Economic Vitality often proves to be the most challenging of the Four Points for communities to implement, but its importance can not be overlooked. After all, job and business creation, retention and expansion is the hallmark of the health of your entrepreneurial ecosystem. So, how is your organization doing at promoting the business opportunities in … More Is Your Main Street Website Open for Business?

As one of the Four Points of the Main Street Approach™, we talk a lot about how design in your community can improve and create attractive, usable public spaces. But, have you ever considered how certain public features may actually deter people from frequenting your downtown or shared spaces? It even has a name, Unpleasant … More Unpleasant Design -Considerations for Inclusive Public Spaces

Joan Garry strikes again.  She leads a nonprofit consulting firm and is the author of Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership, a favorite read among Virginia Main Street program managers.  Recently she contributed an article to The Chronicle of Philanthropy about motivating an apathetic board, a situation that may hit close to home for any … More How to Reignite Your Board Members

At the closing luncheon of Downtown Intersections—the gathering of Virginia’s Main Street and downtown revitalization network—eight awards marked the best of the year. Erik Johnston, director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development presented the awards, noting the power of collaborative effort toward in creating places that attract investment and people. Short videos—each … More Video Highlights: Virginia Main Street Merit Awards

Are you an entrepreneur looking to take your business idea to the next level? Register now to attend one of six Lean Canvas workshops, presented by Dale Fickett of RVA Works, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Main Street program and hosting localities. This day-long session on the Lean Canvas method … More Take Your Business to the Next Level with Lean Canvas

 “Our downtown has become the place where people want to visit, play, work, and live”.  This is a statement most anyone would want to make about their community, but all too often the task is overwhelming. Where to start when there is so much that could be done?  How do you put together the resources … More The Main Street Approach – A Catalyst for Community Revitalization