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<br />February 25, 2025 <br /> <br />25 - 68 - Adoption of a resolution authorizing participation in the Department of <br />Housing and Community Development Virginia Main Street Program by the City of <br />Portsmouth as a Mobilizing Main Street Community. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has established <br />the Virginia Main Street Program, which is a preservation-based economic and <br />community development program. <br /> <br /> The Main Street Program involves utilizing public-private partnerships, community <br />resources, and grant funding to revitalize downtown commercial areas. <br /> <br /> The Partnership Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3), has taken the lead in <br />establishing a committee of community leaders, including City staff members, to apply to <br />participate in the Main Street Program, with Olde Towne as the initial focus area. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Subject to adoption of the Resolution presented for Council consideration, <br /> <br />Portsmouth will be accepted by DHCD as a “Mobilizing Main Street Community”. <br /> <br /> Designation as a Mobilizing Main Street Community is Tier 2 of the Main Street <br />Program structure and provides an opportunity for DHCD planning assistance and grant <br /> <br />funding. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> The purpose of the Main Street Program is community revitalization. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> Adoption of the resolution. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The City will formally apply to DHCD to become a Mobilizing Main Street <br />community. <br /> <br />1. Donna Biggs, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Hugel, and seconded by Ms. Bryant, to adopt the following <br />resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF <br />HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT VIRGINIA MAIN STREET PROGRAM <br />BY THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH AS A MOBILIZING MAIN STREET COMMUNITY. <br /> <br />WHEREAS <br />, the Virginia Main Street Program (VMS) has been established in the <br />Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to assist localities <br />in developing public/private efforts to revitalize their downtown commercial areas; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, <br />localities may elect to participate in the VMS Program Mobilizing Main <br />Street (MMS) tier that provides the framework for targeted organizational development <br />support to communities interested in pursuing Advancing Virginia Main Street <br />designation, the top tier of VMS recognition signifying a demonstrated commitment to <br />comprehensive downtown revitalization and a proven track record of successfully <br />applying the Main Street Approach™; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS <br />, the City of Portsmouth desires to participate as a Mobilizing Main <br />Street community; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED <br /> by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia that it hereby supports an application to the Virginia Main Street Program to <br />become a Mobilizing Main Street community and agrees to the undertaking of the <br />following activities as required by the Program: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />