Main Street Arkansas Update - December 31, 2007

With this last update of the year, I want to say “thank you” to all of the volunteers who work to revitalize Arkansas’s downtowns. Too often we forget that we’re paid to do this & you are doing this work out of love & devotion to your community. Again, thanks and Go Hogs, Beat Missouri!


This will be the last update some of you receive as we change the mailing list (slowly) with the turn of the new year. This update goes to current & previous year board chairs, local Main Street staff & a number of select “others” Marian always lovingly called “riff raff” – you know who you are! If you’d like to continue your subscription & don’t fall into one of those categories, let me know & I’ll keep you on.


Mark You Calendars – Main Street Arkansas Awards January 9, 2008 7pm in conjunction with the Arkansas Municipal League Conference. Quarterly Training (roundtable & state report) is January 10 8 a.m. Main Street programs are required to be represented in order to be in compliance with the Letter of Agreement.


December 31 – January 4, 2008

Monday – Nancy, out; Greg, out; Susan – Cotton Bowl (we’re all jealous)
Tuesday – office closed
Wednesday – Mark – Heber Springs
Thursday – Mark & Susan – Russellville
Friday -


IN THIS ISSUE:
*******************************************************************************************************

National Trust President Richard Moe’s Speech on Preservation and Sustainability
Richard Mason of El Dorado press
Eureka Springs TIFs & Arts District
What Is Rural?
Heber Springs: I Love This Place
Rural Schools Continue to Lose Pupils (particularly in S. AR & the Delta)
AgriTourism
Time Magazine & New Urbanism
Earmarks for Preservation
The Flaws of LEED Certification
4 Grant Opportunities

*******************************************************************************************************

Highly recommended reading:
Dick Moe’s speech upon receiving the Vincent Scully Prize entitled: Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change
http://www.nationaltrust.org/news/2007/20071213_scully.html

or listen to the speech here:

http://www.nationaltrust.org/news/2007/Richard_Moe_Sustainable_Stewardship.mp3 (download it & put it on your iPod)

Richard Mason, longtime Main Street El Dorado supporter, major downtown property owner, & now author, is highlighted in this week’s cover story in the Arkansas Times.

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=c4dd90cf-df59-4578-8a7a-9446f13aebb6


Novel excerpt: A boomtown brawl from Richard Mason’s story of a South Arkansas Christmas

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=4a125a21-1c13-4446-865c-60c3a1bb7d12

Eureka Springs: Revitalization Plan Calls for Arts & Culture District Financed by a TIF District

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/211275/print/


What is Rural?
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/12/15/News/344586.html

- side note: Professor Andrew Isserman of the University of Illinois has published quite a bit about this topic. Interested parties can view his website at http://www.urban.uiuc.edu/faculty/isserman/index.html

or you can see what the USDA has to say on this subject here:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/what_is_rural.htm#DR

I Love This Place (Heber Springs)

http://www.thesuntimes.com/articles/2007/12/21/news/news01.txt


Schools Worry About Losing Pupils

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/dec/23/schools-worry-over-losing-pupils-20071223/

- subscriber only, sorry

Notable quote:

At least one-third of Arkansas’ counties, primarily in the Delta and the southern part of the state, are projected to lose school-age population by 2030, according to a report from the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research.

Agri-Tourism

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/getaways/12/17/holidays.heartland.ap/index.html


New Urbanism in Time Magazine

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1696857,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner


Earmarks

Among the innumerable Congressional earmarks approved this week are a number of historic preservation projects in Arkansas. My question to you is: have you been working with your congressman or Senators on projects worthy of an earmark in your downtown?


http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/dec/20/arkansas-projects-earmarked-spending-bill-20071220/

- subscriber only, sorry

$147,000 for the historic preservation of the Lane House Theater in Eureka Springs.
$98,440 for historic preservation in Clover Bend.
$147,000 for renovation of the historic Morrilton Post Office building.

It’s Way Too Easy Being Green – criticism of the LEED certification system

http://www.slate.com/id/2180862/

Notable Quote:

Several cities, including Seattle, Chicago, and New York, now require all of their public buildings to be LEED certified. So does the General Services Administration, the agency that manages the federal government's real-estate needs. Even more striking, cities like Washington, D.C., and Santa Monica, Calif., now require that all major projects—public and private—meet LEED certification standards.


Sounds like a good idea for Arkansas & our cities, though when you read the criticism of LEED certification, you can see where there are serious flaws in their criteria.


