Berryville has caught on to the economic development potential of the arts. On Jan. 9 Berryville Main Street (BMS) held a grand opening of the Fire House Gallery and Shop with wide-eyed enthusiasm. After all, this latest project is a new direction for the organization. The Fire House is a public-private project initiated by the … More Berryville Main Street embraces the arts
Hiring will rebound sooner rather than later and now is a great time to start your own business. At least that is what Daniel Gross of Slate and Newsweek says in his Moneybox column, “Coming Soon: Jobs!” According to Gross, we should be seeing the end of the “Great Recession” in the near future. “Before … More The end is near!!
A proper market study can be an expensive and complicated pursuit. It’s a major community project that requires time, commitment, and the active involvement of a group of dedicated people. And let’s be realistic too. Considering that dedicated group is volunteering their time outside of work and family responsibilities, completing and implementing a market study … More As easy as 1, 2, 3: A downtown market analysis tool at your fingertips
Governor Timothy M. Kaine, his cabinet and members of his senior staff conducted their sixteenth and final Cabinet Community Day on a sundrenched, autumn Tuesday, Oct. 20 in downtown Lynchburg. The Governor holds four Cabinet Community Days every year, visiting eight regions of the state twice over the course of the administration. Executive Director Angela … More Downtown Lynchburg shines for cabinet community day
Public policy can direct private investment. By creating opportunities and incentives that align with a community’s economic development strategy, a locality, whether small or large, can put the tools in place to turn the vision into a reality. Abingdon, the historic Washington County town, recently approved two new tax credits to help local property owners … More Abingdon puts policy tools to work
We have been promoting the idea that recessions and layoffs, while very difficult to navigate, provide the impetus for an entrepreneurial boom. Now, the Kauffman Foundation has issued its report supporting our claims. In economic gardening terms, this is the equivilant of burning last years crops to make way for the new “green shoots.” … More Entrepreneurial stories
Forty-five community leaders and volunteers attended the latest Virginia Main Street (VMS) training at Cally’s Restaurant and Brewing Co. in downtown Harrisonburg May 27, 2009. This year’s VMS Spring Feature focused on the public realm in downtown, the space between buildings which includes all public spaces, streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, and open space. The theme … More Recapping Spring Feature Training in Harrisonburg
Those of you who made it to the “Livable Downtowns” training held in Harrisonburg a couple of weeks ago know that just building upper story housing or rehabbing an old warehouse into loft apartments is not quite enough to get people living downtown. It is important to have the amenities people need (dry cleaning, corner … More How to attract Gen “Y”
What is a good business proposition? That is a tough question to answer. I am sure that many people thought that two old hippies were crazy when they started an ice cream company in Vermont, where summers last only a few months and the temperature can drop to near freezing in August. But those that saw promise … More Bright ideas for business
The arts are emerging as a potent force in the economic life of cities and rural areas nationwide. Would you have ever thought that the gallery walks, art and design fairs, or the downtown artist studio spaces would have a proven, significant impact on your local economy? Two recent studies have indicated that communities who … More Building downtown arts and cultural districts
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