The Virginia Main Street (VMS) program’s Power of Preservation merit award highlights a preserved historic landmark and the actions taken by a community to restore this property through stewardship and innovation, preserving the historic character of their downtown. The 2024 award went to St. Paul Tomorrow (SPT) for their commitment to preserving the Lyric Theater! The Lyric … More 2024 Power of Preservation Merit Award Winner – St. Paul Tomorrow

The Virginia Main Street (VMS) program’s Entrepreneurship Gamechanger merit award highlights programs, policies, or initiatives that nurture and support individuals or emerging small businesses to develop their ideas, products, and/or services into viable, competitive businesses. The 2024 award went to Downtown Wytheville, Inc. (DTW) for their Grow with Google program! In 2023, DTW signed on as a Grow with … More 2024 Entrepreneurship Gamechanger Merit Award Winner – Downtown Wytheville!

The Virginia Main Street (VMS) program’s Main Street Change Maker merit award highlights an individual that has shown strong commitment and extensive support for their local Main Street program. The 2024 award went to Tom Raab, South Boston Town Manager. Tom Raab is deserving of recognition for his unwavering support of South Boston’s local Main … More 2024 Main Street Change Maker Merit Award Winner – Tom Raab, South Boston Town Manager!

The Virginia Main Street (VMS) program’s Impactful Placemaking merit award highlights a community’s physical and visual transformation by recognizing an outstanding people-centered, placemaking project that bolsters the downtown’s uniqueness. The 2024 award went to Harrisonburg’s Downtown Ducklings project. Inspired by the Mice on Main project in Greenville, South Carolina, Harrisonburg’s Downtown Ducklings is a permanent, … More 2024 Impactful Placemaking Merit Award Winner – Harrisonburg!

During the month of June, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published seven blog posts, highlighting the latest community-vitality news, events and more! Here’s a recap: Accessibility Design VMS Community News VMS Merit Awards Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Stay tuned for lots more great content in July!

Virginia Main Street (VMS) recently had the honor of joining the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) at their summer membership meeting centered on exploring the intersection of community and economic development. VMS presented the annual Merit Awards highlighting the outstanding achievements of Main Street communities and their impactful projects, partners, and initiatives. Six communities received … More Celebrating 2024 VMS Merit Award Winners!

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, provides an overview of the first VRLI session of the year, which was held in Danville on May 22-24, 2024. The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) kicked off its … More Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Kicks Off Session One in Danville, Virginia