Who knew you could support your local businesses from the luxury of your own couch? Don’t let that stop you from shopping in person in one of America’s most charming towns. Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia has been named ShopOnMain’s most “Charming Town” in America and will now be featured in an upcoming episode of the TV series “Small … More Seek the Unique and shop Downtown Bristol!
Often times, it doesn’t take a lot of funding to spark community energy. Read about Farmville Downtown Partnership‘s SOUP event and become inspired to host your own similar event. Guest blogger, John Burton, executive director for the Farmville Downtown Partnership, describes how this inaugural event was very successful for the small community. Good community, good music … More Farmville Downtown Partnership Awards $5000 At SOUP Event
Virginia Main Street is currently accepting grant applications for FY 2017. Grants are available only to designated VMS communities and must be administered through the designated local VMS organization. Downtown Investment Grants (DIGs) allow Main Street organizations to take on unique, one-time projects that measurably, creatively and sustainably advance the organization’s goals and strategies. FY … More Virginia Main Street Grant Opportunities
In February, Governor McAuliffe announced award winners for DHCD’s Industrial Revitalization Fund for fiscal year 2016. Of those, three were Virginia Main Street Communities: the towns of Bedford and Warrenton and the city of Lynchburg. The IRF program can help rehabilitate derelict structures into economically viable uses again. The Center for Community Progress also posted an article about … More Community blight has a cost and DHCD has a solution
On Wednesday, Preservation Virginia released a study measuring the economic impact of 30 years of the Virginia Main Street program. The report documents the Virginia Main Street program throughout the last 30 years. The report has documented the direct economic effects across Virginia Main Streets since 1985, when the program was adopted in Virginia to … More Preservation Virginia Releases Economic Impact Study of Virginia Main Street Program
In the September 2015 issue of Southern Living, you will find a spread highlighting travel destinations across the commonwealth, including a special nod to our beloved Virginia Main Street communities. Thank you to our partners at Virginia Tourism Corporation. Web links direct readers to a list of the designated communities and points travelers to the heart … More Check the local news stands: Virginia Main Street in Southern Living
Building a Resilient Nonprofit Together September 15-16 South Boston, Virginia Behind every exciting Main Street District beats the collective heart of volunteers, entrepreneurs and property owners working together to create an environment of invitation. Every day, residents and visitors are discovering what makes your Main Street their favorite, be it the shops, the food or … More Register Now for the VMS Toolkit – September 15-16 in South Boston
A bakery and cafe, a business catering to pets and pet owners and a massage and wellness clinic will be the newest businesses to open or expand on Main Street following the Launch Gloucester awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 19. Participants in the entrepreneur contest that launched earlier this year also got a surprise element … More Launch Gloucester announces winner of first Community Business Launch
Your Main Street program is tasked with meeting the needs of many different stakeholders: visitors, business owners, municipalities, donors, volunteers, etc. How you communicate your message to a wide audience with different interests requires segmenting them and then having separate conversations unique to their interests. Join the National Main Street Center for a webinar led … More Market Your Main Street: Low-cost, high-impact strategies to get out your message
Virginia Main Street 