Multi-Arts Production Fund Offers Support for New Work in the Performing Arts

Deadline: February 1, 2008



The Multi-Arts (MAP) Production Fund ( http://www.mapfund.org/ ), a program of Creative Capital ( http://www.creative-capital.org/ ), supported by the Rockefeller Foundation ( http://rockfound.org/ ), seeks to assist artists who "are exploring the dynamics of live performance within our changing society, thus reflecting our culture's innovation and growing diversity.


In keeping with the mandate of its founding organization, the Rockefeller Foundation, MAP seeks to support work that brings insight to the issue of cultural difference, be that in class, gender, generation, ethnicity, or tradition. MAP guidelines place a special emphasis on innovation, cross-cultural collaboration, and art that springs from cultural critique.

Applications for MAP support must come from U.S.-based organizations that have current nonprofit 501(c) (3) status. Nonprofit artist-services organization may apply as fiscal sponsors on behalf of unincorporated artists or ensembles. Both the organization and the artists involved in a project must have a two-year history of professional activity. The fund supports only artistic projects that contain or will contain a live-performance component. Support may be applied to any phase of a project, up to and including its premiere run. The touring of completed projects is not eligible for MAP funding. MAP is especially interested in providing support for work early in its development.


Up to forty awards ranging from $10,000 to $45,000 each will be made. The average award amount is $22,000.


Completed applications may be sent electronically between January 1 and February 1, 2008. Visit the MAP Web site for complete program information and application procedures.



Home Depot Foundation Offers Support for Affordable Housing Programs


Deadline: March 1, 2008 (Letter of Inquiry)



The Home Depot Foundation (http://www.homedepotfoundation.org/ ) is dedicated to creating healthy, livable communities through the integration of affordable housing built responsibly, as well as the preservation and restoration of community trees. The foundation makes grants to 501(c) (3) tax-exempt public charities in the United States and to charitable organizations in Canada.


The foundation awards most of its grants by directly soliciting proposals from high-performing nonprofit organizations with the demonstrated ability to create strong partnerships, impact multiple communities, and leverage grant resources. In order to identify potential future nonprofit partners and/or respond to unique community revitalization opportunities, a limited amount of funding is set aside to be awarded through a competitive process.


Preference is given to proposals that include community engagement resulting in the production, preservation, or financing of housing units for low- to moderate-income families that address as many of the following considerations as possible: resource efficiency in design, construction, and operations; minimization of the depletion of natural resources, including timber and water; landscape features such as trees and shrubs that minimize demand for water and synthetic chemicals and reduce the "heat island" effect; reduction of maintenance costs through the use of innovative and durable materials; the use of environmentally friendly building materials; site planning with minimal environ- mental impact; use of energy-efficient and renewable technologies; improvement of indoor air quality, including moisture control and proper ventilation; and smart site planning and land use.


Complete program information, an FAQ, and an eligibility test are available at the foundation's Web site.


NEH On the Road Exhibition Grants


http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/NEH_OnTheRoad_GuidelinesForSelectedVenues.html


These grants support ancillary public humanities programs to accompany NEH on the Road traveling exhibitions. Typical formats involve lectures, reading and discussion programs, film discussion programs, Chautauqua presentations by scholars, family programs, exhibition tours, or other appropriate formats for reaching the general public. The criterion for review is the degree to which the programs involve humanities experts as presenters in ways that build on the themes of the exhibition. NEH staff evaluate applications and forward recommendations to the National Council on the Humanities. The National Council meets at various times during the year to advise the NEH chairman on grants. The chairman takes into account the advice provided by the review process and, by law, makes all funding decisions.


21st Century Museums Professionals Grant

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=16311

The purpose of the 21st Century Museum Professionals (21MP) program is to increase the capacity of museums to connect people to information and ideas by improving the knowledge and skills of museum staff in the full range of museum operations

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 17, 2007

December 17 - 21, 2007

Monday
Tuesday Caroline, Harrison
Wednesday
Thursday Mark - out
Friday Mark & Greg - out


Bethany Hanna has resigned as executive director of Main Street Texarkana. We wish her well in her future endeavors.

