Fredericksburg VA Main Street Awarded CARES Act Funding for Downtown Business Support

July 29, 2020

Last week, Fredericksburg’s city council unanimously approved to allocate $500,000 of its CARES Act COVID-19 Relief Funds to support small businesses. Of that funding, $42,000 will be channeled directly to Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street (FVMS) to help the organization continue assisting downtown businesses with technology and COVID-associated safety needs.  FVMS has been instrumental in supporting … More Fredericksburg VA Main Street Awarded CARES Act Funding for Downtown Business Support

BREAKING NEWS – Rebuild! VA: Small Business Grant Program

July 28, 2020

The Commonwealth of Virginia has created a new grant program to assist small businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the state who have faced unprecedented economic distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statewide Rebuild VA program will provide grants of up to three times the applicant’s average monthly eligible expenses up to a maximum award … More BREAKING NEWS – Rebuild! VA: Small Business Grant Program

Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award

July 27, 2020

Main Street America will be a co-sponsor of the new awards program sponsored by CivicPlus, Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA). The national program will honor 100 extraordinary public service volunteers in smaller localities, shining a spotlight on the growing need for citizens to fill critical civic roles that support key local government functions. … More Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award

10 Steps To Take A Retail or Restaurant Business Online

July 24, 2020

During the rapid changes in the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, many retailers and restaurants set up online sales from scratch. Our guest blogger today is Kevin Clay, partner and communications director at Big Spoon Co., a Richmond-based PR and marketing firm. He helped numerous food-based businesses get online during COVID-19 lockdown and below … More 10 Steps To Take A Retail or Restaurant Business Online

DI20 Day Three: Move the Conversation Around Action!

July 22, 2020

Have you and your community partners ever gotten stuck on a major initiative?  To succeed, Main Street must show visible results that can only come from completing projects – both short- and long-term activities that add up to meaningful change. Yet, before any undertaking, local leaders need to work together to identify key strategies that … More DI20 Day Three: Move the Conversation Around Action!

Getting “Back to Business” in Downtown Luray

July 20, 2020

Small businesses in Luray, VA are thriving due to the efforts of the designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) community’s revitalization organization, Luray Downtown Initiative (LDI). Excitingly, the organization received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) VMS program that allowed LDI to provide local merchants with “Back to Business” … More Getting “Back to Business” in Downtown Luray

DI20 Day Two Content You Cannot Miss!

July 17, 2020

The Main Street Approach is most effective in places where community residents have a strong emotional, social and civic connection and are motivated to get involved and make a difference.  To hold up this principle for a sustainable revitalization effort, day two of the Downtown Intersections Virtual Conference focuses on cultivating community relationships for investment, … More DI20 Day Two Content You Cannot Miss!

Speak Up for Main Street

July 15, 2020

In mid-May, Main Street America (MSA) began advocating to Congress for $100 million to be included in an upcoming stimulus package to sustain and expand the essential work of Main Street leaders throughout the nation. MSA needs the support of the public to effectively advocate for small businesses, historic resources and thriving downtowns and commercial … More Speak Up for Main Street

Innovative Economic Recovery: Gloucester’s Downtown Dollars Program Infuses $40,000 into the Community

July 13, 2020

Small businesses in Gloucester Village will feel the positive impact of Gloucester’s Downtown Dollars Program. Created by the Gloucester Main Street Preservation Trust (GMSPT), the innovative economic recovery program will infuse $40,000 into the community and provide over 400 health care workers from Riverside Walter Reed Hospital with $100 gift certificates to frequent local shops within … More Innovative Economic Recovery: Gloucester’s Downtown Dollars Program Infuses $40,000 into the Community

Creative Fundraising Strategy for Recovery: Lynchburg’s Downtown-A-Thon

July 10, 2020

Over the past few months, Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) has worked tirelessly to support small businesses as they recover from the harsh economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, launching their Downtown Recovery Initiative to help merchants persevere through continued challenges and varied stages of reopening. Through their proactive efforts, DLA established a new Downtown Gift … More Creative Fundraising Strategy for Recovery: Lynchburg’s Downtown-A-Thon