State awards $278K to COVID-19 economic recovery projects

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that the state has awarded $278,000 among 18 economic revitalization projects in Virginia as part of the state’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan.

“Downtown districts are the lifeblood of our communities and our local economies and they need our support now more than ever,” Northam said in a statement. “Main Street communities across the commonwealth have been greatly impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and these grants will provide critical assistance to help small businesses stay afloat and advance Virginia’s economic recovery.”

The Virginia Main Street grants (administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development) were awarded to downtown revitalization and commercial district projects across all regions in the state. Projects include downtown revitalization, market studies, downtown marketing campaigns, signage, streetscape improvements and town murals. The Virginia Main Street program includes 26 designated communities and more than 90 commercial district affiliates across the state.

“In the last five years, designated Main Street communities have sparked more than $413 million in private investment across Virginia,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said in a statement. “Encouraging private investment and economic growth is the key to building vibrant communities across the commonwealth during this pandemic and beyond.”

The following localities or organizations have been awarded $25,000 in funding:

• Culpeper Renaissance Inc. | Culpeper Downtown Revitalization Campaign
• Destination Downtown South Boston | Small Business Recovery After COVID-19
• Downtown Danville Association | Bricks and Clicks — Danville
• Downtown Franklin Association | S.O.S. — Sustain Our (Main) Street
• Downtown Lynchburg Association | Downtown Lynchburg Market Study and Positioning Plan
• Downtown Wytheville Inc. | Downtown Wytheville Small Business Celebration
• Fredericksburg VA Main Street Inc. | Downtown Fredericksburg Streetscape Improvements
• Luray Downtown Initiative | Get Out of Your Car in Luray
• St. Paul Tomorrow Inc. | St. Paul’s Got You Covered

The following localities or organizations have been awarded $7,000 in funding:

• Town of Bedford | Town of Bedford Upper-Level Access Project
• City of Buena Vista | Town Square Mural
• Cape Charles Main Street Inc. | Cape Charles Main Street Microsite
• Downtown Colonial Beach Inc. | Colonial Beach Design and Marketing Project
• Town of Honaker | Honaker Downtown Street Lamp Project
• Martinsville-Henry County Chamber’s Partnership for Economic Growth | Uptown Marketing
• Olde Town Covington | Covington Downtown Historic District Way Finding and Beautification
• Onancock Main Street Initiative | Onancock Branding Architecture
• Town of Tazewell | Main Street Mini Park

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