** Guest blogger Katey Warren, Tourism PR specialist, Harrisonburg Tourism and Visitor Services The tourism offices and downtown Main Street partners of Harrisonburg, Luray and Waynesboro, along with Massanutten Resort and Shenandoah National Park, have banded together to create the Mountains 2 Main Streets Passport Program, a regional initiative that engages and rewards Shenandoah Valley visitors. The … More Mountains 2 Main Streets
Most Virginia Main Street communities trace their beginnings to the mid-18th to early-19th centuries, when the line between commercial and domestic architecture was often blurred. This was especially true for taverns or ordinaries, which frequently occupied former residences. In fact, many tavern keepers simply rented houses in order to conduct their business. These ordinaries were some of the … More Commercial architecture in Virginia’s Main Street communities
Believe in Bristol is partnering up with the Main Street programs in Abingdon and Marion for a shop local campaign that will be launched over the holidays and last throughout the next year. It is a campaign that focuses on the importance of buying local and supporting the small businesses in our communities. Kenneth Heath, executive director … More Bristol, Abingdon and Marion Main Street Programs partner for a regional shop local campaign
The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service estimates that in Virginia real property taxes make up an average 57.8 percent of local revenue for cities and 31.2 percent for large towns. How significant a contributor is your Main Street district to this revenue stream? Joseph Minicozzi, the principal of Urban3 LLC, argues in a post on … More What is Main Street Worth?
Last fall a 9,000-square-foot commercial building was demolished in the heart of a Main Street district in Virginia to create more parking. The loss of the building permanently erased a piece of the architectural history and character of the historic downtown. It also opened up a 35-foot-long hole in the urban fabric of the historic … More Historic Preservation on Main Street
Retaining and growing existing businesses and encouraging the development of new businesses are primary goals of every Main Street organization. Here is how some of Virginia’s Main Street communities are working to strengthen and diversify their downtown business communities. Marion Downtown Revitalization Association (MDRA) is wrapping up the third round of its “Pop-Up Marion” Small Business … More Bringing New Businesses to Main Street
Applications due Monday, September 30, 2013 by 5:00 p.m. Financial Feasibility Grants of up to $25,000 per designated community are now available. Financial Feasibility Grants allow Main Street organizations to work with owners of significant “white elephant” buildings to identify the highest and best use of such properties and to develop sufficient information to allow … More VMS now accepting applications for Financial Feasibility Grants
2013 is the eighth year for the Rice Lake Main Street Association (Wisconsin) ArtScape, a banner program that showcases locally-created art, provides a unique twist on an outdoor gallery experience and encourages pedestrians to stroll and traffic to slow through downtown. Invited artists, who often range in age from 12 to 80, are given blank … More ArtScapes – Outdoor Art Galleries
Sept. 11-12, 2013 The Culpeper Center 137 South Main Street Culpeper, Virginia So, your community is known for a festival or two, and the historic commercial district is showing signs of life? It is time to take the next step. Design and economic restructuring strategies cannot only improve the appearance and vibrancy of your downtown, … More VMS Essentials Workshop in Culpeper Sept. 11-12
Murals provide unique and memorable public art to Main Street districts. As Lucy Meade, director of marketing and development for Venture Richmond stated to the Richmond Times Dispatch, “It’s fun for the community to have public art. Most people stumble upon (the murals), which is neat. It’s like a little gift around the corner.” Though … More Marion Gets New Buy Local Mural
Virginia Main Street 