Downtown – Virginia Main Street

Onancock “Feels the Vibe” with Downtown Investment Success

August 27, 2025

Downtown Onancock is buzzing with fresh energy, and it’s no accident. The Feel the Vibe project, partially funded by a $45,000 Virginia Main Street (VMS) Downtown Investment Grant, brought together a creative mix of initiatives to attract more people downtown, support entrepreneurs, and enhance the district’s visual appeal. Onancock Main Street (OMS) led the effort, … More Onancock “Feels the Vibe” with Downtown Investment Success

Demonstrating the Value of Main Street: Bonus Track

May 21, 2025

Laying the Foundation in Cape Charles How does a small town make the case for investing in Main Street? For Cape Charles, Virginia, the journey began with a simple but essential question: What value will this bring us? This “bonus track” in the Value of Main Street series (Part 1 & Part 2) tells the … More Demonstrating the Value of Main Street: Bonus Track

Building Capacity: How Toano Historical Society is Revitalizing Through Human Capital Development

September 23, 2024

In the heart of the unincorporated town of Toano, on the western edge of James City County, lies a small nonprofit with a big vision: the Toano Historical Society (THS). Founded in 2018, THS seeks to inspire community spirit, promote local history, and preserve the small-town character of the Toano Commercial Historic District—a collection of … More Building Capacity: How Toano Historical Society is Revitalizing Through Human Capital Development

DAW Theatre: Breathing New Life Into a Historic Gem

August 22, 2024

Located in the heart of Tappahannock’s historic district, the DAW Theatre has a rich history dating back to its grand opening in February 1939. Named after its original owners—E.M. Doar, H.S. Atkinson, and R.B. Wallace—the theater was once a cultural hub, drawing crowds from across Tidewater with its 500-seat Art Deco style and hosting everything … More DAW Theatre: Breathing New Life Into a Historic Gem

Build a Better Building Inventory

June 13, 2024

How many vacant spaces are in your Main Street district? Where is there room to add more housing, businesses, and gathering spaces? Answering these questions is key to unlocking the potential of your built environment. A building inventory is essential for a thorough understanding of the physical and economic makeup of your commercial district. Creating … More Build a Better Building Inventory

Strong Nonprofit. Strong Main Street.

October 10, 2019

This blog is guest written by Kadi Davis with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. From governance, leadership, management and finance to robust programs, data-driven evaluation and collaboration, the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) invests in nonprofits and the people who power them – board, staff and volunteers. To do that, CNE provides tools, training, consulting, … More Strong Nonprofit. Strong Main Street.

Place-making: Creating a Downtown Where People Want to Be

June 17, 2019

Our guest blogger is Hopewell Downtown Partnership Executive Director Evan Kaufman. Over the last 8 years, we have worked hard to facilitate the rehab of downtown properties, recruit new businesses, plan events and festivals, and develop strong partnerships. While we will continue these strategies, it’s time to start implementing some creative place-making strategies to get … More Place-making: Creating a Downtown Where People Want to Be

A Jewel Worth Saving: Re-imagining Danville’s North Union Street

February 22, 2019

Guest Blogger Diana Schwartz, executive director of Danville’s River District Association, is a native of Dickenson County, Virginia, and was previously director of business retention for the Ocala/Marion Chamber and Economic Partnership in Florida, as well as director of the Ocala Main Street Program. Danville, Virginia may be best known for the railroad system, including … More A Jewel Worth Saving: Re-imagining Danville’s North Union Street

Update: VMS Idea Pitch! Winner – Blackstone

January 4, 2019

Guest blogger Zachary Whitlow, executive director of Downtown Blackstone Inc., provides an update on their Blackstone Town Square Revitalization Project that won the VMS Idea Pitch! Award at Downtown Intersections 2018. We were incredibly excited and grateful to have been chosen as the winner of the first annual Main Street Idea Pitch! competition. The presentation … More Update: VMS Idea Pitch! Winner – Blackstone

Autonomous Transit Shuttle Service to Launch in Crozet

November 27, 2018

The Downtown Crozet Initiative, a DHCD Commercial District Affiliate community organization, is embracing cutting-edge technology to help make visiting downtown a convenient, zero-emission experience, shuttling customers from a parking area into the commercial core. While it may sound more Jetsons than Main Street, this is the real deal. Crozet’s Perrone Robotics, Inc., JAUNT, Inc. and … More Autonomous Transit Shuttle Service to Launch in Crozet