HomeMy Public PortalAbout2024_04_18_Joint_Work_Session_Agenda_Packet_TC_&_Leesburg_Movement
TOWN OF LEESBURG
Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, Lower Level Meeting Room
60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg, Virginia
AGENDA
Joint Town Council/Leesburg Movement Work Session
April 18, 2024
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
a. Town Council and Leesburg Movement Joint Meeting – Virginia Main Street
Program
3. ADJOURNMENT
Qualified individuals with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation to attend and/or participate
in this meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva.gov or 703-771-2733 to request the
accommodation. Three days advance notice is requested.
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Council Meeting Date: April 18, 2024
TOWN OF LEESBURG
TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Subject: Town Council and Leesburg Movement Joint Meeting – Virginia Main Street Program
Staff Contact: Russell Seymour, Director of Economic Development
Allison Wood, Small Business Development & Tourism Specialist
Council Action Requested: Joint meeting between the Town Council and the Leesburg Movement
to provide an update to Council on the Town’s Virginia Main Street Program. No action is required
by Council at this time.
Staff Recommendation: None at this time.
Commission Recommendation: None at this time.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Work Plan Impact: The originally established Main Street Steering Committee has now become a
corporation, Leesburg Movement, and has filed for 501(c)(3) non-profit status with the IRS. The
daily workload has transitioned to the working board and its committees.
The Department of Economic Development (DED) has successfully transitioned out of a staff role
and into serving as a Town representative on the Board of Directors. With the approval of the
Town’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, the Movement will focus on hiring a part-time manager to assist
with the organization’s daily workload.
Town Plan Impact: The Main Street program is consistent with Goal 2.1 – Leverage the Town’s
Unique Character to Attract High Quality Jobs and Investment and Goal 2.2 – Use Economic
Growth to Expand Economic Opportunity of the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan.
Additionally, with a focus on Downtown, the Main Street Designation is also consistent with
Goal 1.2.1 - Preserve and Enhance the Historic Core of Leesburg and Goal 2.5 – Utilize Federal
Programs and Local Resources to Bolster the Local Economy.
Executive Summary: Following direction provided by Town Council in January 2023, a
consulting firm was hired to begin development of the requirements to create a 501(c)(3) and to
outline the next steps which needed to be completed in order to move the Town’s established
Main Street program from Tier 1 to Tier 2. The current planned timeline illustrates the required
action items and the proposed timeline for moving to both Tier 2 and Tier 3 status. See
Attachment #1.
With the formation of the Leesburg Movement corporation, and the establishment of Officers,
four standard Main Street committees were created to focus on the following areas: Economic
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Item a.
Town Council and Leesburg Movement Joint Meeting – Virginia Main Street Program
April 18, 2024
Page 2
Vitality, Promotions, Design, and Organization. Committee Chairs have been established and
work has begun to complete projects and to gather volunteers to assist with those projects. See
Attachment #1.
Background: The Virginia Main Street Program is run through the Virginia Department of Housing
and Community Development (DHCD). The Program contains 3 separate Tiers of Participation
that require different levels of commitment. As local programs are established, they may progress
from Tier 1 to Tier 3 status. The Town of Leesburg is currently a Tier 1, Exploring Main Street
community.
In January 2023, Town Council approved Resolution 2023-018 authorizing the use of the awarded
Community Vitality Grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development to
hire a consultant to prepare the necessary items to begin pursuit of Tier 2 and Tier 3 status. This
includes the development of a 501(c)(3) organization to serve as the management organization for
the program.
In May 2023, the Town was approved for additional funds from the state in the amount of $5,500
through the Community Vitality Grant. These funds were utilized to further engage the hired
consultant as well as to support organizational development and branding for the newly
established Leesburg Movement.
Attachments:
1. Main Street Timeline
2. Leesburg Main Street Program
2023/08
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Item a.
Attachment 1
Main Street Timeline
Tier 1:
Currently Underway:
The Leesburg Movement is a formal corporation and has filed for 501(c)(3) non-profit
status.
Town has been awarded the 2024 Community Vitality Grant.
o $15,000 grant - $5,000 cash match, $2,500 in-kind
o Grant funds are being applied towards a wayfinding project, in collaboration
with the Department of Public Works.
Applied for a 2025 grant through the VDHCD for the Lassiter Way Beautification Project.
Application for Tier 2 due November 2024 – Competitive Application
January 2025-December 2026
Tier 2:
Application approval in December 2024
Receive Tier 2 status in January 2025
Begin 2-year “Cohort” program
o Prepare for Tier 3
o DHCD community training, assist with organizational development
o 2-year cohort program completion required in order to be eligible to apply
for Tier 3 designation.
o Complete cohort program in December 2026
January 2027
Tier 3:
Tier 3 designations are available through a competitive application process offered
every few years as state resources permit.
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Item a.
Attachment 2
Leesburg Main Street Program
The Leesburg Movement
Board of Directors
Chair – John Papp, Resident (Organization Committee Chair)
Vice Chair – Monica Pindell, MOCATINAS (Design Committee Chair)
Treasurer – Jason Miller, The Wine Kitchen
Secretary – Deb Matthews, Chase Your Tail Bakery/Leesburg Farmer’s Market
Board Member – Vanessa Borg, CRAFT (Promotions Committee Chair)
Board Member – Tyra Flynn, The Global Local (Economic Vitality Committee
Chair)
Board Member – Paul Zangos, Tarbenders
Board Member – Dayna Newell, Resident
Board Member – Lori Tran/Colleen West, wld wst (shared seat)
Ex Officio Board Member – Allison Wood, Town of Leesburg
Activities and Projects
Booth at TASTE Leesburg – organized a raffle with $550 in gift cards from 19
downtown businesses.
Booth at Crossroads Music Festival
Marketing – consistent social media presence, established a monthly
newsletter “Looped in Leesburg.”
Holiday Retail Workshop - Organized with the Loudoun SBDC with specially
tailored content.
Established two advisory groups – the Retail Advisory Group has
representatives from eight businesses, the Restaurant Advisory Group has
representatives from six businesses
Christmas Market at the Courthouse
Small Business Saturday Passport - promotions and offers from 15 downtown
businesses.
Holiday window display competition – winner received free professional video
production to market on social media.
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Item a.
The Leesburg Listening Room Series – established to bring people downtown
during slower months and to leverage the Arts & Culture district, 6 shows to
date, 2 scheduled.
St. Patrick’s Day event - Attempted to organize an event at the Courthouse
Lawn. Decided to re-evaluate for next year.
Neighborhood Discount Card Program – encourages residents to shop
downtown during slower retail months (March-May), 20 participating
downtown businesses.
Saturday Sidewalk Dining - Attempted to bring back due to feedback from
community.
Lassiter Way Beautification Project – Applied for a grant (their first) through
VDHCD in April
Currently working on a professional video production project to spotlight
downtown businesses.
Currently working on a Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest
Currently working on developing a website
Currently filling the four committees (Promotions, Economic Vitality, Design,
and Organization) with more volunteers to be able to expand bandwidth for
projects.
Leesburg Movement will be applying for Tier 2 status in November, as
scheduled.
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Item a.