Downtown/Main Street Rogers is featured in the latest issue of UrbanLand Magazine, a publication of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) – member web access only at:

http://www.uli.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Current_Issue&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=110938

IN THIS ISSUE:
******************************************************************************
University Area Gears Up for Change

Tourism Map of the Arkansas Delta (RHDI/ADB project) published

WM Carriage Rides

HGTV Opportunity for Central Arkansas

Parking Garage Design Article

8 Grant Opportunities
*********************************************************************************


University Area Gears Up for Change

http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=101290

Tourism Map of the Arkansas Delta (RHDI/ADB project) published

http://www.helena-arkansas.com/articles/2007/12/12/news/news1.txt

If you’re in West Memphis in the coming weeks, consider taking a carriage ride offered by the WM A&P. Call 870.514.6340 for more details

HGTV’s If Walls Could Talk Coming to Little Rock
If Walls Could Talk, the weekly series, Sundays on HGTV, is coming to Central Arkansas in January to film homes with intriguing pasts and unusual stories. Now in production on its ninth season, the series kicks off with new homeowners who make surprising historical discoveries about their homes as they explore and restore them. A lucky few will be amazed to learn that the historic artifacts they’ve discovered are worth a fortune when the If Walls Could Talk appraiser drops by for a look.

Each half-hour episode features homeowners from across the country who share their amazing discoveries.

If Walls Could Talk is produced for HGTV by High Noon Entertainment in Denver . Homeowners who would like to be considered for the program should contact Jason Mercado at 303.712.3109 or email at jmercado@highnoonentertainment.com. He hopes to speak with homeowners immediately.

Garage Mahals: Architects turn their attention to the problem of parking.
http://www.slate.com/id/2179373/

Grant Opportunities


Thanks to Kathy LaPlante of the NTMSC for this one

Verizon Foundation

Does Verizon provide cell phone service in your community?

If so, check out their foundation site at: http://foundation.verizon.com/02008.shtml


Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/communityfoodprojects.cfm

Community Food Projects should be designed to (1): (A) meet the food needs of low-income people; (B) increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs; and (C) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for (A) infrastructure improvement and development; (B) planning for long-term solutions; or (C) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers


National Archives and Records Administration Professional Development Grants for Archives and Historical Publishing Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40162


National Archives and Records Administration Publishing Historical Records-Founding Era Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40164

National Archives and Records Administration Strategies and Tools for Archives and Historical Publishing Projects Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40169

National Archives and Records Administration Digitizing Historical Records Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40177

National Archives and Records Administration Electronic Records Projects Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40178

MacArthur Foundation Announces Awards Program for Public Sector Housing Preservation Leaders

Deadline: January 29, 2008 (Letters of Interest)

Through its awards for State and Local Housing Preservation Leaders, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (http://www.macfound.org/ ) intends to provide $35 million in total new funding for innovative public-sector initiatives designed to preserve and improve the existing stock of privately owned affordable rental homes across the United States.

These new awards are part of the foundation's expanded commitment to Window of Opportunity (http://windowofopportunity.macfound.org/ ), a national initiative dedicated to the preservation and improvement of affordable rental homes.

The foundation expects to select up to ten states and localities to receive awards in 2008. These awards are likely to include grants and/or program-related investments ranging from $250,000 to a maximum of $5 million. All funds must be used to design, demonstrate, or scale up a significant preservation initiative.

Only the following entities can apply for funding through these awards: city, county, or state governmental body, or a formal collaboration among several governmental units operating in a common geographic region. The applicant should oversee key sources of funding and subsidy for developers and owners of affordable rental housing, including but not limited to Community Development Block Grants, local affordable housing trust funds, and proceeds from tax increment financing districts.

State agencies applying for these awards should be responsible for allocating Low Income Housing Tax Credits and private activity bonds, in addition to major state-funded resources for affordable housing. In general, public housing authorities will not be eligible.

Visit the foundation's Web site for complete program guidelines and instructions for submitting a Letter of Interest.

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 10, 2007

December 10 – 15, 2007
Monday
Tuesday Cary & Caroline – Texarkana (board meeting); Susan – Searcy (site visit)
Wednesday Mark & Susan – Dumas (site visit)
Thursday Susan & Mark – Russellville (site visit)
Friday


Sandi Thomas has joined Main Street Harrison as the New Executive Director
http://www.harrisondaily.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19087093&BRD=1815&PAG=461&dept_id=516928&rfi=6

MSH Awarded AT&T Grant
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/articles/2007/12/03/news/news1.txt

Eureka Springs is highlighted in February’s issue of American Style magazine. Sorry no web link yet. Check out the issue on newsstands now.

Congratulations to Arkansas Delta Byways. They were recently notified on their receipt of a National Scenic Byway program grant that the Great River Road group proposed for West Memphis. The award is for $296,000 for the first phase of their improved Missouri Street overpass. Particular kudos to Janine Earney who prepared the application.

