2013 is the eighth year for the Rice Lake Main Street Association (Wisconsin) ArtScape, a banner program that showcases locally-created art, provides a unique twist on an outdoor gallery experience and encourages pedestrians to stroll and traffic to slow through downtown. Invited artists, who often range in age from 12 to 80, are given blank … More ArtScapes – Outdoor Art Galleries
Sept. 11-12, 2013 The Culpeper Center 137 South Main Street Culpeper, Virginia So, your community is known for a festival or two, and the historic commercial district is showing signs of life? It is time to take the next step. Design and economic restructuring strategies cannot only improve the appearance and vibrancy of your downtown, … More VMS Essentials Workshop in Culpeper Sept. 11-12
Location: Gateway Theater 329 West Main Street Waynesboro, Virginia Every Main Street community focuses its economic redevelopment on the assets that make it unique – its historic architecture, eclectic mix of shopping and dining and festivals. But only a short hike, paddle or bike ride away is often an undervalued asset waiting to be incorporated … More Virginia Main Street Summer Toolkit
Culpeper’s State Theatre is the topic of the National Main Street Center’s Main Street Weekly May 14 edition. The $9.3 million historic rehabilitation of the 1938 Art Deco theater replaced a blighting, vacant building with a 560-seat state-of-the-art entertainment venue in the heart of Culpeper’s bustling Main Street district. The theater’s restoration has already spurred … More State Theatre Reopens in Culpeper
An Opportunity Summit will highlight new strategies and resources for Southwest Virginia entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. Entrepreneurs and small business owners will have the opportunity to connect with community leaders and explore possible new ventures in the counties of Tazewell, Russell, Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise, Lee and Scott and the city of Norton. Entrepreneurs developing business plans and seeking … More April 23 Opportunity Summit to Spotlight SWVA Entreprenteurship
By encouraging and cultivating unique, local, independent commercial sectors, retail along Virginia’s Main Streets is on the rise. However, it is a brave new world that Main Streets retailers are operating in. “Capitalism is creative destruction,” Richard Sylla stated in a recent Entrepreneur article. “Old models get outmoded, and new models come in and take over.” Just … More Finding Main Street Customers Online
Last fall, Marion Downtown Revitalization Association introduced a pilot project designed to help fill vacant downtown storefronts. Called “Pop Up Marion,” the project provides up to $5,000 in grant funds for qualifying new downtown businesses to help offset startup costs. The initial funding was provided by Virginia Main Street through a competitive … More Marion Downtown Revitalization Association Provides Entrepreneur Training and Small Business Grants
Virginia Main Street is accepting applications from communities interested in being designated a Virginia Main Street community. However, if your community is not ready to take this step, here are steps to to help establish or reinvigorate a successful local preservation-based downtown revitalization organization. Look at downtown as if you are a first-time visitor. What is positive? … More Getting Started with Virginia Main Street
Many Main Street organizations are planning major winter festivals and downtown shopping events. Although there is a festive feel in the air with these short days and cold weather, the lovely weather is not enough reason to plan and call on volunteers, sponsors, Main Street businesses and the public to hold a festival. There must be … More How do you know if your event was a success?
Virginia Main Street (VMS) is getting ready to add new Main Street communities to the 25 communities officially designated as Virginia Main Streets. VMS is now accepting applications, due March 15, 2013, for new Virginia Main Street communities. Why apply for designation as a Virginia Main Street community? First and foremost, designated VMS communities join … More VMS designation applications accepted through March 15, 2013
Virginia Main Street 