When you think about it, Main Street is an easy sell. Supporting local merchants, caring for older buildings, and maintaining community character all have a feel-good quality; instinctively they’re the right things to do. And the community of volunteers and stakeholders who make it happen sell it the best. With inexpensive technology and free hosting … More I want my M(ain Street)TV
What happens when you team artists with local arts, culture and social organizations and task them with creating an innovative street gallery in vacant storefronts? On June 25, Staunton visitors and residents will find out, as a month-long exhibit opens in the empty windows along Beverley Street. For a downtown braving a major construction project, … More Staunton’s storefront art initiative
Historic preservation is gaining popular recognition as a “green” practice connected to broader sustainability goals. After all, reuse of a historic building is fundamental recycling. From a national perspective, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has created a Sustainability and Historic Preservation Web resource for homeowners, Main Street communities and preservation planners. Now Virginia can … More Virginia Preservation Toolkit, a green guide?
If you were asked to describe an entrepreneur, what words would you use? Maybe terms like “bright, energetic, or magnetic.” This 2004 article in the aptly named magazine Entrepreneur, gives a whole host of other terms, not all of them complimentary. Two descriptions of an entrepreneur that most people would not use are “ex-felon,” and … More The unexpected entrepreneur
If your travel budget didn’t allow you to connect with peers from across the country in Oklahoma, you can still take a little time out of your day this afternoon or tomorrow to virtually attend one these upcoming presentations from the National Main Streets Conference taking place now in Oklahoma City. Just visit the Web site at the designated time … More Be a virtual attendee at the Main Streets conference
Last Thursday, at the Virginia Main Street 25th Anniversary Milestone Achievement Awards, keynote speaker Chuck D’Aprix spoke about the importance of making your downtown attractive to entrepreneurs. One way to do this is to focus on the quality of the experience rather than the quantity of products you sell. In short, it is difficult to compete … More Quality v. quantity
Want to add some color to a gray winter day at the office? Take a virtual visit to Charlottesville’s refurbished Downtown Mall with two University of Virginia planning students. Charlotteville’s Downtown Mall Rap, a musical look (Hey C’ville!) at one of the nation’s few high-performing pedestrian malls was completed for a studio course. Complete with urban-sprawl combating karate kicks … More What rhymes with streetscape?
Downtown Culpeper’s focus on farm fresh food through the farmer’s market, destination restaurants, and special food themed events has contributed to the revitalization of the historic community. Watch “Meet the Farmer” host Michael Clark talk with community leaders involved in the new vitality of Culpeper. The segment features Culpeper Renaissance, Inc. in a success story that builds on the … More Video: Culpeper’s thriving foodshed
Congratulations to Rocky Mount, Winchester and Harrisonburg! The 2009 Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA) awards were announced at the annual meeting in Fredericksburg this November. The VDDA awards recognize organizations, individuals and governments for their achievements in revitalizing downtowns across Virginia. Several Main Street communities were honored in the categories of Business Development, Promotions and Marketing category which honors excellence … More Congratulations to our 2009 VDDA Award of Excellence Winners!
A proper market study can be an expensive and complicated pursuit. It’s a major community project that requires time, commitment, and the active involvement of a group of dedicated people. And let’s be realistic too. Considering that dedicated group is volunteering their time outside of work and family responsibilities, completing and implementing a market study … More As easy as 1, 2, 3: A downtown market analysis tool at your fingertips
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