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:
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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

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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.