Category: Promotions

Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities

May 6, 2010

In an ongoing celebration of the Virginia Main Street’s 25th anniversary, the Virginia Main Street program has announced a rare funding opportunity specifically for designated Virginia Main Street communities.  Downtown Improvement Grants of up to $2,500 per designated community are now available for special, one-time projects.  The grant opportunity is designed to offer communities the ability … More Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities

Blackstone featured as an escape destination in Washington Post

April 28, 2010

Downtown Blackstone was given the travel treatment by the Washington Post in Friday’s edition.  In her article featuring the Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, writer Becky Krystal toured the town and several other important assets, such as Schwartz Tavern and the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center. The review: positive, and in important ways as well.  In her overnight … More Blackstone featured as an escape destination in Washington Post

Small Town and Merchant Program brings relevant resources to downtown merchants

April 20, 2010

Virginia Main Street continues the partnership with Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), bringing the Small Town & Merchant Program to traditional commercial districts. In the workshop, “Staying Relevant to a Changed Customer,” retail expert Marc Willson positions the consumer in the recovering economy and provides real resources and information to help merchants retain existing customers and capture new … More Small Town and Merchant Program brings relevant resources to downtown merchants

Hi ho the derry-o, the farmer has e-mail

April 7, 2010

An article in the April issue of Inc. Magazine prompted one more look at that thought-provoking Permuto Discoveries graphic.  We’ve looked at drugstores as a anchors on Main Street and at engaging downtown merchants in e-commerce.  Now we’ll look specifically at the food, wine, and beer category, with about 57 percent of sales being catalog, telephone, and online sales. (That seems high, but consider specialty – … More Hi ho the derry-o, the farmer has e-mail

Congratulations milestone award winners

April 6, 2010

Nineteen communities received Milestone Achievement Awards or other special recognition at the Virginia Main Street 25th Anniversary Dinner and Award Ceremony on March 25 in Lynchburg.  The 25 Year Club: Virginia Main Street’s Kyle Myer, Bedford Mayor Skip Tharp, Franklin Downtown Association President Victor Story, Winchester Old Town Development Board Member Dave Spence, and Virginia … More Congratulations milestone award winners

Quality v. quantity

March 30, 2010

Last Thursday, at the Virginia Main Street 25th Anniversary Milestone Achievement Awards, keynote speaker Chuck D’Aprix spoke about the importance of making your downtown attractive to entrepreneurs.  One way to do this is to focus on the quality of the experience rather than the quantity of products you sell. In short, it is difficult to compete … More Quality v. quantity

VMS to Celebrate 25 Years

March 18, 2010

On March 25, the commonwealth will officially celebrate 25 years of Main Street revitalization at Lynchburg’s Craddock Terry Hotel.  The anniversary dinner will combine special acknowledgement of the quarter-century mark with the annual Milestones Award ceremony. The event will feature special guest speaker Chuck D’Aprix, president of The Downtown Entrepreneurship Project, dinner and live music. … More VMS to Celebrate 25 Years

Even stores on Main Street do it: Making e-commerce work downtown

March 15, 2010

Today we’re going to take a closer look at the crosshatched area in the Permuto Discoveries graphic. That shaded e-commerce portion of spending includes catalog, telephone, and online sales.  Sure, the biggest piece of these sales is likely handled by Amazon’s high-tech automated warehouse distribution system or by a cheery voice at Chesapeake, Virginia’s QVC call center.  But there is also a … More Even stores on Main Street do it: Making e-commerce work downtown

Minds Wide Open contest features Main Street communities

February 23, 2010

Minds Wide Open, a statewide celebration of women in the arts, will highlight thousands of special events across the commonwealth between March and June of 2010. While any individual or group can participate by presenting at least one public program focused on women, and related events are taking place in nearly every part of the state, … More Minds Wide Open contest features Main Street communities