Vision

Over the next 20 years, Downtown Harrisonburg will continue to rebuild and grow while retaining its hometown feel so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy all the city has to offer coupled with the heart and soul of a small town. As the heart of the Friendly City, Downtown will welcome new residents, and as the heartbeat of the Shenandoah Valley, it will grow and support the local and regional business ecosystem. To ease growing pains, Downtown will coordinate new development with investments in infrastructure (such as sidewalks, parking, green infrastructure, and sustainable technology) to support new growth, and to maintain our sense of place, we’ll uncover hidden narratives, share our rich history, and preserve elements of our quirky character.

Goals

1. 1.Our work is focused on fostering strong relationships with the downtown business community so we can anticipate their needs and customize one-on-one assistance offerings, grant programs, workshops and trainings, peer convenings, and strategic economic development initiatives that help grow their operations and keep their doors open.
2. 2.We are building a strong, cohesive community that is welcoming for all through free public events – our festivals, concert series, and smaller events like our new Meet Ups that facilitate connection and friendships. We adjust programming to grow attendance and to improve accessibility through low-sensory programming activity zones and with haptic vests for low- to no-hearing concert attendees.
3. 3.Our organization re-evaluates our fund raising plan and is always fine-tuning our efforts to ensure fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability. We have diversified our revenue streams and continue to identify ways to fund our programs and invest in our people through professional development and competitive salaries and benefits.