Virginia will distribute $615,000 in grant funding to support downtown revitalization projects across 22 communities, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced. The funding combines $445,000 in Downtown Investment Grants to 10 localities and $170,000 in Community Vitality Grants to 12 localities through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
The grants will leverage more than $230,000 in additional local public and private funding for business development and infrastructure improvements. Projects include wayfinding systems, streetscape transformations, storefront activations, alleyway improvements, placemaking initiatives, and business support programs. Of the Community Vitality Grant funding, $60,000 is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Community Development Initiative.
Virginia Main Street communities generated more than $41 million in private investment and $10 million in public improvements in 2025 while creating or retaining more than 1,200 jobs. The program follows the Main Street Approach of Main Street America.
Downtown Wytheville won the 2026 Greater American Main Street Award for reducing its vacancy rate from 42 percent in 2014 to 4 percent in 2026.