Category: VMS

Downtown remains the holiday gathering place

December 21, 2010

Traditional holiday events continue to draw crowds downtown this year in spite of the bone-chilling weather experienced in many parts of the commonwealth. Last Friday, Rocky Mount’s “Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas,” had its largest turnout yet as guests enjoyed music, food, and shopping with vendors and merchants.  “The horse-drawn carriage rides and the miniature horse … More Downtown remains the holiday gathering place

Main Street Communities Bring History to Life

November 22, 2010

From the first American colonies to the modern college town, many Virginia communities have a rich history to share. Two VMS communities have recently been recognized for transforming aspects of their pasts into valuable assets for their downtown neighborhoods. Berryville Main Street has received the Virginia Downtown Development Association’s 2010 Building Development and Improvements Award of … More Main Street Communities Bring History to Life

Sustainability in Your Community: Main Street Center Member Resources

November 17, 2010

The National Trust Main Street Center has adopted sustainable development as a key issue in 2010. The Center takes a holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing not just green building but economic and social sustainability as well. The Center provides a variety of resources to help you make sustainability a reality in your community: Free Publications … More Sustainability in Your Community: Main Street Center Member Resources

Virginia’s quarter century communities featured in Main Street Now

November 16, 2010

In celebration of  Virginia Main Street’s 25th anniversary year, Main Street Now, the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center, recently profiled the three communities that have maintained VMS designation throughout the quarter century. Over that 25 years, the communities – Bedford, Franklin, and Winchester – have  navigated rocky economic terrain with strategies that make the most … More Virginia’s quarter century communities featured in Main Street Now

Make the most of your Main Street Center member resources

October 21, 2010

Virginia has 21 designated Main Street communities, all of whom are accredited with the National Trust Main Street Center. One requirement for accreditaion is holding an active membership with the Center. And it’s more than just a box to check off; the membership brings access to valuable resources. Membership is open to anyone interested in revitalization … More Make the most of your Main Street Center member resources

Be a Culpeper Local

October 13, 2010

Culpeper, Virginia just received some good press after it unleashed its new shop local campaign, Be a Culpeper Local.  The campaign combines educating the nearly 50,000 Culpeper County residents on the value of buying locally with a website, beaculpeperlocal.com that directs visitors to local shopping and dining options, specials, and a way to track how much … More Be a Culpeper Local

Virginia Tourism is way ahead of the pack…again.

October 12, 2010

One of Virginia Main Street’s most prized relationships is the one we have with Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).  We often plan our strategies to complement theirs and they often ask us what’s going on downtown that they can use to better market Virginia.  They believe in Virginia’s historic commercial districts as tourist attractions to the … More Virginia Tourism is way ahead of the pack…again.

Designing a Marketplace

October 7, 2010

Is your economic restructuring committee effective?  Challenges like recruiting businesses and interpreting expensive and technical market studies discourage eager volunteers. There’s no immediate result after hours of meetings and planning.  Pressure to see results from business owners, local government and the community compounds the frustration. It’s easy for this committee, in particular, to go inactive. Main Street organizations all over America … More Designing a Marketplace

Downtown leaders cover Main Street Essentials at Abingdon training

October 6, 2010

On Sep. 22 and 23, Advance Abingdon hosted 70 downtown revitalization professionals and volunteers from across Virginia for a training and knowledge share of best practices in the organization and promotion of downtown revitalization efforts. National Trust Main Street Center Senior Program Officer Kathy LaPlante, a nationally recognized expert on community based downtown revitalization, presented … More Downtown leaders cover Main Street Essentials at Abingdon training