tourism

SAVE THE DATE: Downtown Intersections 2020

January 9, 2020

Save the date and mark your calendars to attend Downtown Intersections and the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Virginia Main Street, presented by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, on July 28-30 in Bristol, Virginia. This two-day event promises a packed schedule full of field and classroom sessions spanning topics geared toward strengthening your downtown … More SAVE THE DATE: Downtown Intersections 2020

Transform Ordinary Downtowns into Successful Destinations

January 10, 2019

How do you feel about free assistance to generate new ideas for attracting visitors to downtown? How about an added layer of resources to complement your Main Street America membership services and make it just that much easier to improve downtown? For 30 years, veteran Main Street partner Roger Brooks has helped thousands of people … More Transform Ordinary Downtowns into Successful Destinations

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

Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: Western Front Hotel

November 6, 2018

At the 2018 Downtown Intersections in Harrisonburg, we continued the tradition of acknowledging outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts through Merit Awards. They recognize the hard work, dedication and success of Virginia’s Main Street communities and their achievements across the four points of the Main Street Approach®. This is the fourth in a blog … More Recognizing the Hard Work on Main Street: Western Front Hotel

Vote for America’s Happiest Seaside Town

February 2, 2018

COASTAL LIVING magazine recently announced its seventh annual top 10 list of America’s Happiest Seaside Towns. The unranked list includes top beach destinations across the United States, from Michigan to Florida and from Oregon to…Virginia’s Cape Charles! Here’s your call to action! You have until February 6 at 5 p.m. EST to vote for your … More Vote for America’s Happiest Seaside Town

Explore the Value of Partnerships at the 2017 Virginia Preservation Conference

September 21, 2017

Preservation Virginia is excited to co-host the Virginia Preservation Conference alongside the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in Petersburg, Virginia on Friday, October 6 at Union Train Station! This year, they invite you to “Explore the Value of Partnerships” happening between organizations in the private and public sector that strengthen Virginia’s communities. You’ll get to … More Explore the Value of Partnerships at the 2017 Virginia Preservation Conference

Practical, Low-cost Ideas to Make Your Downtown A Destination

July 24, 2017

What can your Main Street program do to make downtown more of a destination for locals and visitors? Would a punch list of key actions be helpful? With today’s market, Main Street communities are happily positioned for a resurgence. As a Main Street advocate, having a plan to ride that wave and make your downtown … More Practical, Low-cost Ideas to Make Your Downtown A Destination

Virginia’s Craft Beer Scene is Booming

June 26, 2017

Governor Terry McAuliffe recently announced that Virginia is now home to 206 licensed breweries, a 468% growth since 2012, when the tasting room bill, SB604, passed the General Assembly. A newly released economic impact study shows that Virginia’s booming beer industry contributes more than $9.34 billion annually to Virginia’s economy. “In addition to the direct … More Virginia’s Craft Beer Scene is Booming

Virginia’s Award Winning Destination Tourism

March 28, 2017

Governor McAuliffe recently announced that the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) received a national tourism industry award for its work promoting the Virginia Oyster Trail, a new initiative connecting travelers with Virginia’s oyster farms, raw bars, wineries, restaurants, artisans, and downtowns like Urbanna, Cape Charles, and Chincoteague. VTC was recognized with the prestigious National Council of … More Virginia’s Award Winning Destination Tourism

Main Street and Wine; a Great Pairing

February 7, 2017

Virginia’s thriving wine industry is boosting the state’s economy and local Main Street districts alike with a total impact of approximately $1.37 billion annually, according to a newly released economic impact study. This figure is an increase of 82 percent from the last study conducted in 2010. “…one of our top agriculture goals was to make Virginia … More Main Street and Wine; a Great Pairing