Downtown, city leaders learn more about the food economy

Item by Chris Graham
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Representatives of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc. participated in a statewide training workshop presented by Virginia Main Street in Culpeper last week.

The training focused on how restaurants and farmers’ markets are playing an increasingly important role in downtown-revitalization efforts in Virginia.

“The Nourishing Downtown training had many direct, helpful take-aways that stressed the importance of food-based businesses on the economic health of downtown, while also providing the tools to support and attract them.” said Diane Logan, executive director of Culpeper Renaissance Inc.

HDR staffers Eddie Bumbaugh, Alexis Morehouse, Kris Ludwig and Jessica Chase represented Harrisonburg at the training session. WDDI director Kimberly Watters and City Councilwoman Nancy Dowdy represented Waynesboro.