Uptown Martinsville’s Downtown Improvement Grant at work

April 26, 2011

Virginia Main Street’s Downtown Improvement Grant provided Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association (MURA)  an opportunity to roll out a long-planned district awareness and shop local campaign. The effort, broadly dubbed “This is Uptown,” includes a number of strategies, such as a loyalty card offering discounts with merchants across the district. The free cards are limited to 500, 350 of which … More Uptown Martinsville’s Downtown Improvement Grant at work

Radford to Host Bike Virginia Tour 2011

April 25, 2011

Spring is on the way, and communities all over Virginia are welcoming it with outdoor athletic events. From 5Ks to marathons, every athlete can find something to participate in over the next several months. This June, Radford, a Designated Virginia Main Street Community, will be hosting one of the most unique events Virginia has to offer—the Bike … More Radford to Host Bike Virginia Tour 2011

Resources for Small Business Financing

April 22, 2011

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (FRB) recently posted an issue of Marketwise Community, a web publication which highlights community development best practices  and emerging issues that impact communities in the southeastern United States.  The current issue, New Alternatives in Small Business Financing, addresses small business lending in the wake of the recession.  The message … More Resources for Small Business Financing

Buy Local: Build Community. Monitor technical brief now available

April 21, 2011

Buy Local: Build Community, the Spring 2011 Virginia Main Street Monitor focuses on maximizing your return on a buy local campaign.  Of course as far as campaign results, we think first of dollars spent in a downtown district, but you can also achieve outcomes in terms of community strength, leadership, and connectivity.  And for a community benefit nonprofit … More Buy Local: Build Community. Monitor technical brief now available

Guest Blogger: Jennifer Heyns on Warrenton’s Emerging Latitudes

April 20, 2011

When people shop locally, they know they are helping to support their community and the shop owners who live there. At Warrenton’s Latitudes Fair Trade, shoppers know they are supporting not only a local business, but also artisans from developing countries around the world. Latitudes buys handcrafted items from overseas either directly or through a … More Guest Blogger: Jennifer Heyns on Warrenton’s Emerging Latitudes

Congratulations Milestone Achievement Award Recipients!

April 8, 2011

On March 31, 2011, community leaders from the 21 Designated Virginia Main Street Communities met to celebrate achievements built over the course of their efforts.  The crowd of 95 gathered for the Milestone Achievement Awards luncheon and ceremony at Richmond’s historic Jefferson Hotel. At the ceremony, Mary Rae Carter, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Development congratulated the communities … More Congratulations Milestone Achievement Award Recipients!

Main Street merchant profile: Waynesboro Florist’s Webber Payne

April 1, 2011

Waynesboro Florist has been a downtown staple for 45 years, and owner Webber Payne says he can’t imagine the store being anywhere else. “We benefit from the foot traffic downtown,” he says, “and we add to it as well.” Webber Payne grew up in the family business, which has survived economic cycles, changes in the regional industrial base, and even a 1978 … More Main Street merchant profile: Waynesboro Florist’s Webber Payne

Virginia Sesquicentennial Tourism Marketing Program

March 22, 2011

Organizations all over Virginia are preparing for the statewide 150th anniversary of the Civil War and Emancipation, the Virginia Sesquicentennial.  Historic Manassas, Inc., a Virginia Main Street program, in coordination with the City of Manassas, is gearing up for the commemoration with a four-day event, July 21 -24, 2011, featuring living history demonstrations, speakers, art, music, … More Virginia Sesquicentennial Tourism Marketing Program

Advance Abingdon gets up close and personal with merchants

March 7, 2011

When people proudly shop locally, they do so to support their neighbors and fellow community members–those working to earn a living, create a job or two, and invest in the district. It makes sense then that highlighting people behind the business can strengthen the the link between merchants and their customers. That is exactly the point of one of … More Advance Abingdon gets up close and personal with merchants

Milestone Achievement Awards Luncheon speakers announced

February 23, 2011

Virginia Main Street is pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2011 Milestone Awards will be nationally recognized sustainable preservation expert Jean Carroon, FAIA, LEED AP. Ms. Carroon’s focus on the renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings has culminated in a portfolio of award-winning civic, institutional, and religious structures, many of which are landmark … More Milestone Achievement Awards Luncheon speakers announced