Virginia Main Street, a program of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, recently announced that the City of Radford has been accepted into the downtown revitalization program as a DHCD Commercial District Affiliate.
Virginia Main Street uses the National Main Street model for downtown revitalization, which is a comprehensive, incremental approach to build economic vitality using a community’s unique heritage and attributes as the foundation, the city announcement said.
The program helps communities to develop their own strategies to encourage business development, building renovation and pride in their downtown area.
As an affiliate, Radford will have the opportunity to attend a variety of trainings throughout the year, access to downtown revitalization grants, resources and materials, consultations regarding key issues and can also benefit from being part of a larger network of downtowns dedicated to revitalization.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this nationally recognized program,” Radford City Manager David Ridpath said. “The support we will receive from Virginia Main Street will have a positive impact on our downtown revitalization efforts.”
The Virginia Main Street program, administered by DHCD, began in 1985. Since that time, the program and its designated communities have encouraged more than $1 billion in private investment, attracted more than 6,700 new businesses and created more than 22,000 new jobs.
“Affiliate status is an important first step for a community interested in downtown revitalization,” said Rebecca Rowe, Virginia Main Street program manager. “We are pleased to have Radford join the program and applaud their commitment to further their revitalization efforts and create improved economic opportunity downtown.”
For more information about Virginia Main Street, contact (804) 371-7030 or visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/mainstreet.
To learn more about local downtown revitalization efforts, contact Radford’s Economic Development Department at (540) 731-3603.
