If you’ve been wondering what Urbanna Main Street has been up to lately, the short answer is: quite a bit! We’re excited to share some updates on several fronts — from signs to grants to a new hire — and we think you’ll be as excited as we are about where things are headed.

A Brand Identity for Downtown Urbanna

Thanks to a grant we applied for and received, we’ve been working with Shawn Terpak of Arnett Muldrow, a firm that specializes in community branding and wayfinding. In February, Shawn spent several days here in Urbanna — walking the streets, getting to know the town, and meeting with us to develop a plan for wayfinding signage.

While he was here, something exciting happened: Shawn went above and beyond the scope of his original work and helped us develop a brand identity specifically for Downtown Urbanna. We know — “downtown Urbanna” sounds a little funny when you say it out loud. We’re a small town, and we love that about ourselves! But the truth is, we really do have a wonderfully walkable main street with shops, restaurants, history, and waterfront charm, and we want visitors to experience all of it.

This new identity isn’t meant to replace the Urbanna Main Street brand or the Town of Urbanna’s identity — it’s something separate, created specifically to welcome and orient visitors. Think of it as the friendly face that greets people when they arrive and helps them find their way around. We shared this vision at a recent Town Council meeting, and we’re currently gathering quotes to have the signs made. We’ll also be looking for folks who can help install them.

This is Phase 1 of our larger wayfinding signage plan, with more phases to come down the road. We also plan to apply this spring for additional funding through Virginia Main Street to help complete the full project — which will eventually include pedestrian signs, motorway signs, and possibly even billboards to guide visitors into Urbanna from the main roads. We’re thinking big!

A Big Grant Opportunity — and We Want Your Input

We are in the process of applying for a $75,000 planning grant that could be a game-changer for Urbanna. This grant would fund the creation of a Master Plan for downtown revitalization — and completing that plan would make us eligible for much larger grants to fund real, tangible projects in the future. We’re talking beautification, public art, pocket parks, façade improvements, and more.

We’re putting together a planning committee and we want community voices at the table. To that end, we’re hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, April 21st from 4–6pm at Something Different. It’s open to everyone — business owners, residents, visitors who love this town — anyone who wants to have a say in what Urbanna could look like in the years ahead. Come join us!

Welcome, Meghan Hall!

We’re also proud to share that Urbanna Main Street has officially hired its first Program Director! Meghan Hall, a lifelong community member who has been involved with UMS since the beginning, has stepped into this newly created role. This is a milestone we’ve been working toward for some time, and it means we’re better positioned than ever to keep our projects moving, pursue resources through the Virginia Main Street program, and build real momentum for Urbanna’s future.

We’re grateful for this community every single day. Stay tuned for more updates — and we hope to see you on April 21st!