How can your downtown function better for residents, merchants, and visitors? And how do you identify opportunities in the physical environment to make your town a destination, drawing customers and revenue to the area? On Oct. 11, 17, and 18 in Bristol, Blackstone and Gloucester, the fall edition of the Regional Rev Up promises to … More Regional Rev Up: Opportunity Analysis – Effective Design
Singer-songwriter Dar Williams launched Virginia Main Street’s Finding Main Street book club at the 2018 Downtown Intersections with a performance and talk on “Thinking in Bridges.” “We think we have so much divisiveness,” she said. “But the opposite of divisiveness is not unity. It is collaboration.” Williams found plenty of collaboration in the successful communities profiled … More Host a Finding Main Street book club
Many new entrepreneurs find the process of growing their business as a lonely trek that takes more work than anticipated. Over the past few years, business incubators have helped these entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses by providing support such as office space, training, mentorship, networking and even financing, in some cases. Incubators can be … More Incubators: Hatching Ideas into Businesses
Guest Blogger Andrea Dono, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, has extensive experience in Main Street revitalization and community-based economic development, including 10 years at the National Main Street Center. Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance is thrilled to co-host the Virginia Main Street Downtown Intersections, July 16-18, 2018, and welcome you to our community in just a … More Welcome to Downtown Harrisonburg!
How do pedestrians experience your Main Street? Main Street’s were made for walking, but some of our Virginia downtowns are still not pedestrian friendly. The National Complete Streets Coalition’s mission to increase safe, comfortable and convenient access to community destinations and public places – whether walking, driving, bicycling or taking public transportation. To test out creative approaches … More Creating Safer Streets with Demonstration Projects
We hear from many communities that they have aspiring entrepreneurs who would like to explore their business ideas but don’t know where to begin. Here are a few great resources for start-ups: Waynesboro used funding from a Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) grant from DHCD to create an online tool and one-stop shop to help entrepreneurs … More Starting a New Business: Where to Begin?
Community development partners across Southwest Virginia are piloting the use of the Kiva crowdfunding loan platform to help small businesses expand and add jobs. Opportunity SWVA, the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem collaborative identified five businesses in need of small loans. Over the next two weeks, the businesses are working to raise a total of $43,000 in … More Opportunity SWVA pilots Kiva loan strategy
Virginia Main Street (VMS) is hosting a series of three webinars throughout June covering topics related to downtown buildings and tools for revitalization. All webinars are FREE, however, registration for each one is required. Virginia Rehabilitation Code June 6, 2018, Noon-1 p.m. Speaker: Jeff Brown, MCP, Director of State Building Codes, DHCD The Rehabilitation Code … More Webinar Series – Downtown Buildings: Tools for Revitalization
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
Downtown Intersections is just a few months away! Virginia Main Street staff have been working hard to craft an agenda, secure speakers, develop walking tours and create workshops that will educate, inspire and empower our communities. Now, we need your help to recognize achievement, innovation and success in our Main Street communities. Nominations are now … More Virginia Main Street 2018 Merit Awards – Nominations are Open!
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