Does your Main Street have a ghost story to tell? Main Street America (MSA) wants to hear it and learn more about your downtown district’s strange sightings, haunted buildings or other paranormal activities for an exciting chance to be named a 2021 Great American Haunted Main Street! Click here to share your commercial district’s ghost … More 2021 Great American Haunted Main Street Contest
Excitingly, Orange County has partnered alongside the Charlottesville-based Community Investment Collaborative (CIC), a certified Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), to launch a Revolving Loan Fund program that will provide a flexible source of supplemental financing for businesses expanding or locating to Orange County. Utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the program was created to … More Orange County Launches First Ever Revolving Loan Fund
For the first time in three decades, two-way traffic will return to certain areas of Downtown Lynchburg! To develop a sustainable, prosperous and attractive community, city leaders recognize the need to abandon a traffic scenario that was instituted during a period when people did not spend time downtown. In accordance with the city’s 2040 Downtown … More Lynchburg Restoring Two-Way Traffic to Improve Downtown Environment
Virginia Main Street (VMS) invites participants within the VMS Network, referring to Advancing Virginia Main Street, Mobilizing Main Street and Exploring Main Street communities, to submit nominations for outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts! Excitingly, awards will be presented during a special virtual celebration during the final webinar of the Creating Community Vitality Series … More 2021 Virginia Main Street Revitalization Merit Awards: Nominations Now Being Accepted
Our guest blogger, Zachary Whitlow (pictured left), is a Community Revitalization Specialist at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), working closely with the agency’s Virginia Main Street (VMS) program and Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI). He loves helping communities across Virginia unleash the power of small-scale, grassroots revitalization to build a sense … More The Future is Bright in Downtown South Boston
Across the country, small businesses have faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many closed for good. Turning the world upside down, business owners have been asking themselves, what will my small business look like in the near future? It’s impossible to know for certain, but it’s never too late to act quickly … More Small Business Protection Guide for COVID-19: Keeping Your Finances, Employees, and Physical Property Safe
Undoubtedly, the novel coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected many small businesses across the Commonwealth, and community leaders have been working tirelessly to help rebuild their local economy by mobilizing resources, solidifying partnerships and utilizing state and federal assistance. A prime example of such relief and recovery efforts would be Ashland’s unwavering desire to encourage customers … More Ashland’s New “Welcome Back for Our Comeback” Marketing Campaign Spotlights Resilient Entrepreneurs
Economic Adjustment Assistance Dates: As soon as possible, the EDA recommends applicants to submit complete applications no latter than March 31, 2022. Eligibility: District organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District Indian tribe or a consortium of Indian tribes State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state, including a special purpose unit of … More Open EDA Grant Opportunities
Main Street Now serves as the premier national conference for local leaders working to advance economic opportunity and improve quality of life in historic downtowns and commercial districts. The annual event welcomes 1,800+ community leaders from small towns, midsized cities and urban neighborhood business districts who are professionals in preservation-based, economic development and community revitalization. … More 2022 Main Street Expo: Become an Exhibitor!
Educational Webinar In September, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) welcomed Terrand Smith (pictured left), founder and CEO of 37 Oaks Consulting, a Chicago-based company that strengthens and revitalizes neighborhoods through local commerce, to discuss new ways to support neighborhood businesses and the workforce that supports them as both have encountered unprecedented … More CCV Series: September 2021 Recap & Additional Resources
Virginia Main Street 