As part of its business support efforts, the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) has launched a new publication to support the area’s Hispanic business community! The publication, Boletín, is a small booklet featuring resources and information specific to Spanish speaking businesses serving Columbia Pike’s residents. Recently, the first publication was mailed to 60 small businesses … More CPRO Launches Hispanic Business Support Publication

In early February, the SOVA Innovation Hub welcomed members to take advantage of the facility’s coworking space! Located on the site of a former tobacco warehouse that was built in the 1900’s, the SOVA Innovation Hub brings together business and education partners to offer innovative programs that inspire people to pursue digital careers and entrepreneurship. … More New Coworking Space Opens in Downtown South Boston

Educational Webinar: After a successful kickoff month, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) was excited to continue the CCV Series, exploring the importance of placemaking during the month of February! Jeff Siegler (pictured left), founder of Revitalize, or Die. and a founding partner of Proud Places, helped participants discover how the places … More CCV Series: February 2021 Recap & Additional Resources

Now more than ever, kindness and love need to be spread throughout communities, and that’s exactly what’s happening in Warrenton, Virginia. The Gerrish family (pictured left), owners of Designs by Teresa (Flowers & Gifts), partnered alongside other local businesses and organizations to construct a wall of flowers with each bouquet symbolizing an opportunity to show … More Warrenton Encourages Community to LOVE OUT LOUD!

Altavista’s former fire station will soon become the Spark Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art coworking facility focused on supporting entrepreneurs and small business incubation. The new center will offer office-like amenities, wireless/wired internet access and broadband, high-quality copiers/printers, plotter and 3D printing capabilities, and other valuable resources for entrepreneurs and mobile workers, while also providing innovative … More New Coworking Facility Coming to Downtown Altavista

While currently accounting for only one percent of storytelling experiences consumed by viewers, Virtual Reality (VR) technology will be an important tool to watch for virtual tourism in the future.  A team of three friends launched a pilot project, called Hidden in Plain Site (HiPS), in January 2021 after seeing a void in storytelling that … More Virtual Reality: Making History Come Alive

In January, Virginia Main Street (VMS) published the Creating Interactive Apptivities blog post, highlighting the importance of keeping people engaged with places throughout the pandemic. VMS spotlighted Danville’s River District Association (RDA) for their efforts to create socially distant activities through guided smartphone-based apptivities via Distrx. Excitingly, RDA has announced that their fun mobile apptivities … More Danville’s River District Association Launches Mobile App

Recently, Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. (CRI) announced that the designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) organization’s Culpeper Downtown Dollars program will infuse $16,500 into local small businesses. Similar to many Main Street programs across Virginia, CRI has worked hard to encourage the public to “put their money where their heart is” and support the lifeblood of the … More Culpeper Downtown Dollars Program Infuses $16,500 into Local Small Businesses

Now more than ever, good governance should be celebrated! It represents a significant achievement, one to recognize and reward. The gratification of contributing to a productive board that enables an organization to advance its mission is reward in itself, but those responsible for making it happen deserve a medal. There are six essential “ingredients” for … More Six Essential Ingredients for Effective Board Governance