Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2022-09-09 Outreach Process Begins as Part of Main Street Program Designation Town of Leesburg News Release For Immediate Release September 9, 2022 Media Contact: Leah Kosin, Assistant Public Information Officer pio@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781 Outreach Process Begins as Part of Main Street Program Designation Leesburg, VA (September 9, 2022) – Following last September’s recognition as an Exploring Main Street community, representatives of Leesburg’s Department of Economic Development will begin the outreach process, within the local business community, this month. Staff will utilize a combination of in-person visits, phone calls, online surveys, and public forums to thoroughly explain the benefits and requirements of the program . This will also help determine the level of interest of expanding the program beyond Tier 2. “There are four tiers that make up the Virginia Main Street (VMS) Program,” said Small Business Development & Tourism Specialist Allison Wood. “The Tier 2 designation is designed to assist in determining whether your locality has interest in further developing a VMS program. Localities that desire to move from Tier 2 to Tier 3 do so with the expectation that they are going to continue the program through completion, becoming an Advancing Main Street Community (Tier 4).” After collecting input and assessing interest, a presentation will be made to the Leesburg Town Council in January 2023 on whether to move forward with the program. Wood added that all of the work to meet the requirements to become a Tier 4 is completed during Tier 3 (Mobilizing Main Street) and usually takes 2 years to complete. To learn more, visit www.leesburgva.gov/mainstreetprogram. Main Street is a national model created by the National Main Street Center (NMSC), a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is designed to bring jobs, dollars, and people to small towns and commercial districts while leveraging private investment and capitalizing on the unique appeal of historic downtowns. The program is divided into four (4) Community Revitalization Program Tiers, which provide increasing opportunities and responsibilities depending upon the level selected. The Virginia Main Street program has created more than 7,000 businesses, 24,000 jobs, and has generated more than $1.8 billion in public and private investment in Virginia. # # #