Tag: Lynchburg

Can your Main Street Pass the Walkability Popsicle Test?

February 28, 2012

In his recent blog post, What Pictures Can Teach Us About Walkability, Kaid Benfield suggests that we can use some very simple techniques to determine how well our downtown is doing.  Benfield’s emphasis is on sustainable communities, which, he argues, are perhaps best described as communities that are walkable. Benfield asks, “is [the community] safe, … More Can your Main Street Pass the Walkability Popsicle Test?

From Farmers Market to European Bakery

January 12, 2012

24 of the 25 designated Virginia Main Street communities have active farmers markets. In addition to being great places to buy locally-grown produce, eggs and meat, farmers markets also serve as small business incubators. As pointed out in Ashley Fletcher Frampton’s article, Entrepreneurs Get Start at Area Farmers Markets, the low start-up costs and captive audiences at … More From Farmers Market to European Bakery

Hip-hop highlights: Lynchburg video features merchants and real community spirit

September 26, 2011

This video, promoting Downtown Lynchburg, is terrific. It’s even better when you know that it was done through the volunteer efforts of Lynch’s Landing board member Tony Camm and a bunch of spirited merchant and community participants. Camm, manager of the Downtown Lynchburg Holiday Inn, put a musical pastime to work for the community, writing the song … More Hip-hop highlights: Lynchburg video features merchants and real community spirit

Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award finalists announced

August 26, 2011

The Darden School of Business and its Tayloe Murphy Center at the University of Virginia has announced 14 finalists for the 2011 Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award.  The following businesses in Virginia Main Street Communities were selected from among 88 applicants and 21 semi-finalists: A Bowl of Good Cafe, Inc., Harrisonburg Gearclean, Winchester Highground Services, Franklin … More Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award finalists announced

2011 Virginia Main Street Downtown Improvement Grants to include new CSX partnership

April 28, 2011

Applications are now being accepted from Designated Virginia Main Street (VMS) Communities for the 2011 Downtown Improvement Grants. Traditionally capped at $2,500 for special Main Street  projects, Downtown Improvement Grants will be available in amounts up to $7,500 for the four Designated VMS Communties served by CSX Transportation lines, thanks to a generous matching grant from the corporation. CSX Transportation operates a … More 2011 Virginia Main Street Downtown Improvement Grants to include new CSX partnership

Lynchburg spot blight program serving as model

December 10, 2010

Lynchburg’s spot blight program may be a model for Danville as that community’s city council investigates strategies to improve the appearance and quality of the community while caring for historic resources. Danville has done a lot to capitalize on its historic character, including loft conversion in the tobacco warehouse district, the interpretation of local history through a mural program, … More Lynchburg spot blight program serving as model

Main Street Merchant Profile: Lynchburg’s Accents Flags and Gifts

November 30, 2010

Merchants make the Main Street, and Lynchburg’s Accents Flags and Gifts proves the point.  Deborah Fears Keeling, owner of the 21-year old business, has been involved in Lynch’s Landing, the city’s Main Street organization, for seven years. But this year, she says, the events and cooperative marketing strategies have really taken off. In January, Lynch’s … More Main Street Merchant Profile: Lynchburg’s Accents Flags and Gifts

Vote for the top 25 Virginia Main Street “Downtown Dining Destinations”

July 20, 2010

The Virginia Main Street staff does a lot of travelling each year and that travel can be hard on the stomach.  Luckily, we know that when we arrive, the local hospitality of our destination Main Street communities will be evident, and the top rate dining choices will be numerous. While having an office day, we … More Vote for the top 25 Virginia Main Street “Downtown Dining Destinations”

Tourism magnets on Virginia’s Main Streets

January 25, 2010

It’s no newsflash for Main Street communities that cultural heritage and history-based tourism can bring meaningful revenue downtown. Here are a few examples of strategic investments and attractions affecting Main Street communities. They’re gathered by our friends at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). To sign up for DHR’s news clips, contact: Randy Jones. Tourism and Rail in Lynchburg: When city and state officials worked … More Tourism magnets on Virginia’s Main Streets

Downtown Lynchburg shines for cabinet community day

October 22, 2009

Governor Timothy M. Kaine, his cabinet and members of his senior staff conducted their sixteenth and final Cabinet Community Day on a sundrenched, autumn Tuesday, Oct. 20 in downtown Lynchburg.  The Governor holds four Cabinet Community Days every year, visiting eight regions of the state twice over the course of the administration.  Executive Director Angela … More Downtown Lynchburg shines for cabinet community day