WHO WE ARE

Tappahannock Main Street (TMS) is a community catalyst creating a vibrant future for a diverse, historic Tappahannock, attracting residents, visitors and businesses to our river town.

Executive Officers

President - John Harvey

Vice President - Wright Andrews 

Treasurer - Tim Smith

Secretary - Elizabeth Russell

Past President - Mavora Donoghue

Jim Acors

Bernadette Barclay

Connie Bermudez

Kay Carlton

Travis Harris

Rob Hodges

Lorraine Justice

Jovita Kelly

Anita Latane

Lori Lenz

Dana Smook

Meredith Trible

Tappahannock Main Street has adopted and adapted the Main Street America’s 4-Point Approach and transformation strategies to maximize efforts in the community. The organization has identified three overarching transformation strategies to steer efforts in a unified manner, and all four committees are governed by their own guiding principles.

DESIGN 

To foster revitalization, historic preservation, and beautification efforts in downtown. 

ECONOMIC VITALITY

To be an effective advocate for overall economic development activities. 

ORGANIZATION

To provide support to the organization's operations. 

PROMOTION 

Marketing: Enhance the public's understanding of the value of Main Street’s work. Events: Offer diverse and compelling initiatives to draw people downtown.

A transformation strategy is a comprehensive strategy that guides the direction of the revitalization initiatives and, over time, transforms the community. An effective transformation strategy serves a particular customer segment, responds to an underserved market demand, or creates a differentiated destination. Using the results of the 2019 community visioning sessions, Tappahannock Main Street has adopted the following three transformation strategies.

• FOUNDATION BUILDING
• ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• BUSINESS ACTIVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY: The four committees will complete a number of objectives under each of the three transformation strategies to support the vision of a vibrant downtown community. 

The committees will create individual work plans for each objective by assigning roles, tasks, and timelines. 

The committees have also identified potential partners and plan to collaborate with other organizations as well as citizens in as many objectives as possible. 

Once all objectives are completed the organization will choose two new overarching transformation strategies based on the state of the district and a new community visioning session.

SUMMARY: This strategy focuses on board development, relationship building, work plan development, and laying the foundation for programs upon which the organization can build and develop further over the coming years.

• Create and conduct a structural assessment of all commercial zoned buildings. 
• Solicit community input on downtown appearances, suggestions, and future development. 
• Inventory public outdoor spaces and identify future locations for new ones and where existing spaces could be enhanced. 
• Identify pedestrian friendly areas and those needing improvement.

• Create a comprehensive business and building directory. 
• Conduct market studies to determine the economic climate downtown. 
• Identify state and local resources and incentives available for businesses. 
• Host a merchants' meeting to assess the current needs of downtown. 
• Attend all Economic Development Authority Meetings.

• Create and adopt bylaws. 
• Ensure all Board and staff members complete all VA Main Street trainings. 
• Develop a comprehensive funding strategy. 
• Develop Board Member handbook. 
• Develop volunteer recruitment, education, and recognition programs.