revitalization … More Make the most of your Main Street Center member resources

Making your work uniquely you

October 18, 2010

Fast Company recently highlighted the award designed for this year’s graduating class at the top Dutch design school. Instead of a simple hood or diploma, The Design Academy Eindhoven has a special graduating trophy each year.  This year, the trophy was actually a set of medallions–one for each of the graduates–that created a pig’s head when stacked. It’s not as undignified as … More Making your work uniquely you

Virginia Enterprise Initiative Workshops

October 14, 2010

The Virginia Enterprise Initiative (VEI) will hold informational workshops highlighting partnership and funding opportunities that can extend training, technical assistance, and capital to Virginia’s next wave of very small and emerging businesses. VEI, Virginia’s micro-enterprise initiative, provides financial resources to nonprofit organizations that specialize in the delivery of training, support, technical assistance, and loans to … More Virginia Enterprise Initiative Workshops

Downtown leaders cover Main Street Essentials at Abingdon training

October 6, 2010

On Sep. 22 and 23, Advance Abingdon hosted 70 downtown revitalization professionals and volunteers from across Virginia for a training and knowledge share of best practices in the organization and promotion of downtown revitalization efforts. National Trust Main Street Center Senior Program Officer Kathy LaPlante, a nationally recognized expert on community based downtown revitalization, presented … More Downtown leaders cover Main Street Essentials at Abingdon training

Dog Park Powers Public Art

September 10, 2010

If you want to lure residents downtown, you’ve got to have basic amenities, like access to groceries and green spaces. Those green spaces are important, because as, one luxury apartment developer in Roanoke discovered, if folks move downtown, they’ll bring their pets with them. With at least one dog in every new condo of this particular building, the … More Dog Park Powers Public Art

Virginia Main Street foodies pick their favorites

September 3, 2010

Virginia Main Street blog readers logged on in record number to select their favorite Main Street eateries. In just over a month nearly 59,000 votes were cast for one of 25 restaurants. Nearly half of the votes were for South Boston’s BISTRO 1888. And it’s a worthy top choice. The Bistro demonstrates what first-class food and downtown … More Virginia Main Street foodies pick their favorites

Essential trip planning: Abingdon, Virginia

September 2, 2010

A Sunday travel piece in the Knoxville News Sentinel this weekend presented readers with all they need to know for a weekend trip to Abingdon, Virginia’s historic district. The article included an itenerary of things to see on a self-guided tour (brochure available at the visitor’s center), including a run-down of retail, restaurant, and lodging busineesses in this Virginia Main Street (VMS) … More Essential trip planning: Abingdon, Virginia

Virginia Tourism’s wine tweets win award

August 20, 2010

Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has a track record of excellence in tourism marketing. The agency recently celebrated 40 years of the longstanding Virginia is for Lovers campaign. While they’ve maintained that well loved umbrella brand, they’ve also successfully continued and grown a host of niche marketing efforts, speaking to the specific tastes and demands of travelers. A recent Twitter campaign … More Virginia Tourism’s wine tweets win award