More than 90 downtown revitalization volunteers and professionals attended the Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards Luncheon on March 19 at Richmond’s historic Hippodrome Theater.
Main Street communities and organizations were recognized for achieving notable milestones in volunteer contribution, private investment and building rehabilitation. Destination Downtown South Boston received a Special Achievement Award and the Partnership for Warrenton Foundation was recognized for 25 years of membership in the Virginia Main Street program.
This year, you have been thinking outside of the box and using entrepreneurship as a keystone to successful downtown revitalization,” said Secretary Jones. “With entrepreneur development strategies like business boot camps and even an Ideaspace, you are bringing new ventures and amazing growth to your downtowns.” – Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Director Bill Shelton pointed to downtown progress through the numbers. “In the last five years, designated Main Street communities have sparked more than $217 million in private investment in their districts.” Shelton continued, “As a result, last year, there was a net collective gain of 453 jobs across the 25 Main Street downtown districts.”
Entrepreneurship is key to revitalizing our communities. Given the proper support, anybody can pursue their dream of starting a business. Communities that are participating in Virginia Main Street are in a unique position to leverage their organizational skills, contacts and methodology to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in their communities.” – Keynote Speaker Toan Nguyen, co-founder of Impact Investment Consulting, C’ville Central, Community Investment Collaborative and C’ville Coffee
Check out photos from the event here.
Below is a list of award recipients:
Volunteerism Milestone Achievement Awards
1,000 Volunteer Hours
Believe in Bristol
5,000 Volunteer Hours
Farmville Downtown Partnership
St. Paul Main Street
15,000 Volunteer Hours
Altavista On Track
20,000 Volunteer Hours
Luray Downtown Initiative Inc.
Marion Downtown!
Destination Downtown South Boston
25,000 Volunteer Hours
Berryville Main Street
30,000 Volunteer Hours
Culpeper Renaissance Inc.
35,000 Volunteer Hours
Old Towne Development Board (Winchester)
50,000 Volunteer Hours
Downtown Franklin Association
85,000 Volunteer Hours
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance
95,000 Volunteer Hours
Lynch’s Landing Foundation
100,000 Volunteer Hours
Staunton Downtown Development Association
Private Investment Milestone Achievement Awards
$5 Million in Private Investment
Abingdon Main Street and the town of Abingdon
$20 Million in Private Investment
Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association and the city of Martinsville
$25 Million in Private Investment
Berryville Main Street and the town of Berryville
$55 Million in Private Investment
Culpeper Renaissance Inc. and the town of Culpeper
Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and the city of Harrisonburg
Staunton Downtown Development Association and the city of Staunton
$110 Million in Private Investment
Lynch’s Landing Foundation and the city of Lynchburg
Building Improvement Milestone Achievement Awards
250 Building Projects
Destination Downtown South Boston and the town of South Boston
Special Achievement Awards
Destination Downtown South Boston – for its leadership in partnering with the town of South Boston and Rehab Development, Inc. in the conversion of South Boston’s last remaining tobacco warehouse into 27 new market rate apartments.
25 Years of Main Street
Partnership for Warrenton Foundation and the town of Warrenton
The Virginia Main Street program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, provides assistance and training to help communities increase the economic vitality of their downtown commercial districts. Virginia Main Street uses the National Main Street model to help communities revitalize their downtowns by focusing on their unique heritage and attributes. The program helps communities implement a comprehensive revitalization strategy that creates economic growth and pride in downtowns.
virginiamainstreet.com 