Lynch's Landing receives Virginia Main Street Milestone Awards

Lynch's Landing receives award for Volunteer Hours and Private Investment at ceremony held in Richmond

Richmond, VA - On Friday, March 16, Lynch's Landing and the City of Lynchburg were presented with Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards for $55 million in private investment and 55,000 volunteer hours contributed toward downtown revitalization through 2006.

The awards were presented at the annual Virginia Main Street Milestone Achievement Awards ceremony, held this year at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va.

David Smith, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth of Virginia, addressed the attendees to the luncheon, which acknowledged the achievements of Main Street volunteers, local leaders, businesses, local governments and private investors.

"The revitalization of Virginia's downtown areas through the Virginia Main Street program and the hard work and dedication of local staff and volunteers is a key component of Virginia's overall economic growth and strength," said Smith.

Speakers at the event included Cate Magennis Wyatt, President of The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, who spoke to the importance of building a strong network of local, regional and other partners to develop a common vision for each community's future based on its unique traits and characteristics.

Bill Shelton, Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development took part in the awards presentation and praised the communities for their efforts to improve their downtowns. When presenting Lynchburg with their awards he noted that these were the highest Milestone Awards ever presented to a Virginia Main Street community.

Attending from Lynchburg were Lynch's Landing officers Peggy Hobbs, Mike Lucado, and Jodi Gillette, and staff members Terri Proffitt and Stephanie Cox. "It is truly amazing to realize how Lynchburg citizens and investors have embraced the revitalization of downtown Lynchburg and it is an honor to receive recognition from the state about the good work being done here" according to Lynch's Landing Board President Peggy Hobbs.

In addition to Lynchburg, VMS recognized the following communities for excellence as well:

• Bedford
• Culpeper
• Franklin
• Harrisonburg
• Manassas
• Martinsville
• South Boston
• Staunton
• Waynesboro
• Winchester

Currently there are 19 designated Virginia Main Street communities: Bedford, Berryville, Culpeper, Danville, Franklin, Harrisonburg, Luray, Lynchburg, Manassas, Marion, Martinsville, Orange, Radford, Rocky Mount, South Boston, Staunton, Warrenton, Waynesboro, and Winchester

In the summer of 2007 Governor Timothy M. Kaine will announce the designation of up to three additional designated communities.

The Virginia Main Street program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, provides assistance and training to help communities increase the economic vitality of their downtown commercial districts. Virginia Main Street uses the National Main Street model to help communities revitalize their downtowns, focusing on their unique heritage and attributes. The program helps communities to develop strategies that create economic growth and pride in their downtown areas.

For more information about the Virginia Main Street program, call (804) 371-7030 or visit their Web page at: www.dhcd.virginia.gov/MainStreet.