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
Wouldn’t you like to have a downtown filled with energetic and forward thinking businesses? In today’s fast changing economy, success belongs to those nimble risk takers who understand that their job is to fill consumer demand; The Entrepreneurs. Join the Virginia Main Street network of downtown revitalization professionals and volunteers in Franklin on July 22 and 23 … More Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Downtown: Summer toolkit registration now open
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which houses the National Trust Main Street Center, has named Stephanie Meeks as the organization’s eighth president. Meeks replaces Richard Moe, who led the organization for the past 17 years before his retirement in late 2009. Meeks has an established track record leading large nonprofit organizations. She served as president … More National Trust names new president
With the addition of two new Commercial District Affiliates, the list of communities recognized as pursuing or exploring the Main Street Four Point Approach has grown to 98. There are currently 21 designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) Communities across the commonwealth. These communities have all been nationally accredited by the National Trust Main Street Center for their work in … More New Virginia Main Street Commercial District Affiliates named
Don Macke at the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship just sent out a summary of takeaways from an Economic Development Survey undertaken by the National League of Cities and the International County/City Management Association (ICMA). The Center, an initiative of the Rural Policy Research Intsitiute (RUPRI)consistently puts out substantive resources for supporting entrepreneurial development. Sign up here for … More Getting serious about downtown entrepreneurship
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
The weather has been perfect lately for a good walk, so on Sunday, I invited some retired friends for one. They declined, choosing instead to join the centrifugal crush of their comfortably dressed peers at the mall. The mall? I couldn’t imagine any place I’d rather avoid at on a sunny afternoon, but it got me thinking. Can downtowns … More These streets were made for walking
In an ongoing celebration of the Virginia Main Street’s 25th anniversary, the Virginia Main Street program has announced a rare funding opportunity specifically for designated Virginia Main Street communities. Downtown Improvement Grants of up to $2,500 per designated community are now available for special, one-time projects. The grant opportunity is designed to offer communities the ability … More Virginia Main Street announces Downtown Improvement Grant opportunity for designated communities
In 2009 Virginia’s 21 designated communities employed a variety of organizational, design, promotional, and economic restructuring strategies to foster vibrant commercial districts. The Virginia Main Street 2009 Annual Report provides a summary of each community’s unique efforts and an overview of how, over the past 25 years, the program has sparked a total of more than $638 … More Virginia Main Street 2009 annual report available online
Nineteen communities received Milestone Achievement Awards or other special recognition at the Virginia Main Street 25th Anniversary Dinner and Award Ceremony on March 25 in Lynchburg. The 25 Year Club: Virginia Main Street’s Kyle Myer, Bedford Mayor Skip Tharp, Franklin Downtown Association President Victor Story, Winchester Old Town Development Board Member Dave Spence, and Virginia … More Congratulations milestone award winners
Virginia Main Street 