As a participant in the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute’s (VRLI) 2024 Cohort, Zachary Whitlow, Community Vitality Program Administrator for the Department of Housing and Community Development, (DHCD) provides an overview of the fourth and final VRLI session of the year, which was held in the Staunton, Virginia on November 14-16, 2024. The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) … More Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Brings Cohort Members to the Shenandoah Valley

The Town of Berryville’s Hogan’s Alley has undergone a recent facelift. The once well-worn alleyway is now a vibrant space honoring the town’s beloved former manager, the late John Hogan. The alley connects West Main Street to the Crow Street parking lot and is a functional walkway for residents and visitors. Led by Berryville Main … More Alley Revitalization in Berryville

As the year comes to a close, it’s an ideal time for local Main Street programs to reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments. This reflection shouldn’t remain internal—sharing successes with the public and key stakeholders is vital. Highlighting the organization’s achievements and its impact on enhancing downtown vitality reinforces its mission, builds community pride, and … More Celebrating Success Matters: The Role of Annual Reports in Main Street Revitalization

During the month of November, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published eight blog posts, highlighting the latest community-vitality news, events and more! Here’s a recap: Helene Recovery Resources Small Business Saturday Supporting Entrepreneurs Federal and State Collaboration Elevating Your Organization Grant Opportunity Stay tuned for lots more great content in December!

Guest Blogger: Todd Wolford, Executive Director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc. Todd has served as the Executive Director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc. for eight years and has learned more in those years than any other time in his career about people, personalities, and politics. In 2022, he was selected as recipient of Main Street America‘s (MSA) … More Supporting Local Is More Than Just a Hashtag

Discover the Who / What / When / Where / Why of a Grant Opportunity! USDA Rural Development | Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is excited to present a monthly grants opportunity brief that could be a game-changer for your growing Communities! This brief is designed … More U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Opportunity: Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund

Small Business Saturday was created 15 years ago by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and American Express to encourage shoppers to look outside of the big chains for their holiday shopping and spend their dollars locally instead. Every year, the initiative serves as a reminder of the vital role that small businesses play in … More November 30th is Small Business Saturday!

Last fall, Destination Downtown South Boston (DDSB) was awarded a $100,000 Virginia Business District Resurgence Grant (VBDRG) from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) to fund an entrepreneur assistance initiative – Keep Entrepreneurs Program – within the community’s historic commercial district. Over the past year, DDSB delivered high-quality, individualized advising and technical … More Entrepreneur Assistance Program in South Boston Has Big Impact on Downtown Businesses

The Town of Altavista’s Spark Innovation Center recently completed their Boost Your Business (BYB) series, which strengthened local entrepreneurs across Central Virginia. The series included six total cohorts that participated in targeted business essential training. Each four-week session focused on a specific topic such as marketing, finance, leadership development, and human resources. Due to high … More Altavista’s Spark Innovation Center Boosts Entrepreneurs

On October 24, 2024, the Town of Colonial Beach welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) Virginia Rural Development State Director Perry Hickman, who announced a significant step forward in economic development for rural communities across the state. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has been awarded $500,000 through the USDA Rural … More Federal and State Collaboration Boosts Economic Development in Rural Virginia