The Virginia Main Street staff does a lot of travelling each year and that travel can be hard on the stomach. Luckily, we know that when we arrive, the local hospitality of our destination Main Street communities will be evident, and the top rate dining choices will be numerous. While having an office day, we … More Vote for the top 25 Virginia Main Street “Downtown Dining Destinations”
There’s still time to register for the Virginia Main Street Summer Toolkit (until Monday), and the board and staff of Downtown Franklin, Inc. are eager to welcome you to our district. We’re going to spend a day and a half (July 22 and 23) focused on “Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Downtown.” The speakers are top-notch, and this is a vital … More Guest blogger “Downtown Dan” Howe: Franklin awaits
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has listed the downtown historic district in Gate City, VA on the Virginia Landmarks Register. According to the official announcement: The Gate City Historic District, in Scott County, is a five-block district that emerged as a vital commercial hub for the surrounding countryside beginning in the 19th century. While settlement in the … More Gate City downtown historic district gets Virginia listing
This is just a reminder: thank those who make what you do possible. “Thank you” is one of those simple must-dos, one so simple, in fact, that we sometimes overlook it. And it’s too bad, because showing the sincere appreciation of an organization, the people who run it, and the people who benefit from it is a … More Thank you, thank you, thank you.
It’s going to be a real scorcher. While not everyone can spend the day on a shady river bank to wait out the record highs this week, you can seek out your own cool spot in your downtown district. 1. The historic theater. Summertime is a great time for an old-fashioned movie matinée. The daytime prices are cheaper, and those … More Five places to beat the heat on Main Street
For fund development efforts, Main Street organizations have no better tool than the Internal Revenue Service’s designation as a 501 (c) 3 organization. Lately some communities have struggled for it, trying hard to clarify the nuances of how Main Street groups pursue their goals so that they are not designated as economic development or membership organizations. … More Main Street organizations and nonprofit status
Seven designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) communities have been awarded VMS Downtown Improvement Grants in a special initiative marking the program’s 25th anniversary. Successful proposals in the competitive process demonstrated: Measurable impacts or deliverables; Committee or volunteer project leadership/involvement; Partnerships and resource leveraging; Local government involvement or support; Up-to-date program reporting; and The ability to complete the … More Virginia Main Street Downtown Improvement Grants awarded
When you think about it, Main Street is an easy sell. Supporting local merchants, caring for older buildings, and maintaining community character all have a feel-good quality; instinctively they’re the right things to do. And the community of volunteers and stakeholders who make it happen sell it the best. With inexpensive technology and free hosting … More I want my M(ain Street)TV
Today, we are obsessed with makeovers. On television, everything is given a chance for dramatic overhaul, from houses and children’s behavior to 18-wheelers and, of course, the face. Wouldn’t it be great to harness that interest and use it to motivate more people to walk your Main Street? The Partnership for Old Town Warrenton did just that … More Guest Blogger: Warrenton’s Charla L. Malone on Main Street’s ambush-style makeover
Why do you do it? That festival takes months of planning. The parade risks being rained out. There are suddenly four previously un-calendared community events on the same weekend as the chili cook-off; the band shows up late; and the vendors haven’t brought enough change. Events can be a real headache. But you still put … More Putting events to work for your downtown district
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