Get your new year started off right by learning about what Virginia Main Street (VMS) resources are available to help you spark community impact! On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, VMS will hold two webinars to cover the basics of how-to-apply for VMS Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 grant programs: January 10, 2023 | 11:00 a.m. – … More VMS Webinar: How-to-Apply for FY2024 Grant Programs

Did you miss the How CDFIs Close the Wealth Gap through Supporting Small Businesses webinar? We recorded it! Find it on DHCDs YouTube page along with other past webinars.

Main Street Petersburg is re-envisioning its Downtown. The unique beauty of working to re-envision and revitalize a place is the recognition of the roll of the people. Community lead community development starts with engaging and listening to the constituents who live, work, and gather in that community. While it may be simple in concept, the … More Active Listening in Petersburg

In 1969 the slogan “Virginia is for Lovers” became the state’s iconic tourism motto in one of the most successful ad campaigns in our nation’s history. That same year, Lovingston, Virginia, the seat of Nelson County, faced tragedy from floods caused by Hurricane Camille.  Within a few short hours, the community suffered $100 million of … More Lovingston is for Virginians

Happy Wednesday, Main Street friends! The Community Vitality Office (CVO) team posted twelve (12) post this month. Did you miss any of them? If so, don’t worry we’ve got you covered ! Catch up here with this month’s edition of “In Case You Missed It!“ NEWS: UPCOMING EVENTS: As the month comes to a close, … More In Case You Missed It: November 2022 Digest

In 2020, the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 shifted community priorities and spurred innovation in creating space for communities to gather more safely. In 2020 the Town of Pulaski followed in this direction and was awarded a Community Development Block Grant to create a “pocket park” between 47 and 57 West Main Street. The park was built … More A Pocket Park in Pulaski

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is announcing a new program and will host a how-to-apply webinar for the Mixed Use on Main Street (MUMS) grant/loan program on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, from 10 A.M. – 11 A.M. For those interested but unable to attend the live webinar, a recording of the how-to-apply presentation will be posted to … More Announcing the Mixed Use on Main Street (MUMS) program!

The Staunton Downtown Development Association (SDDA) enjoys the “little things” in Downtown Staunton with a newly branded space, truck and cart. THE SPACE, a 432 square foot storefront operated by SDDA, opened on July 1, 2022 featuring an exhibit on The Statler Brothers, an American country music group from Staunton, Virginia. The exhibit ran until … More Enjoy the Little Things in Downtown Staunton!

Are short term rentals (STR) a topic of conversation in your community? Maybe so, as nationally the STR market is expanding and is poised for further growth.  National League of Cities (NLC) reports as a result of this growth, local leaders have had to grapple with competing benefits and challenges – in particular, how to … More Short-Term Rentals: A Guide to Ensure the Best Outcomes for Your Community

The Economic Development and Community Vitality (EDCV) Division has lots of programs to help communities achieve their development goals! Not limited to – Virginia Main Street (VMS), Community Business Launch (CBL), GO Virginia, Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF), Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ), Virginia Small Business Resiliency Fund (VSBRF), Virginia Individual Development Accounts (VIDA), and Program Layering. … More It’s DHCD Roadshow Time Again!