Find a VMS Community Near You!

Main Street communities can be found all across the Commonwealth. Whether you are looking for a district nearby or planning a road trip you can use the map below to explore our network! Click the individual icons to see detailed information for each and the “View larger map” icon in the top right corner to open the map in a separate window. 

Quality of life is tied to quality of place, and all Virginians deserve to live in a place that has a thriving local economy, is rich in character and features inviting public spaces that make everyone feel as though they belong. While Virginia Main Street (VMS) seeks to bring increased vitality to the places people call home, Main Street empowers communities to set their own destinies and offers a road-map for locally-owned, locally-driven prosperity. Through the time-tested Main Street Approach, which is a framework for community driven, comprehensive revitalization, your community, along with assistance from VMS, can transform its economy, leverage local leadership and improve overall quality of life.

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) assists all communities working to improve the vitality of their downtowns. Every community has the opportunity to participate in Main Street, and we invite you to learn more about the VMS tier levels of participation featured below. 

Tier One: Exploring Main Street

For those communities with the desire to improve their historic downtown or neighborhood commercial district and willingness to imagine what’s possible, consider becoming an Exploring Main Street (EMS) community! Here, your community will become a part of a powerful, grassroots network consisting of over 70 communities throughout Virginia and gain access to a variety of training and grant opportunities to guide and support your community-based revitalization efforts that are just beginning to flourish.

If you’re interested in making a positive impact in your community, submit a brief, noncompetitive application at any time. Whether you’re a small town or big city, or somewhere in between, VMS can help you showcase why a community is only as strong as its core.

Tier Two: Mobilizing Main Street

Have you made a strong commitment towards community-based community revitalization, but require a helping hand with building momentum and drawing people to your organization? If so, the Mobilizing Main Street (MMS) program may be just what your local Main Street program needs!

The MMS program provides targeted organizational training to build and/or strengthen a community’s downtown revitalization program over a two-year period. Participating communities will prepare for the responsibilities of Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) designation and maintaining Main Street America Community Accreditation. Through grassroots leadership and a commitment to holistic preservation-based economic development, you and your downtown champions can create lasting impact for your local economy and community.

Tier Three: Advancing Virginia Main Street

Advancing Virginia Main Street (AVMS) communities know that the Main Street program is not a destination, but an ongoing practice. They possess an unwavering commitment to bring about positive change and showcase why a vibrant social, commercial and cultural center is critical to the quality of life and economic well-being of any community. By focusing on people-centered transformation and forming meaningful partnerships, these communities continue to cultivate and embrace a strategic and comprehensive approach to creating quality jobs, advancing equity, leveraging market conditions and increasing community wealth through innovative and entrepreneurial thinking.

Currently, there are 28 AVMS communities in Virginia that are highly community-driven and have strong organizational capacity to implement downtown revitalization efforts based on the Main Street Approach.