There are quite a few good stories listed below which I collected during my time off last week. I particularly recommend the Argenta Express article by Kane Webb from yesterday’s D-G and the ShopMainStreet.org reminder.
Congratulations to Michael Drake on his wedding to Beth Gaines. I was privileged to attend the service where the pastor incorporated an Elvis mention into the ceremony. It warmed my heart.
Check out Main Street El Dorado on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/mainstreeteldorado
MSA Staff Calendar – November 26-30, 2007
Monday – Cary & Caroline – Paragould: Workplanning Session
Tuesday – Cary & Caroline – Paragould (a.m.); Mark & Susan – Texarkana
Wednesday – Mark & Susan – Texarkana
Thursday – Advisory Board Meeting
Friday
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************************************************************************************************
Harsh Realities for those Who Buy in Historic Districts?
Fighting Over Historic Designation
$52 Million Invested in Phillips County in Last Two Years
Why Conservatives Should Care About Cities
Federal Heritage Areas Catching On
El Dorado Looking at Uses for Building
Progress Brings New Problems: Meredith Oakley Editorial on Parking in Argenta
The Argenta Express: Kane Webb feature
Baby Boomers a Higher Portion of Arkansas’s Economy vs. National Comparisons
Merchants weigh in on NLR Street Beat plan
ShopMainStreet.org Holiday Reminder
**************************************************************************************************************
Harsh Realities for those Who Buy in Historic Districts?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/17/AR2007111700221.html
Fighting Over Historic Designation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111602402_pf.html
$52 Million Invested in Phillips County in Last Two Years
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AR_DELTA_PROGRESS_AROL-?SITE=ARMOU&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-11-20-14-55-24
Why Conservatives Should Care About Cities
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=898
Federal Heritage Areas Catching On
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTzsEHIehbhbqmzhqt_JLTn-yqawD8T4MAGG0
El Dorado Looking at Uses for Building
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/208696
Progress Brings New Problems: Meredith Oakley Editorial on Parking in Argenta
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/208807
The Argenta Express: Kane Webb feature
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Perspective/208794
Baby Boomers a Higher Portion of Arkansas’s Economy vs. National Comparisons
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/208774
Merchants weigh in on NLR Street Beat plan
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/11/24/news/nws01.prt
ShopMainStreet.org Holiday Reminder
Dear Main Street Member,
The busiest time of the retail year is fast approaching - nearly one quarter of all online sales each year occur between November 1 and December 22. So now is the time to make sure your downtown stores are listed on ShopMainStreet.org.
ShopMainStreet.org, an online directory of e-commerce-enabled, independent Main Street businesses, is now entering its second holiday season. We have a great marketing plan ready to get some of those online dollars directed to Main Streets – including a special holiday challenge to National Trust members and others who care about supporting traditional downtowns. But the site is only as good as the businesses that are listed – so please ask your stores to sign-up today.
To get started:
Go to www.shopmainstreet.org/Member_Login.asp and login with your MainStreet.org user name and password. You will then be able to send e-mail invitations to your local businesses, allowing them to edit and submit their own listings. It's quick and simple to use - for you and your businesses. And remember, this is a benefit of your Main Street Network Membership so there is no cost to the businesses for their listing!
________________________________________
Special Holiday Challenge to our Members:
To help motivate you, our Main Street members, we are instituting a Members Challenge for this holiday season:
Get 3 businesses listed on our website by November 30th and be entered into a raffle for a free year of membership (a $250 value)*
________________________________________
Important Reminders:
• ShopMainStreet.org is only for independently owned, retail businesses located in your downtown, neighborhood, or Main Street commercial district.
• All businesses must have some sort of e-commerce capability – whether a full online store or just an online catalog of items.
• We review all businesses and those that are not appropriate for the site will not be approved.
________________________________________
*: This means 3 total for your district, not 3 new ones (although we would love 3 new ones too). We didn't want to penalize those of you that supported us last year during the pilot phase.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Main Street Arkansas Update - Novembe 19, 2007
November 19 – 23, 2007 Staff Calendar
Monday Cary, off
Tuesday Cary, off
Wednesday Cary, off; Mark & Nancy - Dumas
Thursday Happy Thanksgiving
Friday Office Closed
Congratulations to South Main (SoMa) and Main Street Helena on their receipt of an AT&T Technology grant.
