Category: Building Entrepreneurial Economies

Fostering Successful Businesses in Your Community

December 6, 2018

How can Main Street organizations create a supportive, business-friendly community?  What are the elements of a community that make it viable to attract business and expansion for the existing ones?  And what are the trends that best produce the desired entrepreneurial advancement?  These are some of the questions driving Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Appalachia, a recently published … More Fostering Successful Businesses in Your Community

The District Digest Vol. 4 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work

October 3, 2018

While you were busy making a difference in your hometown, you might have missed these thought-provoking reads.  Attraction, expansion and retention of businesses for your Main Street district is vital. It is also one of the most difficult things for a community to successfully accomplish. It takes hard work, planning and follow-through. Here is a … More The District Digest Vol. 4 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work

Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: CenterFuse Co-working

September 6, 2018

At the recent 2018 Downtown Intersections in Harrisonburg, we continued our tradition of acknowledging outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts through Merit Awards. They recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four points of the Main Street Approach®.  This is the first of a … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: CenterFuse Co-working

Experiences that Bring Customers Back!

August 2, 2018

We’ve heard from several communities across the commonwealth that improving downtown hospitality is a high priority in making their downtowns a destination! With help from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, DHCD has put together a series of 20 workshops across the state called Delivering Memorable Experiences Downtown, which aims to strengthen business hospitality to provide an … More Experiences that Bring Customers Back!

What’s in a Name? The Different Types of Shared Work Spaces

July 13, 2018

We’ve all heard buzzwords such as incubators, co-working spaces and maker spaces. As the number of people working in the “gig” economy continues to grow, so will the places that support that industry. But what’s the difference in these spaces, and what do they provide not only to the entrepreneurs that use them, but the … More What’s in a Name? The Different Types of Shared Work Spaces

Increase Your Small Business Success During National Small Business Week

April 24, 2018

Lexington is celebrating the start up of four new downtown businesses! On the evening of April 11, more than 100 fans witnessed a group of aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their best ideas for new downtown businesses in a one-night version of “Shark Tank,” with $60,000 in grants awarded.  Main Street Lexington hosted Launch Lex, which provided … More Increase Your Small Business Success During National Small Business Week

Virginia is for Entrepreneurs!

January 5, 2018

Governor McAuliffe and Senator Warner recently announced a new initiative to match Virginia entrepreneurs with investors, called “Virginia is for Entrepreneurs” (VA4E). This initiative includes a new website (va4e.org) that includes a standardized online application to better link entrepreneurs with more than 50 investment firms and potential funders to help launch or grow their Virginia-based businesses. Any … More Virginia is for Entrepreneurs!

BEE Innovation Day 2017

November 30, 2017

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be holding a Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Wednesday, December 6, in Charlottesville, VA. Community leaders and small business enthusiasts will discuss innovative ideas in entrepreneurship development, as well as offer inspiration and education to plan for and create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem … More BEE Innovation Day 2017