Fredericksburg Awarded $25K Downtown Revitalization Grant

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam awarded Fredericksburg VA Main Street Inc. a $25,000 grant to accelerate revitalization of the city's downtown area as part of the state's economic strategy to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

Fredericksburg was among nine communities across the state to receive a $25,000 Downtown Investment Grants. The other communities were the towns of Culpeper, Luray, South Boston, St. Paul and Wytheville and the cities of Danville and Franklin.

Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street Inc. is a chapter of the National Main Street Program, an initiative originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Nine Commercial District Affiliate grants, each totaling $7,000, were awarded to the towns of Bedford, Cape Charles, Colonial Beach, Honaker, Onancock, and Tazewell, and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Martinsville.

“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," Northam said in a statement.

Virginia Main Street grants are administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The Virginia Main Street program is composed of 26 communities and more than 90 commercial district affiliates throughout Virginia.

“Encouraging private investment and economic growth is the key to building vibrant communities across the Commonwealth during this pandemic and beyond," Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said.

The Downtown Investment Grants can be used for design and economic vitality projects in historic downtown neighborhoods. The Commercial District Affiliate grants go toward projects in historic commercial neighborhoods. Projects include downtown revitalization, market studies, downtown marketing campaigns, wayfinding signage, streetscape improvements, and town murals.