Four new Virginia Main Street communities announced

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RICHMOND (WSLS 10) - Four communities will be joining the in the Virginia Main Street (VMS) program.

The newly-designated communities include the town of Wytheville, the cities of Danville and Lexington and Gloucester Courthouse in Gloucester County.  The communities were selected based on their Main Street organization's preparedness to identify, plan and implement programs and services for the defined downtown district, the target area of responsibility.

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The program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

"We welcome these new communities into the Virginia Main Street program," said Governor McAuliffe. "By leveraging our downtown assets and spurring public and private investments in these communities, we are sparking entrepreneurship and job creation in the heart of the Commonwealth and making strides in our efforts to build a new Virginia economy."

In Virginia, the Main Street Approach creates environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable downtown ecosystems. The approach focuses on Economic revitalization in the context of a historic downtown district, provides assessment services, technical assistance, training, access to grants and other initiatives and provides coordination with other DHCD programs to promote the revitalization of historic downtown districts throughout Virginia.

"Congratulations to these communities for their commitment to keeping downtowns vital and robust commercial districts," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. "Historic downtowns have served as the soul of Virginia communities for generations and it's important they remain assets for future generations."

"We are pleased to receive this Virginia Main Street designation. On behalf of the City of Danville, I would like to thank Secretary Jones and Bill Shelton for giving us the opportunity to participate in this prestigious program. This recognition would not have been possible without countless number of individuals and organizations that have supported redevelopment efforts in the River District. We offer a special ‘thank you' to all for your commitment and investment," said Danville Mayor Sherman Saunders in a statement. "Last May, we launched the new brand for the River District, with the tagline 'Reimagine That.' Look at how this historic district has been reimagined into a vibrant place to live, work, shop and play. It is a place where the private sector has, and will continue, to invest. It is a place that we are proud to call home. Thank you for helping us celebrate this great achievement today and thank you for your support as we continue redevelopment efforts in the River District."

"This Virginia Main Street designation is recognition of what RDA has done for downtown Danville and a vehicle to take the organization to a higher level of performance as we strive to become a value-added partner for River District businesses, residents and the City of Danville. This designation also is a salute to the city and its successful efforts to attract industry, entrepreneurs and developers to the River District, as well as the many successful projects that have significantly changed downtown's landscape and quality of life," said Ernecia Coles, the executive director of the River District Association, in a statement.

New VMS communities receive intensive direct services from DHCD staff and key consultants, including market analysis, marketplace development, capacity building, design assistance, organization development, economic restructuring strategies and façade renderings for redevelopment projects. These services are valued at approximately $120,000 per community.

Since 1985, DHCD has been providing assistance to localities engaged in downtown commercial district revitalization through the VMS program using the National Main Street Center's® successful Main Street Approach®.  Main Street® is a comprehensive, incremental approach to downtown revitalization built around a community's unique heritage, culture and historic built attributes.  With the new designations, there are 29 Designated Virginia Main Street Communities.

In 2015, $18.8 million was invested in VMS Districts through rehabilitations, facade improvement projects, and critical upgrades to make downtown aesthetically inviting, socially exciting, and economically thriving. Local governments invested more than $19 million in public projects that improved their downtown districts.  New business openings, business expansions, and relocations in Virginia's 25 designated Main Street communities realized a net gain of 800 jobs.

Since 2010, private investment in Virginia Main Street Districts has topped $167 million.