Uncategorized – Page 82 – Virginia Main Street

Main Street Communities Partnering for Entrepreneur Development

July 17, 2012

This past spring, DHCD’s Virginia Enterprise Initiative awarded six innovation grants to help develop new and innovative techniques for cultivating and assisting micro-entrepreneurs. Three of the awardees (Bristol, Staunton and Waynesboro) are specifically targeting micro-entrepreneur development in their local Main Street districts. Staunton Creative Community Fund, in Staunton, will continue to build off of its strong … More Main Street Communities Partnering for Entrepreneur Development

Entrepreneurs. Better with age?

May 3, 2012

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy. They’re innovators, experimenters and risk takers, the driving force behind capitalism’s “perennial gale of creative destruction,” in economist Joseph Schumpeter’s evocative metaphor. So says Chris Farrell in this week’s Bloomberg Businessweek. But Mr. Farrell goes on to remind us that entrepreneurs are not only young, brash, rule breakers. … More Entrepreneurs. Better with age?

Congratulations to Solid Stone Fabrics

April 25, 2012

Congratulations to David Stone, owner and founder of Solid Stone Fabrics on being selected as a finalist in the Momentum Business category of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity’s (AEO) Power of One Awards. Stone founded Solid Stone Fabrics in 2003 and operates in his hometown of Martinsville, VA, a Virginia Main Street community who has seen … More Congratulations to Solid Stone Fabrics

A Census of Microenterprise in the U.S. and Virginia

April 20, 2012

Microenterprises, businesses with five or fewer employees, are probably some of the most common business start-ups on Virginia’s Main streets. These scrappy entrepreneurs bring energy and new ideas to empty store fronts and formerly boarded up buildings. So, it’s probably a good idea to know how the organizations that assist microentrepreneurs are doing. And that … More A Census of Microenterprise in the U.S. and Virginia

2012 Downtown Improvement Grants Awarded

March 21, 2012

This past February, Virginia Main Street awarded seven Downtown Improvement Grants ranging from $6,000 to $25,000. The grants are intended to help local Main Street organizations implement economic restructuring strategies that will have measureable local and regional economic benefits, establish and strengthen partnerships in the community and increase the capacity and involvement of local Main Street … More 2012 Downtown Improvement Grants Awarded

Could cash mobs strike your downtown?

March 1, 2012

Remember flash mobs? Those quirky get togethers where groups of strangers would do the lambada in the middle of a bank plaza or dress like Pee Wee Herman? While those may have been fun and worthy of a few giggles, wouldn’t it be great to put that same premise to a productive use? Enter the cash mob. … More Could cash mobs strike your downtown?

Attracting, Developing and Retaining Main Street Entrepreneurs

February 23, 2012

Entrepreneurs are generally pretty imaginative people, but some may need a creative venue and an audience to help them articulate their ideas. Staunton Creative Community Fund’s (SCCF) recent Ignite Staunton! campaign proved to be the creative outlet that entrepreneur Michael Reeps needed to make his unique business concept a reality. Last fall’s Ignite Staunton!, partly … More Attracting, Developing and Retaining Main Street Entrepreneurs

St. Paul Celebrates Main Street Designation

January 12, 2012

Residents of St. Paul, one of four newly designated Virginia Main Street communities, recently gathered to formally recognize the distinction and enlist new volunteers at a kick-off event in November. Attendees included more than 40 residents, Mayor Kyle Fletcher, Vice-Mayor Sharon Steele, Town Councilmember Monty Salyer and members of St. Paul Tomorrow, led by current … More St. Paul Celebrates Main Street Designation

Harnessing the Potential of Social Media

December 1, 2011

Most businesses that use social media do so passively, using top-down, one-way communication to tell their customers about things. Often businesses don’t engage people by starting conversations or asking for ideas and input. This lack of engagement leads to missed opportunities for increased sales and valuable customer feedback. The people over at Inc. Magazine have a great number of … More Harnessing the Potential of Social Media

Guest Blogger: Randy Jones on DHR’s Revised Guidelines for Conducting Surveys of Historic Resources

November 17, 2011

People who know Virginia Main Street know that historic preservation plays an important role in the success of the program. Most VMS communities, for instance, feature downtown historic districts that are listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Listing these districts in the state and national registers bolsters economic revitalization … More Guest Blogger: Randy Jones on DHR’s Revised Guidelines for Conducting Surveys of Historic Resources