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The award was presented at the annual Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards ceremony, this year held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va.

The Honorable Patrick O. Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia, addressed the attendees to the luncheon, which acknowledged the achievements of Main Street volunteers, local leaders, businesses, local governments and private investors. 

“The revitalization of Virginia’s downtown areas through the Virginia Main Street program and the hard work and dedication of local staff and volunteers is a key component of Virginia’s overall economic growth and strength,” said Gottschalk. 

 
Speakers at the event included Lauren Adkins of the National Trust Main Street Center, who spoke to the importance of building sustainable communities in the face of dramatic demographic and other changes.  

 
Bill Shelton, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development took part in the awards presentation and praised the communities for their efforts to improve their downtowns. 

 
“It is with the committed property and business owners, dedicated volunteers and cooperative air of our City government that Main Street Radford has been able to make so many positive strides”, says Main Street Radford Director, Becky Haupt.

 
In addition to Radford, VMS recognized the following communities for excellence as well: 
 

· ·         Bedford
· ·         Berryville
· ·         Culpeper
· ·         Franklin
· ·         Harrisonburg
· ·         Luray
· ·         Lynchburg
· ·         Manassas
· ·         Martinsville
· ·         Orange
· ·         Rocky Mount
· ·         South Boston
· ·         Staunton
· ·         Warrenton
· ·         Winchester

 
Currently there are 21 designated Virginia Main Street communities: Abingdon, Altavista, Bedford, Blackstone, Berryville, Culpeper, Franklin, Harrisonburg, Luray, Lynchburg, Manassas, Marion, Martinsville, Orange, Radford, Rocky Mount, South Boston, Staunton, Warrenton, Waynesboro, and Winchester

 
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.

For more information about the Virginia Main Street program, call (804) 371-7030 or visit their Web page at: www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreet.
 

Photo courtesy of Main Street Radford
 

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