The holidays are right around the corner, and one of the best gifts you can give to your community is keeping dollars local. When you’re not quite sure what to buy someone, a gift certificate to their favorite store is always a great option, or if you don’t know their favorite shop, perhaps their favorite … More Gift Certificates: A Gift That Gives Back to Main Street

When two Historic Manassas, Inc. (HMI) board members saw a need to better promote downtown businesses, they grabbed their phones and hit record. Pass the Mic is a volunteer-driven storytelling series created by Board and Promotions Committee members Nikki Merkle and Liz Barahona to give small businesses in Historic Manassas well-deserved time in the spotlight. … More Short Videos, Big Impact: “Pass the Mic” Promotes Manassas’ Small Businesses

The Virginia Main Street (VMS) Fall 2025 Regional Rev Up series brought together more than 100 community leaders and Main Street professionals from across the state for a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. The workshops, held on September 16, 17, and 19 in Culpeper, Tazewell, and Clarksville, respectively, focused on how local leadership … More The Power of Leadership in Downtown Design: Highlights from the Fall 2025 Regional Rev Ups

Gate City Frontier is continuing to build momentum around its vision for a more vibrant and welcoming downtown. Building on the success of its first round of streetscape improvements, the organization secured another Virginia Main Street Community Vitality Grant (CVG) to advance their #GateCityProud project. #GateCityProud is part of a larger effort to enhance the … More Gate City Expands Streetscape Improvements with #GateCityProud Project

In 2021, Altavista On Track (AOT) was awarded a Virginia Main Street Downtown Investment Grant, totaling $20,000, to strengthen its Downtown Business Investment Grant (DBIG) Program. Since that time, with an additional $30,000 in supplemental funding, the organization has worked diligently to provide support to both new and existing downtown businesses. For new businesses, the … More Altavista On Track sparks growth and community pride with Downtown Business Investment Grant

Destination Downtown Waynesboro (DDW) is one of 25 small towns awarded $50,000 in the latest round of T-Mobile Hometown Grants. If you were to visit downtown Waynesboro, you’d see the community’s effort to curate their own street art gallery similar to that of a modern art museum. It showcases the abstract, fantastic, and much more. … More Destination Downtown Waynesboro lands $50K T-Mobile Hometown Grant to Beautify District

Leesburg’s historic downtown is beloved for its rich history, charming shops, and vibrant culture. To help visitors and locals better explore and enjoy all of its wonderful attractions, the Town of Leesburg introduced an updated wayfinding system. To complete the redesign and modernization of its existing wayfinding system, the Town re-hired the system’s original designer, … More Enhancing Leesburg’s Visitor Experience Through Updated Wayfinding

At the 2025 Advancing Virginia Main Street (VMS) Executive Director Retreat, local program directors engaged in the Wonderwall—a self-directed facilitation exercise designed to spark reflection on public communication efforts. Rooted in Appreciative Inquiry, the activity invited participants to first celebrate “what went well” before considering “opportunities for growth.” The goal: to help executive directors sharpen … More Celebrating Success, Inspiring Growth

Last month, the Phoebus Partnership welcomed City of Hampton council members and department directors into their newly designated Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) district for “Walk the Block.” Attendees were presented with Partnership swag (including t-shirts with their new logos), and the event served as an ideal platform for continued municipal support of their Main … More Local Leaders “Walk the Block” in Phoebus

If you’re part of a Main Street community in Virginia, you know how important it is to connect and amplify your community through its rich history and culture. Whether you’re planning a historic walking tour, a community storytelling event, or festivals that bring local heritage to life, Virginia Humanities can help provide a funding boost. … More Virginia Humanities Grants: Bring Local Stories to Life