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************************************************************************************************
SoMa Press
Eureka Springs First Impressions Press
Texarkana Video
Southern Literary Trail
NLR Press
Arkansas Living Treasure Nominations Open
Conservation Leadership Awards
**************************************************************************************************************
SoMa Press Coverage:
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=61771
- note: you can both read & watch the TV spot from this link
Eureka Springs MSA First Impressions Press:
http://www.eurekaspringstimesecho.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/mw2.txt
Texarkana Video (note: launches external video player)
mms://63.81.191.27/tex-arkansas-promo-video
- 5:04 into the video there’s a section on the downtown revitalization of Texarkana. You’ll see Bethany & Anita. There’s a mention of Texarkana being in the Main Street program.
Southern Literary Trail
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/09/AR2007110900904.html
Arkansas, sadly, is not a part of this trail despite our ties to Maya Angelou, Donald Harrington, Charles Portis and others.
This article highlights the regional efforts of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Regionalism is something we need to focus more on in Main Street.
NLR Mill Closing May Change Downtown Skyline
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/11/16/news/nws03.txt
NLR Leaders Trip to Downtown Memphis
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/208132/
Kane Webb reports on meeting with Henry Turley. Those who attended last week’s Upstairs Downtown remember our speaker discussing Mr. Turley’s work on a pre-smart growth housing project on Mud Island.
Arkansas Living Treasure Nomination Forms Now Available
The nomination forms for the 2008 Arkansas Living Treasure are now available. This award is presented in recognition of an Arkansan who is outstanding in the creation of a traditional craft and has significantly contributed to the preservation of the art form.
The nomination form is available at www.arkansasarts.com/programs/alta or contact Sally A. Williams, artists services manager, at (501) 324-9348 or email sally@arkansasheritage.org . Deadline for nominations is Friday, December 14, 2007.
Community members are encouraged by the Arts Council to identify outstanding crafts artists who live or work in their community. An independent panel of practicing craft artists will meet in Little Rock to review submitted materials and select the recipient. The panelists weigh the following criteria in order to make their selection: quality of work, community outreach and total contribution to the field of traditional crafts. The recipient will be honored in May during Arkansas Heritage Month.
New Deadline for County Conservation Leadership Awards
Submit Applications by December 5
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) are now accepting applications for the fourth annual County Leadership in Conservation Awards. The awards recognize leadership, innovation, and excellence by forward-thinking county leaders in local land conservation.
Successful programs will be judged on the basis of:
* Innovation
* Financing Mechanisms
* Visioning and Planning
* Diversity and Strength of Partnerships
* Acquisition and/or Implementation Excellence
* Generating Public Awareness and Support
* Program Management
The Awards help NACo and TPL recognize innovative counties making great strides in local land conservation and help generate publicity for these groundbreaking efforts. Bringing recognition to the county's program, and providing "best practice" examples for county and other local officials to design landmark conservation programs across the country are the main goals of the Awards.
Access the Application Form for more information and to apply electronically. The extended deadline for submissions is December 5, 2007.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=21816&folder_id=2867
Award winners will be recognized at NACo's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2008.
More information about awards categories and criteria.
Read more about the 2007 County Leadership in Conservation Award winners
For more information contact awards@tpl.org
www.tpl.org
Trust for Public Land Home
Copyright 2007 - The Trust for Public Land
116 New Montgomery Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
1-800-714-LAND
Monday Cary, off
Tuesday Cary, off
Wednesday Cary, off; Mark & Nancy - Dumas
Thursday Happy Thanksgiving
Friday Office Closed
Congratulations to South Main (SoMa) and Main Street Helena on their receipt of an AT&T Technology grant.
