Inspirational downtown revitalization stories are happening all over the country. The article linked here describes how a small town in Kentucky was able to use a local food movement to bring new business into their struggling Main Street area. The program that they used was through EPA’s Local Foods, Local Places initiative and partners with … More Local foods revitalize downtowns
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
Governor McAuliffe recognizes May 2015 as Business Appreciation Month. DHCD has provided a list of ways you can celebrate this month-long recognition on our site at BUSINESS APPRECIATION MONTH. The site features downloadable versions of the logos for you to use on your material, as well as ways to celebrate your local businesses and potential ways to … More May 2015 is Business Appreciation Month
Many VMS communities and other localities that DHCD partners with, like Damascus, recognize the importance of connecting downtowns to the surrounding outdoor recreation assets. We asked guest blogger Nick Proctor, community development and outdoor recreation specialist for the Friends of Southwest Virginia, to share how it is working in one small community in Southwest Virginia. Muddy … More Damascus planned as year-round destination
Rehab Development, a Winston-Salem, N.C.-based developer specializing in downtown Main Street revitalization, historic preservation and successful public/private partnership formation, in partnership with Destination Downtown South Boston, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer-based Virginia Main Street Organization dedicated to the economic and cultural revitalization of downtown South Boston, has won the 2014 Virginia Main Street Special Achievement Award … More South Boston project wins Virginia Main Street Special Achievement Award and VDDA Award of Excellence
** Guest blogger Margie Johnson, Shop Talk In recognition of Virginia’s Business Appreciation Month, I would like to share a little bit about how the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust, an affiliate of Virginia Main Street, supports and strengthens local Main Street businesses. Throughout the last three years, the trust, under the leadership of Executive Director Jenny … More Supporting business development in Gloucester
Virginia Main Street 