An unexpected byproduct of preservation-based economic development is the discovery of a community’s history. While the primary goal is to ensure a building is being used to its fullest potential, the process often yields stories waiting to be told. In Buena Vista’s Main Street district, sits a vacant building at 141 & 149 West 21st … More Uncovering Buena Vista’s History Through Preservation-Based Economic Development

In late 2023, Downtown Blackstone, Inc. (DBI) was awarded a $75,000 Virginia Main Street (VMS) Downtown Investment Grant (DIG) to support major improvements to Blackstone’s Town Square, located in the heart of downtown. Over the past several years, DBI, working in close partnership with the Town of Blackstone, has transformed the square into a more … More Designing for Community: Activating Blackstone’s Town Square

The Town of Mount Jackson is making bold moves to reinvigorate its downtown district through the expansion of its entrepreneurial initiative, the Mount Jackson 5 (MJ5) program. In 2024, the town received $50,000 from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Business Launch (CBL) grant to launch MJ5. The CBL program is designed … More Mount Jackson 5 Completes Second Year, Bringing Seven Businesses to Town

Public art has a special way of telling a community’s story—and in Onancock, that story just became even more vibrant. Thanks to a powerful mix of leveraged private investment and support from a Virginia Main Street Downtown Investment Grant, Onancock Main Street (OMS) brought Project Uplift to life, adding three new public art pieces to … More Project Uplift: Public Art Strengthens Downtown Onancock

Strong, engaged boards are essential to every Main Street organization. Board members provide governance and strategic oversight, while also carrying the fiduciary responsibility to ensure resources are used wisely and transparently. Experience Old Town Warrenton’s (EOTW) board recently deepened their fundraising skills through consultant-led training with The Spark Mill, supported by a Virginia Main Street … More Reinforcing & Reimagining Fundraising in Warrenton

This year, Marion reached the extraordinary milestone of 30 years as a designated Virginia Main Street community! The Marion Downtown Revitalization Association (MDRA) marked the occasion with an evening of celebration, reflection, and vision for the future, honoring decades of local leadership, economic revitalization, and community pride. The anniversary celebration brought together partners, supporters, and … More Marion Celebrates 30 Years of Main Street

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