What started out as a conversation between a tomato producer and hog farmer has blossomed into a regional economic development driver that will having a lasting impact on southern Virginia. The idea of for the Southern Virginia Food Hub was started by Ann Taylor Wright to help local farmers and producers add value to their … More Southern Virginia Food Hub
National Small Business Week is a week-long spring celebration to honor the thousands of small and locally owned businesses that make up the country’s local economies (May 5 – 11, 2019). Celebrations span the local, state and federal levels, as consumers, elected officials, Main Street, and small businesses come together to recognize the important impact … More Celebrate Small Business Week: May 5 – 11, 2019
2018 was a busy year in Virginia Main Street’s Designated Communities! The State Coordinating program held eleven (11) training events with more than six-hundred and seventy-five (675) attendees – from Bristol to Blackstone, Warrenton to Gloucester – we covered the state and then some. Check out our 2018 Annual Report for the full picture of … More Virginia Main Street 2018 Annual Report
Register now to attend Downtown Intersections, presented by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development‘s Virginia Main Street Program, in partnership with the Downtown Lynchburg Association and the city of Lynchburg. This event promises a packed schedule full of sessions spanning topics geared toward economic vitality and design, as well as a practitioner’s studio … More Downtown Intersections: Early Bird Registration Now Open!
This program is a day-long session designed to introduce the principles and implementation mechanisms behind neighborhood-based development projects. We offer specialized training on how to develop small residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties (1-3 story buildings with less than 20 units). The course assumes participants know a lot about where they live, but not necessarily about … More Small Scale Real Estate Development Workshop
What will your downtown be like in 10-15 years? Is that future bright? The most successful towns understand they must nurture that community core to make it happen. On May 14, from noon-1 p.m., Virginia Main Street is offering a free webinar on the basics of the Main Street Approach for preservation-based downtown revitalization, which … More Webinar – What is Main Street?: A Strategic, Outcome-oriented Revitalization Strategy
Recently, Main Street America’s #MainSpotlight featured a great article about the Main Street executive director experience from one of Virginia’s own, Todd Wolford of Downtown Wytheville Inc. It cover’s Todd’s three-year experience achieving confidence and effectiveness in his role. One of Virginia’s new directors said, “He’s like a Main Street director’s medium”. He practically read … More Life of a Virginia Main Street Manager
Main Street Idea Pitch! Wednesday, July 24, 2019 Do you have an idea for a new Main Street revitalization project idea you would like to start? Are you positive it’s something that will be a slam-dunk success? Then you do not want to miss Virginia Main Street’s second annual Main Street Idea Pitch competition. Main Street … More 2019 Virginia Main Street Idea Pitch: Making Ideas Happen!
With spring upon us, the thoughts of many Main Street board members, directors, coordinators and managers turn to board development (right?). First – plan. Think about “How to Build the Board You Want.” Second – ask questions. “How do we identify and recruit the right members?” Do we have a finance guru? Marketing expertise? Community … More Build a Better Board, Be a Better Board
NOW ACCEPTING AWARD NOMINATIONS 2019 Virginia Main Street Revitalization Merit Awards Virginia Main Street invites you to submit nominations for outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts, recognizing best downtown business promotion, outstanding fundraising effort, and best public improvement project, to name a few. Awards will be presented during a special celebration at the Virginia … More Now accepting nominations for the 2019 Virginia Main Street Merit Awards
Virginia Main Street 