IN THIS ISSUE:
***************************************************************************************************************
No City Funding for Main Street Harrison
Riverfront RV Park Proposed for NLR
Have You Signed the ShopMainStreet.org Pledge Yet?
Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events Publication Opportunity
Literary Tourism Article
7 Grant Opportunities
***************************************************************************************************************

No City Funding for Main Street Harrison
http://www.harrisondaily.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19082799&BRD=1815&PAG=461&dept_id=516928&rfi=6
excerpt of the article “With city tax collections not increasing but actually decreasing, there will be no new money in the 2009 budget. . .” (emphasis added)

Riverfront RV Park Proposed for NLR
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/12/04/news/nws02.txt

Have You Signed the ShopMainStreet.org Pledge Yet?
From Doug Loescher, Director, National Trust Main Street Center

As part of our growing marketing efforts for ShopMainStreet.org, we have issued the “Shop Main Street Holiday Challenge,” which challenges all friends of Main Street to support independent businesses by purchasing at least one of their holiday gifts this season from a Main Street retailer.
We invite you to sign our pledge to take the challenge at www.shopmainstreet.org/challenge. And we hope you will ask everyone in your community to do so as well.
You can shop in person at a Main Street District near you or online at www.ShopMainStreet.org, our online Main Street business directory.
We welcome your feedback about ShopMainStreet.org so we can continue improving it in 2008.
Happy shopping!

Thanks to Kristine Puckett of Parks & Tourism for this one -
Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events Publication
Festival & Event Producers –

Since 1985 the Southeast Tourism Society has published the Top 20 Events publication. Through a nomination process, the society chooses the Top 20 events going on in the Southeast for each month of the year, and publishes this list of winners quarterly. This publication is sent to over 300 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, and others, as well as 125 AAA publications. The combined circulation runs into the millions. Current Top 20 Events are listed online at http://southeasttourism.org/top20/top20_octdec07.html.

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is now a member of the Southeast Tourism Society. As a result, festivals and events in Arkansas may be submitted for the Top 20 Events publication, if they meet the following requirements set forth by the Southeast Tourism Society:

• 1,000 in attendance
• 3rd year in existence
• Payment of $10 nomination fee per event

Top 20 Events strongly encourages you to strengthen your nomination by providing supporting material such as:

• Photos
• Posters
• Brochures
• Press Releases
• News Clippings
• Volunteer Programs


Deadlines for Applications:

Event Occurring In: Submit by:
July/August/September 2008 January 11, 2008
October/November/December 2008 April 11, 2008
January/February/March 2009 July 11, 2008
April/May/June 2009 October 10, 2008
July/August/September 2009 January 9, 2009
October/November/December 2009 May 8, 2009


If you would like to nominate your event, contact the Tourism Development Section at (501) 682-5240 or e-mail kristine.puckett@arkansas.gov.

Literary Tourism
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/getaways/12/04/nyc.christmas.ap/index.html

7 Grant Opportunities:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/cf/cp.htm
USDA Rural Development - Community Facilities Grant Program
Deadline: January 18 2008
USDA Rural Development is currently soliciting applications for their Community Facility Loan and Grant programs for the 2008 fiscal year. These programs provide grants and/or long term, low-interest loans to non-profit and municipal entities to purchase or repair equipment, or repair, purchase or construct buildings. The facility financed must provide an essential community service to a rural community or communities that have a population of 20,000 or less.
Read more...

http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/Sponsorship_main.html
Barnes and Noble Sponsorships and Charitable Donations Program
Deadline: None
As part of their commitment to good corporate citizenship, Barnes & Noble considers local and national support requests from non-profit organizations that focus on literacy, the arts or education (pre-K – 12). They also consider sponsorship opportunities where they can partner with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts.
Read more...


Conference Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=16152
Note the grant opportunity to produce conferences on economics and sustainability. Main Street & historic preservation fit directly into this category, IMHO.
Description
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting applications from eligible applicants for the planning, arranging, administering and/or conducting of conferences, workshops, and/or meetings (hereinafter referred to as “conferences”) that focus on research to protect human health and safeguard the environment. Specifically, EPA is interested in supporting scientific and technical research conferences that address the following research program areas: (1) human health; (2) ecosystems; water and security; (3) economics and sustainability; (4) air and global climate change; and (5) technology. This BAA is open from December 10, 2007 through December 9, 2008. Applications must be received by January 7, 2008; June 5, 2008; and December 9, 2008 depending upon the cycle (as identified in Section II of this BAA) for which the applicant is requesting funding.
Link to Full Announcement
Broad Agency Announcement for Conferences, Workshops, and/or Meetings

NPS American Battlefield Protection Program Grant
The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program grants provide seed money for projects that lead directly to the identification, preservation and interpretation of battlefield land and/or historic sites associated with battlefields. Eligible recipients include nonprofit groups, academic institutions, and local, regional, state, and tribal governments. In recent years, grants have averaged $32,000. More information is online http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp
Deadline January 18, 2008:

NEH Interpreting America’s Historic Places Grant
The deadline for the National Endowment for the Humanities' (NEH) "Interpreting America's Historic Places" Planning and Implementation grants is Jan. 23, 2008, for projects beginning October 2008. Follow the links for more information on planning or implementation grants.