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************************************************************************************************
SoMa Press
Eureka Springs First Impressions Press
Texarkana Video
Southern Literary Trail
NLR Press
Arkansas Living Treasure Nominations Open
Conservation Leadership Awards
**************************************************************************************************************
SoMa Press Coverage:
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=61771
- note: you can both read & watch the TV spot from this link
Eureka Springs MSA First Impressions Press:
http://www.eurekaspringstimesecho.com/articles/2007/11/13/news/mw2.txt
Texarkana Video (note: launches external video player)
mms://63.81.191.27/tex-arkansas-promo-video
- 5:04 into the video there’s a section on the downtown revitalization of Texarkana. You’ll see Bethany & Anita. There’s a mention of Texarkana being in the Main Street program.
Southern Literary Trail
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/09/AR2007110900904.html
Arkansas, sadly, is not a part of this trail despite our ties to Maya Angelou, Donald Harrington, Charles Portis and others.
This article highlights the regional efforts of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Regionalism is something we need to focus more on in Main Street.
NLR Mill Closing May Change Downtown Skyline
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/11/16/news/nws03.txt
NLR Leaders Trip to Downtown Memphis
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/208132/
Kane Webb reports on meeting with Henry Turley. Those who attended last week’s Upstairs Downtown remember our speaker discussing Mr. Turley’s work on a pre-smart growth housing project on Mud Island.
Arkansas Living Treasure Nomination Forms Now Available
The nomination forms for the 2008 Arkansas Living Treasure are now available. This award is presented in recognition of an Arkansan who is outstanding in the creation of a traditional craft and has significantly contributed to the preservation of the art form.
The nomination form is available at www.arkansasarts.com/programs/alta or contact Sally A. Williams, artists services manager, at (501) 324-9348 or email sally@arkansasheritage.org . Deadline for nominations is Friday, December 14, 2007.
Community members are encouraged by the Arts Council to identify outstanding crafts artists who live or work in their community. An independent panel of practicing craft artists will meet in Little Rock to review submitted materials and select the recipient. The panelists weigh the following criteria in order to make their selection: quality of work, community outreach and total contribution to the field of traditional crafts. The recipient will be honored in May during Arkansas Heritage Month.
New Deadline for County Conservation Leadership Awards
Submit Applications by December 5
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) are now accepting applications for the fourth annual County Leadership in Conservation Awards. The awards recognize leadership, innovation, and excellence by forward-thinking county leaders in local land conservation.
Successful programs will be judged on the basis of:
* Innovation
* Financing Mechanisms
* Visioning and Planning
* Diversity and Strength of Partnerships
* Acquisition and/or Implementation Excellence
* Generating Public Awareness and Support
* Program Management
The Awards help NACo and TPL recognize innovative counties making great strides in local land conservation and help generate publicity for these groundbreaking efforts. Bringing recognition to the county's program, and providing "best practice" examples for county and other local officials to design landmark conservation programs across the country are the main goals of the Awards.
Access the Application Form for more information and to apply electronically. The extended deadline for submissions is December 5, 2007.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=21816&folder_id=2867
Award winners will be recognized at NACo's Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in March 2008.
More information about awards categories and criteria.
Read more about the 2007 County Leadership in Conservation Award winners
For more information contact awards@tpl.org
www.tpl.org
Trust for Public Land Home
Copyright 2007 - The Trust for Public Land
116 New Montgomery Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
1-800-714-LAND
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Main Street Arkansas Update - November 12, 2007
November 12-17
Monday - Cary, DeWitt – office closed, Veteran’s Day
Tuesday - Cary – West Memphis; Greg & Caroline – Texarkana
Wednesday - Cary - Osceola
Thursday - Cary – Blytheville
Friday – Cary – off
DAH just opened a new one time grant program made possible by appropriation from the General Assembly. Up to $25,000 no match requirements. Municipalities, historical societies, museums, art centers, and non-profit organizations will be eligible for this money. If you know of anyone that may benefit is the link http://www.arkansasheritage.com/heritage_month/grants.asp. It will be very competitive only $600,000 available to a broad range of applicants and projects. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2008.
