2012 Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards

March 27, 2012

Congratulations to the 14 designated Virginia Main Street communities that received Milestone Achievement Awards at this year’s annual luncheon. The luncheon, attended by nearly 100 members of the Virginia Main Street community, was hosted by DHCD Director Bill Shelton. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng applauded the hard work and accomplishments of the Virginia Main … More 2012 Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards

2012 Downtown Improvement Grants Awarded

March 21, 2012

This past February, Virginia Main Street awarded seven Downtown Improvement Grants ranging from $6,000 to $25,000. The grants are intended to help local Main Street organizations implement economic restructuring strategies that will have measureable local and regional economic benefits, establish and strengthen partnerships in the community and increase the capacity and involvement of local Main Street … More 2012 Downtown Improvement Grants Awarded

Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro In Top 20 “Micropolitans” Nationwide

March 12, 2012

Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro’s economy ranked among the country’s strongest micropolitan areas, reports the March issue of Site Selection Magazine.  The Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro area is tied at #13 in the national ranking and is top-ranked for Virginia. The only other Virginia locality to make the list, Martinsville, came in at #32.   The U.S. Census Bureau defines a micropolitan region as … More Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro In Top 20 “Micropolitans” Nationwide

Can your Main Street Pass the Walkability Popsicle Test?

February 28, 2012

In his recent blog post, What Pictures Can Teach Us About Walkability, Kaid Benfield suggests that we can use some very simple techniques to determine how well our downtown is doing.  Benfield’s emphasis is on sustainable communities, which, he argues, are perhaps best described as communities that are walkable. Benfield asks, “is [the community] safe, … More Can your Main Street Pass the Walkability Popsicle Test?

Attracting, Developing and Retaining Main Street Entrepreneurs

February 23, 2012

Entrepreneurs are generally pretty imaginative people, but some may need a creative venue and an audience to help them articulate their ideas. Staunton Creative Community Fund’s (SCCF) recent Ignite Staunton! campaign proved to be the creative outlet that entrepreneur Michael Reeps needed to make his unique business concept a reality. Last fall’s Ignite Staunton!, partly … More Attracting, Developing and Retaining Main Street Entrepreneurs

Culpeper – 2012 Great American Main Street Awards Semi-Finalist

February 9, 2012

Congratulations to the Town of Culpeper, which was recently named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the top 10 semi-finalists for the 2012 Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA). The semi-finalists have demonstrated their ability to preserve their unique history while creating and maintaining vibrant, successful commercial districts that serve as the heart … More Culpeper – 2012 Great American Main Street Awards Semi-Finalist

Staunton in Preservation Magazine

February 7, 2012

The recent history of one of Virginia travelers’ favorite Main Street  communities was recently showcased in Preservation – The Magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Secret of Staunton’s Success explains how the city used historic preservation as an economic engine to transform the downtown. Starting with the restoration of a handful of … More Staunton in Preservation Magazine