Small Business Saturday was created 15 years ago by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and American Express to encourage shoppers to look outside of the big chains for their holiday shopping and spend their dollars locally instead. Every year, the initiative serves as a reminder of the vital role that small businesses play in … More November 30th is Small Business Saturday!
Last fall, Destination Downtown South Boston (DDSB) was awarded a $100,000 Virginia Business District Resurgence Grant (VBDRG) from the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) to fund an entrepreneur assistance initiative – Keep Entrepreneurs Program – within the community’s historic commercial district. Over the past year, DDSB delivered high-quality, individualized advising and technical … More Entrepreneur Assistance Program in South Boston Has Big Impact on Downtown Businesses
The Town of Altavista’s Spark Innovation Center recently completed their Boost Your Business (BYB) series, which strengthened local entrepreneurs across Central Virginia. The series included six total cohorts that participated in targeted business essential training. Each four-week session focused on a specific topic such as marketing, finance, leadership development, and human resources. Due to high … More Altavista’s Spark Innovation Center Boosts Entrepreneurs
On October 24, 2024, the Town of Colonial Beach welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s (USDA) Virginia Rural Development State Director Perry Hickman, who announced a significant step forward in economic development for rural communities across the state. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has been awarded $500,000 through the USDA Rural … More Federal and State Collaboration Boosts Economic Development in Rural Virginia
We are now a little more than five weeks out since Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and traveled straight north, bringing wind, rain, and catastrophic flooding to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia as a tropical storm. Every day is bringing new resources, businesses and amenities re-opening, and good news on recovery efforts. News and … More Helene Recovery Resources
During the month of October, the Virginia Main Street (VMS) team published eight blog posts, highlighting the latest community-vitality news, events and more! Here’s a recap: Disaster Preparedness Training / Education Accessibility & Inclusivity Building Stronger Boards Supporting Small Businesses Completed Grant Projects Stay tuned for lots more great content in November!
In the heart of every vibrant downtown lies an essential yet sometimes overlooked element: the streetscape. Streetscape improvements, which can include enhancements to sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, signage, and more, play an important role in the overall design and experience of your Main Street district. People are more likely to stroll through a clean, well-maintained area … More Starting With the Basics: Streetscape Improvements in Gate City, VA
As a Virginia Main Street (VMS) program administrator, I’ve had the privilege of learning and implementing the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process within the communities I serve. This approach not only celebrates successes but also inspires collaborative visioning for the future—an ideal strategy and very good match for Main Street nonprofit organizations looking to enhance impact. … More Embracing Appreciative Inquiry: A Path to Strategic Planning for Main Street Organizations
As a participant in the Virginia Rural Leadership Institute’s (VRLI) 2024 Cohort, Zachary Whitlow, Community Vitality Program Administrator for the Department of Housing and Community Development, provides an overview of the third VRLI session of the year, which was held in Tappahannock, Warsaw and King William on September 11-13, 2024. The Virginia Rural Leadership Institute (VRLI) held … More Virginia Rural Leadership Institute Brings Cohort Members to the Middle Peninsula & Northern Neck
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and presents a valuable opportunity for us to explore accessibility and inclusivity initiatives. By championing these efforts, Main Street organizations can play a pivotal role in bridging employment gaps and enhancing opportunities and sense of belonging for all community members. Hilton Village Main Street (HVMS), a neighborhood commercial … More Advancing Disability Employment & Accessibility in Hilton Village
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