In these tough economic times when communities are struggling to retain existing businesses and to prevent more storefronts from closing up, attracting new businesses that will create new job opportunities is extremely challenging. Many communities are working hard to overcome these ills by creating an environment that fosters entrepreneurship. Research has shown that small businesses … More Economic Gardening Strategies
All across Southwest Virginia, the stories of men and women who worked in mines, furniture factories or textile mills can be read in the buildings you see today. In the coalfields, mining towns and camps sprang up wherever the coal seam led. Miners came from farms nearby, from the deep South and from Eastern Europe … More Embracing Nature, Culture and History: Appalachia’s new economy
Last fall, Marion Downtown Revitalization Association introduced a pilot project designed to help fill vacant downtown storefronts. Called “Pop Up Marion,” the project provides up to $5,000 in grant funds for qualifying new downtown businesses to help offset startup costs. The initial funding was provided by Virginia Main Street through a competitive … More Marion Downtown Revitalization Association Provides Entrepreneur Training and Small Business Grants
While caught up in the details of drafting board by-laws, choosing downtown bench designs, training volunteers or coordinating downtown merchant coffee hours, it is easy for Main Street board and committee members and staff to forget that the primary goal of the Main Street organization is the economic redevelopment and revitalization of the local … More Believe in Bristol Opens Downtown Entrepreneur Ideaspace
Virginia Main Street is accepting applications from communities interested in being designated a Virginia Main Street community. However, if your community is not ready to take this step, here are steps to to help establish or reinvigorate a successful local preservation-based downtown revitalization organization. Look at downtown as if you are a first-time visitor. What is positive? … More Getting Started with Virginia Main Street
Many Main Street organizations are planning major winter festivals and downtown shopping events. Although there is a festive feel in the air with these short days and cold weather, the lovely weather is not enough reason to plan and call on volunteers, sponsors, Main Street businesses and the public to hold a festival. There must be … More How do you know if your event was a success?
On Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, Winchester’s downtown walking mall was filled with excitement for local farms. Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Winchester Old Town Development Board, Winchester Main Street Foundation and Virginia Main Street program, produced an extraordinary community event, Winchester’s Main Street Agriculture, held on the historic Loudon Street Pedestrian Mall. The partnership … More Winchester’s Main Street agriculture event was a success, as expected!
Virginia Main Street (VMS) is getting ready to add new Main Street communities to the 25 communities officially designated as Virginia Main Streets. VMS is now accepting applications, due March 15, 2013, for new Virginia Main Street communities. Why apply for designation as a Virginia Main Street community? First and foremost, designated VMS communities join … More VMS designation applications accepted through March 15, 2013
Scott Doyon, a partner with Place Makers, recently posted Seven Keys to Stronger Community as a response to the question: “Where do we start?” This is not an exhaustive list, and he actually encourages readers to make suggestions for expanding,and they have. There is a good diaolgue in the comments section of his post. He states, “If … More Seven Keys to Stronger Community
The shopping season is upon us and Main Street retailers are working hard to make the holiday shopping experience fun, memorable and easy. To help achieve this goal, retailers should give some thought to what types of shopping experiences they want their customers to have. What should customers be saying, feeling and experiencing while in the store? What … More Getting Ready For Holiday Shopping on Main Street
Virginia Main Street 