About

Virginia Main Street:  Onancock Main Street is an affiliate of Virginia Main Street.  The Virginia Main Street Program is a preservation-based economic and community development program that follows the Main Street Approach by the National Main Street Center.  Virginia Main Street is a Main Street America State Coordinating Program that offers a range of services and assistance to communities interested in revitalizing their historic commercial districts. 

The Four Points of a Main Street Program: 

• Organization - A strong organizational foundation is crucial for a sustainable Main Street revitalization effort. This element of the Main Street Four Points focuses on building collaboration among a broad range of public and private sector groups, organizations, and constituencies.

• Promotion - This element deals with marketing the district’s assets to residents, visitors, investors, and others through special events, retail promotion, and activities that improve the way the district is perceived.

• Design - This element focuses on improving the physical environment by renovating buildings, constructing compatible new buildings, improving signs and merchandise displays, creating attractive and usable public spaces, and ensuring that planning and zoning regulations support Main Street revitalization.

• Economic Vitality - This element concentrates on strengthening the district’s existing economic base while finding ways to expand its economy and introduce compatible new uses. This work is rooted in a commitment to making the most of a community’s unique sense of place and existing historic assets, harnessing local economic opportunity, and creating a supportive business environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Background and Context:  The Town of Onancock has been a Virginia Main Street affiliate for about three decades.  In 2017, a renewed effort began to put into place the organization and structure needed to pursue Virginia Main Street Designation, the highest level awarded by the Virginia Main Street organization and to take advantage of available resources and grant funding opportunities.  Onancock Main Street (OMS) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to preserve and revitalize downtown Onancock and to ensure it is a commercial and cultural center for residents and visitors. In 2020, OMS achieved Virginia Main Street designation and in 2022, OMS was awarded Main Street America designation, the highest Main Street designation possible. OMS has maintained its accreditation each year. OMS partners with the Town of Onancock, downtown businesses, community organizations, the ESVA Chamber of Commerce, ESVA Tourism, Virginia Tourism Corporation, among others, to achieve its goals. 

Our Goals:  2025 - 2028

1.     Strengthen the economic vitality of downtown Onancock

2.     Enhance historic downtown Onancock to become more appealing to visitors, residents, business owners, and investors

3.     Ensure the long-term sustainability of the Onancock Main Street organization

Goal 1.  Strengthen the economic vitality of downtown Onancock

Strengthening the existing economic base in downtown Onancock while finding ways to expand the economy and introduce compatible new uses is critical to establishing long-term vitality for the town. The work focuses on making the most of our downtown's unique sense of place and existing historic assets, harnessing local economic opportunity, and creating a supportive business environment. The 2024 OMS survey clearly identified the top community need: filling empty storefronts.

Objective A - Implement a strategy to support current businesses and recruit new businesses to Onancock.

Objective B - Provide resources that assist business owners and managers to prepare for and operate optimally in an ever-changing culture.

Objective C - Collaborate with the Town, business owners and community stakeholders to promote Onancock to visitors on and off Virginia’s Eastern Shore

Objective D - Ensure OMS priorities remain relevant and aligned with community needs.

Goal 2.  Enhance historic downtown Onancock to become more appealing to visitors, residents, business owners, and investors

An element of the Main Street Approach focuses on improving the physical environment of the district.  OMS will provide input and support toward renovating buildings; constructing compatible new buildings; helping businesses improve storefront attractiveness; creating inviting and accessible public spaces; and planning and zoning regulations that support Main Street revitalization.

Objective A - Bring quality public art to downtown Onancock.

Objective B - Improve the aesthetics of downtown.

Objective C - Work with the Town, community groups, and downtown businesses to support the preservation, enhancement, and promotion of historic assets.

Goal 3.  Ensure the long-term sustainability of the Onancock Main Street organization

A strong organizational foundation is crucial for a sustainable Main Street revitalization effort.  This requires keeping the board, committees, and staff functioning by encouraging people to volunteer and provide financial support of Onancock Main Street. 

Objective A - Develop an Onancock Main Street long-range funding plan.

Objective B - Develop succession plans for board officer positions, and ensure committees are appropriately staffed and pursuing committee objectives. 

Objective C - Develop and maintain the performance level of professional staff necessary to achieve our mission, goals, and organizational requirements.

Objective D - Implement a robust volunteer recruitment and retention program.

Objective E - Implement broad communications that create awareness of and reinforce OMS’ value, particularly among potential volunteers and donors.