The full book club toolkit for Dar Williams’ What I Found in a Thousand Towns is now available! Use the toolkit to build “positive proximity,” and start local conversations around the key identity-building assets in your community–who knows what next steps you will take. What I Found in a Thousand Towns emphasizes the role of projects … More Finding Main Street Toolkit Available
Guest blogger Zachary Whitlow, executive director of Downtown Blackstone Inc., provides an update on their Blackstone Town Square Revitalization Project that won the VMS Idea Pitch! Award at Downtown Intersections 2018. We were incredibly excited and grateful to have been chosen as the winner of the first annual Main Street Idea Pitch! competition. The presentation … More Update: VMS Idea Pitch! Winner – Blackstone
Virginia Main Street Merit Awards recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four points of the Main Street Approach®. This is the fifth in a blog series to highlight each of the seven 2018 awards. Heads up, the 2019 Merit Awards nominations will be open early … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: Gloucester’s Village Corridor Enhancement Project
If you are looking for the holiday spirit, look no further than Virginia’s Main Streets. Whether a holiday shopping promotion, a tree lighting, or a downtown evening carriage ride, there is a special experience just for you and your family. Our partners at #VirginiaTourism make sure you can plan this season’s special moments with the … More Walking in a Main Street Wonderland: Celebrating the Holidays in Virginia
At the recent 2018 Downtown Intersections in Harrisonburg, we continued the tradition of acknowledging outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts through Merit Awards. They recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four point of the Main Street Approach®. This is the third in a … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: Sandwich Sampler Competition
While you were busy making a difference in your hometown, you might have missed these thought-provoking reads. Attraction, expansion and retention of businesses for your Main Street district is vital. It is also one of the most difficult things for a community to successfully accomplish. It takes hard work, planning and follow-through. Here is a … More The District Digest Vol. 4 – Downtown Ideas to Put to Work
At the recent 2018 Downtown Intersections in Harrisonburg, we continued our tradition of acknowledging outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts through Merit Awards. They recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four points of the Main Street Approach®. This is the second in a … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: The Friendly City Fortune
Do your residents and stakeholders feel engaged in their community? Do they feel heard and included? And how does their engagement translate into stronger organizations and programming? On Oct. 1, from noon-1 p.m., Virginia Main Street is offering a free webinar focused on a researched and field tested civic engagement method to build, stronger, healthier, … More Webinar – Heart and Soul Field Guide: Fostering a Participatory Community
At the recent 2018 Downtown Intersections in Harrisonburg, we continued our tradition of acknowledging outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts through Merit Awards. They recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four points of the Main Street Approach®. This is the first of a … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: CenterFuse Co-working
How can your downtown function better for residents, merchants, and visitors? And how do you identify opportunities in the physical environment to make your town a destination, drawing customers and revenue to the area? On Oct. 11, 17, and 18 in Bristol, Blackstone and Gloucester, the fall edition of the Regional Rev Up promises to … More Regional Rev Up: Opportunity Analysis – Effective Design
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