Just a few short years ago Scott’s Addition was little more than a cluster of manufacturing and light industrial adjacent to the railyard. A handful of early 20th-century row houses remained from the early, residential days of the neighborhood, as well as a couple of quaint diners. Fast forward to 2017 and the neighborhood has … More Virginia Downtown Development Association Happy Hour!
Guest blogger Sue Ross, Executive Director of Berryville Main Street, has 10 years of Main Street experience and recently returned to Berryville to lead a refreshed program, creating new partnerships and an enhanced marketplace. Berryville Main Street turned 25! We celebrated with bluegrass, local food, and friends in a restored downtown dairy barn. Started in 1992, … More Berryville Main Street Celebrates 25 Years
One of the most important ways that a municipality can support it’s small business community is through targeted financial incentives. A recent Potomac Local article touted the expansion of the city of Manassas’ business incentive programs, including Façade Improvement Grants and Landscape Improvement Grants. These incentives will assist with the exterior renovations and landscaping of existing … More Local Incentives Drive Community Development
Each year, the National Main Street Center and its coordinating program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach®. This year twenty-one Virginia Main Street Communities met the rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street … More Congratulations to Virginia’s 2016 National Main Street Accredited Communities
Did you know that the cultural heritage tourist typically spends more and stays longer than other types of U.S. travelers? Preservation Virginia is co-hosting the 31st annual Virginia Preservation Conference in Charlottesville, an event that draws 200 community leaders, developers, architects, local planning officials and others from across the Commonwealth. Following the release of the … More Make the Most of Heritage Tourism in Virginia
Is your downtown ready for new businesses and residential investment? In order to meet new challenges and ensure a strong Main Street, communities need ongoing training. Whether the community is just getting started with Main Street activities or well-seasoned in managing a prosperous commercial district, staff and volunteers need different skills in different phases of … More Three Upcoming Opportunities to Rev up Your Downtown Revitalization Efforts
Guest Blogger Julie Markowitz, director of Staunton Downtown Development Association, started with Main Street in 2006, armed with 10 years of experience in mall marketing and promotions. Staunton Downtown Development Association is delighted to host the first inaugural Virginia Main Street Downtown Intersections workshop in Staunton, Virginia on July 11-13, 2016. Welcome to Staunton, Main Street … More Tips for a Wonderful Experience at Downtown Intersections, Staunton, Virginia
How would your Main Street organization celebrate years of making downtown a social and investment hub? As a kick-off to their 20-year anniversary, the Staunton Downtown Development Association (SDDA) hosted “Staunton Stories,” a one-day event to celebrate and document the people that make downtown Staunton a dynamic and diverse community. The event was held at … More Staunton Has a Story to Tell: Celebrating 20 years of Main Street
Beginning May 23-25, Virginia Main Street (VMS) staff and more than 25 staff and volunteers from the VMS designated communities are in downtown Milwaukee for Main Street Now, the National Main Street Center conference. Main Street Now is the largest nationwide gathering of commercial district revitalization professionals and community leaders in the nation. This year, the conference will bring together more … More Hello from Milwaukee: Main Street Now Conference this week
Who was that charming lady on the Google search page? Wednesday, May 4, 2016, marked 100 years since the birth of Jane Jacobs. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an urban writer and activist who championed new, community-based approaches to planning for more than 40 years. She loved cities and, while she never studied urban planning, Jacobs considered … More Community-based Inspiration: Jane Jacobs’ 100th Birthday
Virginia Main Street 