Local Main Street Communities coordinate for regional benefit

June 16, 2014

 ** Guest blogger Susan Howard, Executive Director, Abingdon Main Street As the director of Abingdon Main Street, I am very fortunate to have three other designated Virginia Main Street communities, Bristol, Marion and St. Paul, each less than an hour’s drive from Abingdon. The proximity of our communities and their cultural similarities have allowed us to explore … More Local Main Street Communities coordinate for regional benefit

Local Entrepreneur Selected as Executive Director for Main Street Lexington

June 12, 2014

The board of directors recently selected Stephanie Wilkinson to serve as the executive director of the Main Street Lexington. As an entrepreneur, co-owner of a downtown Lexington business and community leader who helped spearhead the creation of Main Street Lexington, Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience to this critical role. Wilkinson’s business experience, vision, strong leadership … More Local Entrepreneur Selected as Executive Director for Main Street Lexington

June is Business Appreciation Month

June 2, 2014

  Governor McAuliffe announced that June will be designated as Virginia’s Business Appreciation Month to ensure that the history and growth of Virginia businesses are recognized across the Commonwealth. There is a crucial correlation between strong business and strong communities. To view the governor’s proclamation, click here. More information will coming out in the next few … More June is Business Appreciation Month

Harrisonburg – 2014 Great American Main Street Award Winner

May 22, 2014

Congratulations to the city of Harrisonburg and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR), a 2014 Great American Main Street Awards® (GAMSA) winner.  Recognized as a leader in implementing the Main Street Four-Point Approach®, embracing sound historic preservation practices and building strategic partnerships, HDR was honored at the Main Street Awards Ceremony at the 2014 National Main Streets Conference in Detroit. The National Main Street … More Harrisonburg – 2014 Great American Main Street Award Winner

VDDA Awards of Excellence: Call for Entries

May 7, 2014

The Virginia Downtown Development Association (VDDA), one of Virginia Main Street’s closest partners and strongest supporters,will host its 29th Annual Awards of Excellence to recognize and encourage excellence in historic downtown revitalization throughout the commonwealth of Virginia. The Awards of Excellence are presented to showcase the achievements of organizations, individuals and government in meeting the … More VDDA Awards of Excellence: Call for Entries

Main Street on YouTube

April 30, 2014

Main Street communities use all sorts of strategies to spread the word about their downtowns. Videos require more financial resource and expertise than some other strategies, but when done well, they are great public relations tools. Many communities provide a professional tour of their downtown to showcase recent improvements and exciting new initiatives. In the … More Main Street on YouTube

Comparing Main Street Districts and Local Big Box Stores

April 15, 2014

Mapping the Commonwealth recently created a series of photos that overlay ten historic commercial districts (most of them Virginia Main Street districts) with the community’s local big box stores and parking lots. These photos are interesting for several reasons. They help illustrate why the local historic commercial district is so financially valuable to a community. … More Comparing Main Street Districts and Local Big Box Stores

Crowdfunding Main Street

April 9, 2014

In many communities, someone from out of town who is interested in starting a new business can turn to the local Main Street organization for help. The local Main Street organization can often provide square footage, rent and utility costs and introductions to owners of vacant and available storefronts. They can introduce the potential business owner to … More Crowdfunding Main Street