The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will be holding a Building Entrepreneurial Economies (BEE) Innovation Day on Wednesday, December 6, in Charlottesville, VA. Community leaders and small business enthusiasts will discuss innovative ideas in entrepreneurship development, as well as offer inspiration and education to plan for and create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem … More BEE Innovation Day 2017
Virginia Main Street has opened the application process for our first ever Commercial District Affiliate Grants! Affiliate Grants are designed to assist organizations and communities in achieving their downtown revitalization goals and be used for projects or planning purposes. The maximum grant amount is $7,000 and can be used for… non-profit organizational development; vision/mission development; … More VMS Commercial District Affiliate Grants Now Available!
In my Virginia Main Street wanderings and conversations with directors I’ve been hearing a common refrain – “What should our Economic Vitality committee be doing?” A thought provoking question that I am sure goes unasked more often than asked. As fate would have it I recently participated in a Hillary Greenberg webinar on supporting small businesses … More Five Things your Economic Vitality Committee can do Today to Support Downtown
Our Conference-At-A-Glance is now available online Explore the Merit Award options and submit your nominations by June 9 Follow the Virginia Main Street Blog and receive news and event updates More to come!
Downtown Intersections is just 62 days away! Virginia Main Street staff has been working hard to craft an agenda, secure speakers, develop walking tours and workshops that will educate, inspire, and empower our communities. Now we need your help to recognize achievement, innovation, and success in our Main Street communities. The Virginia Main Street 2017 … More Virginia Main Street 2017 Merit Awards – Nominations are Open!
Virginia Main Street is happy (and excited) to announce that registration for Downtown Intersections 2017 is officially open! We will be in Winchester from Monday, July 10th through Wednesday, July 12th at the beautiful George Washington Hotel. Join us on Monday for an intensive board training. This is designed to provide your board with the … More Downtown Intersections 2017!
As an inherently grassroots movement, effective community engagement is an essential component of any successful Main Street program. Without it, organization’s cannot effectively plan their work, recruit volunteers and board members, promote the district, or communicate impact. Main Street must be community driven. This week I had the opportunity to participate in two very different community … More A Tale of Two Community Engagement Events
Are your revenue strategies working for your Main Street nonprofit? How do you enhance those strategies for a prosperous (and profitable) future? On March 20, 22, and 28 in Berryville, Danville, and Abingdon, the spring edition of the Regional Rev Up promises to load your Main Street program with the tools you need to create sustainable and successful … More Rev Up Fund Development: Strategic. Sustainable. Successful.
Small rural communities often get discouraged either because they feel they are “too small” to make effectual changes in a slow economy or the revitalization needs of the community just seem too overwhelming. Not so for the inspirational town of Water Valley, Mississippi. According to this article, a couple who fell in love with the people in this … More Can-Do Spirit Equals Success
Recently, Main Street managers have been asking about options for the insurance required for their organizations. Although we don’t endorse any program, we wanted to make you aware that the National Main Street Center, together with National Trust Insurance Services (NTIS), has announced the Main Street Insurance Program. For every insurance package a Main Street program secures through NTIS, NTIS will … More Main Street Insurance Program Announced
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