Community Development – Page 10 – Virginia Main Street

Make the Most of Heritage Tourism in Virginia

September 30, 2016

Did you know that the cultural heritage tourist typically spends more and stays longer than other types of U.S. travelers? Preservation Virginia is co-hosting the 31st annual Virginia Preservation Conference in Charlottesville, an event that draws 200 community leaders, developers, architects, local planning officials and others from across the Commonwealth. Following the release of the … More Make the Most of Heritage Tourism in Virginia

Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Oct. 13 — Register Now!

September 9, 2016

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be holding a Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Thursday, Oct. 13 in Lynchburg, VA. This event will provide the opportunity for business leaders to share and discuss innovative ideas in entrepreneurship development. Several recent BEE Innovation and Implementation grant recipients will share about their BEE funded projects and how they … More Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Oct. 13 — Register Now!

Give your local artists the business tools for success

August 18, 2016

When we talk about entrepreneurship, so often artists can be left out of the conversation. The Staunton Creative Community Fund (Staunton Fund) has been examining entrepreneurship through the lens of artists. Wrapping up the spring with a Bach n’ Roll Roundtable, the Staunton Fund brought together stakeholders to talk about needs and ideas for growing … More Give your local artists the business tools for success

Three Steps to Refresh Your Main Street Strategies for Visible Results

August 10, 2016

How can your local Main Street program better use limited resources to create vibrant, people-centered places? The Main Street Approach has been a successful model for older commercial district revitalization for more than 35 years and is used to revitalize and manage downtowns in more than 2,000 communities across the U.S. The Four Point approach offers … More Three Steps to Refresh Your Main Street Strategies for Visible Results

Three Upcoming Opportunities to Rev up Your Downtown Revitalization Efforts

August 8, 2016

Is your downtown ready for new businesses and residential investment? In order to meet new challenges and ensure a strong Main Street, communities need ongoing training. Whether the community is just getting started with Main Street activities or well-seasoned in managing a prosperous commercial district, staff and volunteers need different skills in different phases of … More Three Upcoming Opportunities to Rev up Your Downtown Revitalization Efforts

Tips for a Wonderful Experience at Downtown Intersections, Staunton, Virginia

July 6, 2016

Guest Blogger Julie Markowitz, director of Staunton Downtown Development Association, started with Main Street in 2006, armed with 10 years of experience in mall marketing and promotions. Staunton Downtown Development Association is delighted to host the first inaugural Virginia Main Street Downtown Intersections workshop in Staunton, Virginia on July 11-13, 2016. Welcome to Staunton, Main Street … More Tips for a Wonderful Experience at Downtown Intersections, Staunton, Virginia

Crowdfunding for Main Street

June 16, 2016

Are you looking for new and exciting ways to raise funds for a civic project, your Main Street organization or entrepreneurs in your community? The Local Crowd is a new crowdfunding platform that has been developed to help communities raise support for local businesses and projects. The Local Crowd can help you do several things … More Crowdfunding for Main Street

Overnight Success, 20 Years In The Making

May 31, 2016

Guest Blogger Ken Heath, Director of Community and Economic Development, has been working for downtown revitalization since 1994 with the Town of Marion. Read his inspirational words and how it has taken over twenty years to get where the Town is today. Working hard at revitalization every day, and the job is never done. It’s … More Overnight Success, 20 Years In The Making

Hello from Milwaukee: Main Street Now Conference this week

May 23, 2016

Beginning May 23-25, Virginia Main Street (VMS) staff and more than 25 staff and volunteers from the VMS designated communities are in downtown Milwaukee for Main Street Now, the National Main Street Center conference. Main Street Now is the largest nationwide gathering of commercial district revitalization professionals and community leaders in the nation. This year, the conference will bring together more … More Hello from Milwaukee: Main Street Now Conference this week

Community-based Inspiration: Jane Jacobs’ 100th Birthday

May 11, 2016

Who was that charming lady on the Google search page? Wednesday, May 4, 2016, marked 100 years since the birth of Jane Jacobs. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an urban writer and activist who championed new, community-based approaches to planning for more than 40 years. She loved cities and, while she never studied urban planning, Jacobs considered … More Community-based Inspiration: Jane Jacobs’ 100th Birthday