MAIN STREET LOUDOUN communities will work together on a Spring spruce up of Loudoun's Main Streets called "Main Street Loudoun is Blooming", to be scheduled Friday and Saturday, April 16 & 17, 2004. A variety of activities are planned to improve the attractiveness of our downtowns after the long winter months and to give community volunteers and businesses a chance to demonstrate their community pride. By working together we will enhance everyone's enjoyment of our unique and historic Loudoun towns and villages.

Middleburg businesses are actively joining this effort in full force, just in time for the Middleburg Spring Races, and all the fun events that surround spring time in our historic town. Middleburg Southern States has offered a 20% discount in support of our local businesses for all flower and plant displays. Businesses, community groups and residents who wish to participate should contact Main Street Loudoun Coordinator Martha Mason Semmes at info@mainstreetloudoun.org or 703-737-8386.

A sampling of the activities planned for the two-day event include the placing flower pots and washing windows in Purcellville commercial areas and at the Purcellville Train Station; flower planting in Lovettsville at the Community Center, the Welcome to Lovettsville sign and in downtown barrels; clean-up and landscaping at Middleburg Elementary School and downtown; and a Round Hill downtown park clean-up and planting. All Loudoun towns and several villages are expected to participate on one or both days of the event.

Community Main Street committees are spearheading this effort with coordination and assistance from the Main Street Loudoun Promotions & Education Committees. Businesses are encouraged to join this effort by planning their own Spring spruce-up activities for this weekend. Suggestions for business participation include planting flowers, washing storefront windows, picking up litter, sweeping the sidewalk, and painting storefronts. Some communities are offering assistance in the way of flower discounts from local nurseries and the provision of cleaning supplies.

The "Main Street Loudoun" (MSL) program is modeled after the Main Street program developed in 1980 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The comprehensive 4-Point Approach utilized by MSL has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern in over 1650 communities (including 65 communities in Virginia) by focusing on preservation of a town's existing assets and efforts to maintain a community's sense of place.