NTHP Grant
National Trust Preservation Funds: Administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, these grants are designed to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects focused on preservation planning or education efforts. Support is offered for obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archeology, engineering, preservation planning, and fundraising. Grant funds may also be used to support preservation education activities. Grants range from $500 to $5,000, with the average grant ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. For more information, contact Joseph McGill at joseph_mcgill@nthp.org or 843-722-8552. Due February 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 3, 2007

December 3 - 7, 2007
Monday - Cary & Caroline - Conway
Tuesday - Susan & Mark – Texarkana; Greg – Batesville
Wednesday - Susan - Conway
Thursday -
Friday –

Check out Main Street Paragould’s new website at www.mainstreetparagould.info

IN THIS ISSUE:
***************************************************************************************************************
NLR Prepares for New Urbanism
TIF District’s Creation Supported by UALR Study
NLR Riverfront Development
Downtown Heber Springs Looking Up
AgriTourism Article
Falling Home Sales May Stifle Urban Revitalization
Make It An Arkie Christmas
Mega Moves
ZipSkinny.com – get the low down on your zip code
***************************************************************************************************************


The latest issue of Arkansas Business focuses on Downtown Redevelopment.

NLR Prepares for New Urbanism
http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?lID=61&sID=77&ms=62&cID=Z&aID=101157.12610.113283
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=100938
- nice pull quote in the hard copy issue from Michael Drake

related note: UALR study supports need for TIF District in NLR
http://www.rockwatervillage.com/newsrelease.html

and
KTHV: NLR Development Will Change Riverfront
http://www.rockwatervillage.com/thvnov.html

Downtown Redevelopment Looking Up in Heber Springs
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=100927
- nice quote from Mary Margaret about ADN and MSA

Down on the Farm with Your Sleeves Rolled Up – AgriTourism
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/travel/escapes/23agritourism.html?pagewanted=print

Falling Home Sales May Stifle Urban Revitalization
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16650420&sc=emaf

Make It an Arkie Christmas
http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=eac5bb05-a4c2-496d-b502-435c5e19a881
- nice mention of the ArkansasDelta Made program

MEGA MOVES

Historic Preservation Office,

My name is Lee Reading and I’m a researcher with Windfall Films in the UK. We produce the US television show MEGA MOVES for the National Geographic and the Discovery channels (http://www.windfallfilms.com/html/productions/monstermoves.htm).

Our programmes aim to film the entire journey of whole structures being moved from one location to another, hopefully giving an audience something they haven’t seen before. I’m currently looking for historic buildings that are due for relocation; be they stone cottages, farm houses, train depots, monuments, wooden barns or even giant machinery. As long as they have interesting back stories, history, character and an interesting move route, I’d be interested in putting them forward for filming. We’d very much like to work with the each state’s Historic Preservation Office should they be involved in any projects, or know of any projects, over the next month or two. These films should provide excellent publicity to all those involved, as well as the building themselves.

If you have anything in the pipeline or know of a project coming up, wherever it maybe, feel free to send me an email, fax me or drop me a line and I shall investigate further. Any information or pictures you have would be extremely useful to the third season of Mega Moves.

Lee Reading
Researcher/ Coordinator UK
Windfall Films

T: +44 (0)207 251 7656
F: +44 (0)207 253 8468
lee@windfallfilms.com

Woman preserving history of Japanese-American internment in Arkansas
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/11/27/News/344163.html

thanks to CEOs for Cities for this:
ZIPSkinny.com
Want quick stats on your neighborhood? Check out ZIPSkinny.com. While not a substitute for more thorough research, this handy website provides an easy reference to compare zip codes on a number of factors including population density, median age, education and many others. Based on Census 2000 data the site does note that it should be used only as a “first glance” at a ZIP Code area, not as a source of hard facts upon which to base a decision. Regardless, it is still very exciting to have data at your fingertips to explore.