It’s an old problem and a pervasive one. In Main Street districts nationwide, small business owner’s are reluctant to be open late or on the weekends. As a consequence those who work 9-5 jobs outside of the district are unable to shop local. A recent Wyoming Business Report article takes a look at how Main … More Can “Open Late” increase “Shop Local?”
Guest Blogger Jenny Crittenden, executive director of Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust, started with Main Street in 2006. Her leadership has inspired key partnerships and implementable growth strategies for Gloucester Village, including the creation of façade and interior improvement grant programs and an annual symphony concert that brings over 2,000 visitors to downtown. As we … More BrewDog, Gloucester Wants You!
In August of 2016 a local beauty boutique opened in Harrisonburg’s Main Street district in an unusual and fantastic location, a 1975 Airstream Land Yacht. Airstream Beauty Boutique owner Irina Dovganetskiy needed a small space that would allow her to test the market and grow her business – handmade beauty products using natural and toxic-free … More Innovative Models for Main Street Businesses
In December, Main Streets across Virginia become the center of holiday festivities and the nexus of community gathering for celebration and shopping. The historic charm, decorative lights, and independent shops wistfully spark memories mixed with fresh, 21st century rejuvenation. It’s cool to ring in the old and new. That charm is reminiscent of a scene … More Yuletide Destinations and Activities
Many communities have decided that supporting local entrepreneurs is key to a thriving Main Street and one Virginia initiative is receiving national attention! The National Main Street Center’s Main Street Story of the Week takes a look at how a local property owner created an innovative community space for entrepreneurs and entertainment to thrive. Jennifer Bell, … More The Bright Buzz: Kindling entrepreneur-focused transformation in Winchester
How can Main Street help entrepreneurs achieve a business expansion or start their own business? The National Main Street Center’s Main Street Story of the Week features Pop-Up Altavista 2.0, Altavista On Track’s (AOT) second business launch competition. Emelyn Gwynn, Main Street Coordinator for Altavista, highlights the program, which kicked off September, 2016. Building off … More Pop-Up Altavista 2.0: Cultivating Local Entrepreneurs with an Educational Business Launch Competition
There’s no better time to visit Main Street then the holidays. Winter celebrations bring revelers together to enjoy light shows, caroling and special shopping experiences with local merchants. There is a magic to shopping on Main Street that simply doesn’t exist at the mall. We can feel good about our shopping because keeping the cash register … More Shop Local, Support Local with HuTerra and Virginia Main Street
Governor McAuliffe held his first Grants Summit recently at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Virginia. The educational event was attended by more than 70 State Agencies who gathered to hear from experts on writing an effective grant application. The summit highlighted the Virginia grants portal, provided tips on writing a successful grant application, and highlighted the … More One-Stop Website for Virginia Grants
Main Street program websites come in many shapes and sizes. The challenge is to create a simple and fresh website that promotes the Main Street organization and local brand while showcasing the unique charm of downtown and all it has to offer. Downtown Wytheville Inc. recently updated their online presence with a website refresh that provides an … More Discover What’s “Wythein:” Downtown Wytheville’s Vibrant New Website
On October 25, 12-1 PM, Virginia Main Street is offering a free webinar with everything you need to know about getting organized and catalyzing investment for real change. How do you take your downtown vision from concept to reality? The vision establishes the ultimate target toward which all Main Street efforts are directed, and it requires that major … More Webinar: Creating Your Community Transformation Strategies – Oct. 25
Virginia Main Street 