Join your nearby Virginia Main Street partners for the next Regional Rev Ups, coming April 17 to Warrenton, April 18 to Marion, and April 19 to South Boston. Our topic for this Rev Up will be Opportunity Analysis: Economic Vitality. Data is typically the driver in most opportunity analysis. However, we often underestimate the importance … More VMS Regional Rev Ups Coming Soon!
While you were busy making a difference in your home town, you might have missed these thought-provoking posts: Holiday Customer Service: 7 Tips Retailers Should Not Ignore – Retail Minded Craft Beer’s Big Impact on Small Towns and Forgotten Neighborhoods – Curbed 6 Urban Projects Built Thanks to Online Civic Engagement – CitizenLab How to … More The District Digest Vol. 2 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work
The Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) knows how to lift up their community. Right now they’re raising awareness of the hardworking entrepreneurs who, with their own hands, are making downtown the destination for local shopping. Our guest blogger, DLA Executive Director Ashley Kershner, gives us the goods. As part of our overall marketing strategy this year, … More Downtown Lynchburg: Where the Makers Are
Virginia Main Street has opened the application process for our first ever Commercial District Affiliate Grants! Affiliate Grants are designed to assist organizations and communities in achieving their downtown revitalization goals and be used for projects or planning purposes. The maximum grant amount is $7,000 and can be used for… non-profit organizational development; vision/mission development; … More VMS Commercial District Affiliate Grants Now Available!
While you were busy making a difference in your home town, you might have missed these thought-provoking posts: Top 10 Reasons to Support Your Locally Owned Businesses – Institute for Local Self-Reliance 4 Easy Steps to Squash the “There’s No Parking” Argument – Strong Towns How to Design a Pedestrian Mall That Works – Governing … More The District Digest Vol. 1 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work
On October 2, 12 – 1 p.m., Virginia Main Street is offering a free webinar focused on encouraging business growth in your downtown and helping existing businesses keep their doors open. One of the of the primary responsibilities of a Main Street program is to boost the economic growth of the business district. With … More Webinar – Business Booster: Recruitment and Retention Tactics for a Vibrant Downtown
In my Virginia Main Street wanderings and conversations with directors I’ve been hearing a common refrain – “What should our Economic Vitality committee be doing?” A thought provoking question that I am sure goes unasked more often than asked. As fate would have it I recently participated in a Hillary Greenberg webinar on supporting small businesses … More Five Things your Economic Vitality Committee can do Today to Support Downtown
Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced that Virginia is now home to 206 licensed breweries, a 468% growth since 2012, when the tasting room bill, SB604, passed the General Assembly. A newly released economic impact study shows that Virginia’s booming beer industry contributes more than $9.34 billion annually to Virginia’s economy. “In addition to the direct … More Virginia’s Craft Beer Scene is Booming
Our Conference-At-A-Glance is now available online Explore the Merit Award options and submit your nominations by June 9 Follow the Virginia Main Street Blog and receive news and event updates More to come!
Guest Blogger Jeff Curtis, Executive Director of the Orange Downtown Alliance since 2008, has been involved in economic and community development for over 40 years, working in local government, chambers of commerce, and Main Street programs. Recently, Board members of the National Main Street Center (NMSC) convened in Orange, VA to host a public … More Secrets of Successful Communities
Virginia Main Street 