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************************************************************************************************
LR to Host National Trail Symposium
Growing City Will Decide if Big-box Retail Can Move In
Land Bank
Rap About the City You Love
Good Hardy Press
Grant Opportunity
**************************************************************************************************************
Little Rock Selected to Host National Trail Symposium
Little Rock has been chosen to host the 2008 National Trail Symposium next November. The symposium, scheduled for Nov. 15-18, 2008, is slated to address issues of trails and greenways nationwide with dozens of speakers covering the top topics in the field. For those interested in being a part of the special event, volunteer opportunities are currently available for the planning and execution of the symposium. Sponsor and donor opportunities are also available. For more information, contact Terry Eastin at (479) 236-0938 or terry@mississippirivertrail.org.The symposium is being presented by American Trails, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance and protect America's network of interconnected trails. More details are available at www.americantrails.org.
Growing City Will Decide if Big-box Retail Can Move In
http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?lID=71&sID=72&ms=73&cID=8&aID=100582.89063.112707
Land Bank
A Little Rock ordinance has been drafted that would establish a city land bank to hold abandoned and neglected properties for later sale to developers. The ordinance, which will be sent to the City Board by the Community Housing Advisory Board, takes advantage of a law passed by the General Assembly that allows the state Land Commissioner to donate to cities tax-delinquent properties held for a year. The land bank could also take possession of properties the city has liens against.
Little Rock had 800 properties identified as unsafe and vacant last year, Housing and Neighborhood Programs Director Andre Bernard said. A work group will meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center to give the draft, which creates the land bank commission and rules on acquiring property, the once-over before the advisory board presents it.
Rap About the City You Love
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/2007/10/rap_about_the_city_you_love.aspx
Good Hardy Press
http://www.athomearkansas.com/arkansas/life/onroad/article_7.html
Grant Opportunity
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15849
National Leadership Grants support projects that have the potential to elevate museum and library practice. The Institute seeks to advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge while enhancing learning.
Monday - Cary, DeWitt – office closed, Veteran’s Day
Tuesday - Cary – West Memphis; Greg & Caroline – Texarkana
Wednesday - Cary - Osceola
Thursday - Cary – Blytheville
Friday – Cary – off
DAH just opened a new one time grant program made possible by appropriation from the General Assembly. Up to $25,000 no match requirements. Municipalities, historical societies, museums, art centers, and non-profit organizations will be eligible for this money. If you know of anyone that may benefit is the link http://www.arkansasheritage.com/heritage_month/grants.asp. It will be very competitive only $600,000 available to a broad range of applicants and projects. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2008.
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************************************************************************************************
LR to Host National Trail Symposium
Growing City Will Decide if Big-box Retail Can Move In
Land Bank
Rap About the City You Love
Good Hardy Press
Grant Opportunity
**************************************************************************************************************
Little Rock Selected to Host National Trail Symposium
Little Rock has been chosen to host the 2008 National Trail Symposium next November. The symposium, scheduled for Nov. 15-18, 2008, is slated to address issues of trails and greenways nationwide with dozens of speakers covering the top topics in the field. For those interested in being a part of the special event, volunteer opportunities are currently available for the planning and execution of the symposium. Sponsor and donor opportunities are also available. For more information, contact Terry Eastin at (479) 236-0938 or terry@mississippirivertrail.org.The symposium is being presented by American Trails, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance and protect America's network of interconnected trails. More details are available at www.americantrails.org.
Growing City Will Decide if Big-box Retail Can Move In
http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?lID=71&sID=72&ms=73&cID=8&aID=100582.89063.112707
Land Bank
A Little Rock ordinance has been drafted that would establish a city land bank to hold abandoned and neglected properties for later sale to developers. The ordinance, which will be sent to the City Board by the Community Housing Advisory Board, takes advantage of a law passed by the General Assembly that allows the state Land Commissioner to donate to cities tax-delinquent properties held for a year. The land bank could also take possession of properties the city has liens against.
Little Rock had 800 properties identified as unsafe and vacant last year, Housing and Neighborhood Programs Director Andre Bernard said. A work group will meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center to give the draft, which creates the land bank commission and rules on acquiring property, the once-over before the advisory board presents it.
Rap About the City You Love
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/2007/10/rap_about_the_city_you_love.aspx
Good Hardy Press
http://www.athomearkansas.com/arkansas/life/onroad/article_7.html
Grant Opportunity
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15849
National Leadership Grants support projects that have the potential to elevate museum and library practice. The Institute seeks to advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge while enhancing learning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
