In spring 2025, the Staunton Downtown Development Association‘s board was made aware that the city was “affiliated” but no longer accredited through the Virginia Main Street (VMS) Program.
The association’s accreditation status changed after three changes in executive director since early 2024 and monthly reports were not properly submitted to VMS.
Accreditation through VMS is obtained on a calendar year to calendar year basis, so SDDA probably became “affiliated” in December 2024 and notified in February 2025 of the change.
“We’re on track right now,” said Staunton Vice Mayor Brad Arrowood, who began in early September serving as Interim Executive Director.
Arrowood previously served on SDDA’s board before joining Staunton City Council in 2023. In the coming months, as the board searches for a new executive director, Arrowood is sorting and reorganizing the downtown association and working to re-earn accreditation with VMS, hopefully in early 2026.
VMS provides downtown associations state grant funding.
“We are the 501(c)3 nonprofit wing of the city that allows us to apply for [opportunities] beyond [VMS grants] that the city cannot, so we are a whole separate avenue for potential funding for things within our purview,” Arrowood said. Grant funding enables downtown businesses to make exterior improvements.
SDDA’s mission when founded in the 1980s was to revitalize downtown Staunton. After that goal was fulfilled, the association’s mission became to continue supporting an economically-thriving downtown by providing grant funding and event opportunities for downtown businesses. Annual events include Shop and Dine Out Downtown, which is held from April to October, and Staunton’s Christmas Parade, which is held the Monday after Thanksgiving Day. Weekly and monthly events and gatherings are held throughout downtown at different businesses.
SDDA keeps downtown businesses connected through communication and scheduled events, and also supports business needs and priorities.
ICYMI: SDDA news
- ‘Talk about the city we want:’ Brad Arrowood runs for Staunton City Council
- Staunton: SDDA names Traipse CEO Darren Smith new executive director
- Staunton: Sixth season of Shop & Dine Out Downtown kicks off April 4
Arrowood will serve as interim leader of Staunton‘s downtown association through December 31, with the option for an additional two months if necessary.
Arrowood said he has been able to still apply for grants through the Virginia Main Street Program, apparently because of Staunton‘s previous good standing with the program and because SDDA is on track for reaccreditation.
“It seems that I’m able to apply for [grant funding opportunities] right now because we are on track to be reaccredited and Virginia Main Street acknowledges this,” Arrowood said.
Arrowood said he is regularly in contact with VMS at least once a week.
“Every time I talk to them, and I talk to them quite often, we are fully on track to be re-accredited.”
Support AFP
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
