Category: Development

Achieve your nonprofit mission

April 15, 2009

Strategic thinking, volunteer resource management and managing your financial picture are all challenges of running a successful nonprofit organization.  They’re also titles of courses offered through Virginia Commonwealth University’s Nonprofit Learning Point (NLP) educational program.  In 2009 the program celebrates 13 years of empowering organizations to become more effective and efficient in achieving their goals.    … More Achieve your nonprofit mission

Virginia’s Main Street in the news

April 7, 2009

The Sunday, April 5 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch had several articles of note about Virginia Main Street communities.  First was an article about Abingdon’s latest downtown promotion, then an article about Page County’s (including Luray) attempt to be designated as the “Cabin Capital of Virginia.” Then yet another article, this one talking about the … More Virginia’s Main Street in the news

Historic building rehabilitation tax credits: 101

March 12, 2009

Did you know that you could receive a credit on your income taxes if you rehabilitate a historic building?    If your rehabilitation meets certain requirements, you could claim 20 percent of your qualified rehabilitation expenses as a credit on your federal income taxes.  And, you could claim 25 percent of your qualified rehabilitation expenses as … More Historic building rehabilitation tax credits: 101

Focus and attitude

February 27, 2009

When times are tough, even the most successful retail business can have some trouble.  Making the right business decisions is paramount when the margin for error is slim. “Fear can be a motivator, but it can also lead you into bad decisions, particularly in times like these,” says Norm Brodsky, small business writer for Inc. … More Focus and attitude

Home grown business

February 25, 2009

Think the talk of “green jobs” is malarkey?  This article on RichmondBizSense.com provides an example of how targeted incentives help promote growth in designated industries, such as home solar power, especially in the early stages of an industry’s growth when the economies of scale have not yet kicked in. Another article from The News Leader reviews the growth of the … More Home grown business

Economic gardening: Part I

February 13, 2009

Over the past two decades, communities across the country have begun fostering economic growth from within using a technique called economic gardening.  This technique is a response designed to reduce dependence on the traditional targets of economic development – large industry. The benefits of an entreprenuerial society are immense.  Number one among them – profits from … More Economic gardening: Part I