Public Art: Making downtown a joyful, active, and social place

June 9, 2017

May 15-19, 2017 marked Art Week @StrongTowns and, while those days have come and gone,  public art catalyzes Main Street’s unique vitality throughout the year. Old Town Winchester, host of the upcoming Virginia Main Street Downtown Intersections, creates an outdoor gallery experience through the Artscape program. An annual, juried art competition, Artscape  reproduces selected artwork on … More Public Art: Making downtown a joyful, active, and social place

Virginia Main Street 2017 Merit Awards – Nominations are Open!

May 11, 2017

Downtown Intersections is just 62 days away! Virginia Main Street staff has been working hard to craft an agenda, secure speakers, develop walking tours and workshops that will educate, inspire, and empower our communities. Now we need your help to recognize achievement, innovation, and success in our Main Street communities. The Virginia Main Street 2017 … More Virginia Main Street 2017 Merit Awards – Nominations are Open!

Downtown Intersections 2017!

May 3, 2017

Virginia Main Street is happy (and excited) to announce that registration for Downtown Intersections 2017 is officially open! We will be in Winchester from Monday, July 10th through Wednesday, July 12th at the beautiful George Washington Hotel. Join us on Monday for an intensive board training. This is  designed to provide your board with the … More Downtown Intersections 2017!

A Tale of Two Community Engagement Events

April 24, 2017

As an inherently grassroots movement, effective community engagement is an essential component of any successful Main Street program. Without it, organization’s cannot effectively plan their work, recruit volunteers and board members, promote the district, or communicate impact. Main Street must be community driven. This week I had the opportunity to participate in two very different community … More A Tale of Two Community Engagement Events

Virginia Downtown Development Association Happy Hour!

April 7, 2017

Just a few short years ago Scott’s Addition was little more than a cluster of manufacturing and light industrial adjacent to the railyard. A handful of early 20th-century row houses remained from the early, residential days of the neighborhood, as well as a couple of quaint diners. Fast forward to 2017 and the neighborhood has … More Virginia Downtown Development Association Happy Hour!

“Booster Rockets” For Downtown Revitalization Momentum

March 30, 2017

After decades of market preference for suburban development, Main Street and downtowns are hot again! Back in the market, they are once again desirable targets for investment, business startups, expansion, the creative economy, housing, and tourism. So, how do we sustain that momentum, take advantage of the attention, and keep the revitalization progress moving forward?  … More “Booster Rockets” For Downtown Revitalization Momentum

Virginia’s Award Winning Destination Tourism

March 28, 2017

Governor McAuliffe recently announced that the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) received a national tourism industry award for its work promoting the Virginia Oyster Trail, a new initiative connecting travelers with Virginia’s oyster farms, raw bars, wineries, restaurants, artisans, and downtowns like Urbanna, Cape Charles, and Chincoteague. VTC was recognized with the prestigious National Council of … More Virginia’s Award Winning Destination Tourism

Berryville Main Street Celebrates 25 Years

March 15, 2017

Guest blogger Sue Ross, Executive Director of Berryville Main Street, has 10 years of Main Street experience and recently returned to Berryville to lead a refreshed program, creating new partnerships and an enhanced marketplace.  Berryville Main Street turned 25! We celebrated with bluegrass, local food, and friends in a restored downtown dairy barn.  Started in 1992, … More Berryville Main Street Celebrates 25 Years