Van Ness Main Street is now the main street program of Forest Hills, too.
“Our vibrancy and community just doubled!” VNMS Executive Director Gloria Garcia announced in a recent newsletter. “Our formal request to expand our main street’s border to Nebraska Ave has been approved by DC’s Department of Small and Local Business Development.”
Van Ness Main Street was offering its support to the businesses north of Albemarle – its previous northern border – months before Garcia took over in January, and in the early days of the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders, she was delivering emergency cash grants to businesses along the 5000 block of Connecticut Avenue as well as the main street’s traditional territory between Van Ness and Albemarle Streets.
Among VNMS’s next steps: raising $5,000 for purchasing PPE for the small businesses on the Connecticut Avenue corridor. Donations this month will go toward buying protective equipment in bulk.
Chevy Chase is getting its own main street.
Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh pushed for funding in the FY 2021 budget for the Van Ness Main Street expansion. She also helped secure $200,000 for the creation of a new main street program in Chevy Chase.
“This could not come at a better time for our local business community as it continues to try and rebound from the consequences of the current COVID-19 health pandemic,” wrote ANC 3/4G Commissioner Jerry Malitz in a constituent newsletter.
The Cleveland Park Business Association is disbanding.
The businesses of Cleveland Park formed the CPBA in 2010. One of their missions was to advocate for the formation of a main street program that would take on the projects done by volunteers. They got their wish in 2019. Cleveland Park Main Street says it will continue much of association’s programming and activities, and as part its dissolution, the CPBA will establish a revolving loan fund for Cleveland Park businesses.
Tenleytown Main Street is continuing the Art All Night tradition.
And this time, it’s not just one night. The two-week celebration of local arts, local artists and local businesses begins on Sunday, September 13th and ends Saturday, September 26th. And it’s largely virtual.
Tenleytown Main Street will feature community artists in its online art market. It is also inviting us to take an in-person or virtual “Art Walk” to view works displayed in storefront windows. And while you enjoy virtual musical and dance performers, TMS hopes you’ll indulge in another key part of the Art All Night tradition: the local restaurant food. “Order carry-out or delivery from area restaurants to go with Art All Night’s virtual performances – many local spots have special offers just for Art All Night,” the main street said in its September 1st newsletter.
Look for the schedule and updates at tenleytownmainstreet.org and its social media accounts.