Register Now for the VMS Essentials – July 15 in Lynchburg

June 19, 2015

Virginia Main Street Essentials: An overview of the Main Street Four Point Approach (R) Wednesday, July 15, 2015 Holiday Inn Lynchburg 601 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA Join Main Street professionals and volunteers for a one-day, back-to-basics revitalization training on the Main Street Four Point Approach® presented by National Main Street Center staff and design professional … More Register Now for the VMS Essentials – July 15 in Lynchburg

Launch Gloucester announces winner of first Community Business Launch

June 1, 2015

A bakery and cafe, a business catering to pets and pet owners and a massage and wellness clinic will be the newest businesses to open or expand on Main Street following the Launch Gloucester awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 19.  Participants in the entrepreneur contest that launched earlier this year also got a surprise element … More Launch Gloucester announces winner of first Community Business Launch

Building Collaborative Communities and Community Business Launch How-to-Apply Workshops announced

May 21, 2015

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced funding is available for the Building Collaborative Communities (BCC) and Community Business Launch (CBL) programs for fiscal year 2015-2016. DHCD grant programs offer flexible resources to do more across your community and region. Register below for one of the how-to-apply workshops to learn about … More Building Collaborative Communities and Community Business Launch How-to-Apply Workshops announced

Market Your Main Street: Low-cost, high-impact strategies to get out your message

May 15, 2015

Your Main Street program is tasked with meeting the needs of many different stakeholders: visitors, business owners, municipalities, donors, volunteers, etc. How you communicate your message to a wide audience with different interests requires segmenting them and then having separate conversations unique to their interests. Join the National Main Street Center for a webinar led … More Market Your Main Street: Low-cost, high-impact strategies to get out your message

May 2015 is Business Appreciation Month

May 1, 2015

Governor McAuliffe recognizes May 2015 as Business Appreciation Month. DHCD has provided a list of ways you can celebrate this month-long recognition on our site at BUSINESS APPRECIATION MONTH.  The site features downloadable versions of the logos for you to use on your material, as well as ways to celebrate your local businesses and potential ways to … More May 2015 is Business Appreciation Month

DHCD announces Virginia Main Street Milestone Award Winners

March 20, 2015

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development announced today the Virginia Main Street Program Milestone Achievement Awards to designated Virginia Main Street communities. The awards were presented at a dinner in Richmond that also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Virginia program. “The Virginia Main Street program is a vital part of building a … More DHCD announces Virginia Main Street Milestone Award Winners

Walk the Line of Country Music History: Bristol and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum

November 6, 2014

 Many downtowns have a community anchor, such as a cultural heritage museum, that helps bring a number of new visitors to town.  These visitors have the potential to not only create significant economic impact, but also help spread the word about your downtown. We asked our guest blogger, Rene Rodgers, associate curator at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum … More Walk the Line of Country Music History: Bristol and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Helping our businesses get the financing they need

October 9, 2014

Many small businesses and potential entrepreneurs in our downtowns struggle getting the financing they need to start or expand their business. We asked guest blogger Christina Cain, executive director at Staunton Creative Community Fund, to share some strategies for how her organization has been able to help small businesses gain access to capital. The biggest obstacle to … More Helping our businesses get the financing they need

Small Business Saturday: Sign up to be a Neighborhood Champion!

September 30, 2014

Make an Impact in the Place you Call Home Become a Neighborhood Champion by October 16 at ShopSmall.com/Mainstreet  In partnership with American Express, the National Main Street Center would like to invite you to become a Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday® to help make Nov. 29 one of the biggest days of the year … More Small Business Saturday: Sign up to be a Neighborhood Champion!