Main Street Arkansas Update - January 14 - 18, 2008

We’ve opened an application period for Arkansas Downtown Network communities. It closes March 21. We’ll be issuing a formal press release today in our e-newsletter. Post cards went out to all city governments and Chambers of Commerce last week. We also had a booth at last week’s Arkansas Municipal League conference.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar

Monday Mark, Heber Springs (pm)
Tuesday Caroline, Russellville (visioning); Cary, Mt. Ida – ADN presentation
Wednesday Susan & Nancy – Texarkana (site visit)
Thursday
Friday

IN THIS ISSUE
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Various Press Links
AHPP Free Grant Writing Seminar
UALR’s Annual Conference on Regionalism
Scenic America Slideshow (good 3 minute presentation)
MSA Awards Recap
Grant Opportunity
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Main Street Harrison Press
http://www.harrisondaily.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19172479&BRD=1815&PAG=461&dept_id=516928&rfi=6

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19186615&BRD=1815&PAG=461&dept_id=516928&rfi=6

Downtown Heber Springs Press
http://www.thesuntimes.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/news04.txt

Main Street El Dorado Press
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2008/01/12/main-street-big-winner-at-ceremony-68.php

Main Street Rogers Press
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/01/10/news/011108rzmsrawards.txt


AHPP OFFERS FREE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 12

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a grant-writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, at the Historic Arkansas Museum at 200 E. Third St. in Little Rock for people interested in applying for any of the agency’s grant programs.

Admission is free, but reservations must be made by Tuesday, February 5, by calling Joia Burton at (501) 324-9883 or sending e-mail to joia@arkansaspreservation.org.

UALR’s Annual Conference on Regionalism

The fourth annual UALR Regionalism Conference is set for Feb. 13 at The Peabody Little Rock. "Help Wanted: Who will fill Arkansas' jobs in the future" is the theme. The keynote speaker is Edward Gordon, author of "The 2010 Meltdown: Solving the Impending Jobs Crisis." Also on the agenda are Jim Clinton, executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, and Mike Cassidy, executive director of the Georgia Research Alliance. To register, go to www.ualr.edu/regionalstewardship or call Autumn Henry at (501) 683-7355.

Scenic America President Slide Show
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/us/20071223_LAND_FEATURE/index.html#section1

Recap of the MSA Awards:


• Best Creative Fundraising Effort – Main Street El Dorado’s Union County Rock, Paper, Scissors championship
• Best Public/Private Partnership – Money for Main Economic Incentive Program, Main Street Blytheville and Blytheville/Gosnell Chamber of Commerce
• Best Façade Renovation over $10,000 – Garrett Building, Main Street El Dorado
• Best Façade Renovation under $10,000 – Bass Music, Main Street Paragould
• Best Downtown Public Improvement Project – Dickey-Stephens Park, Main Street Argenta (North Little Rock)
• Best Interior Design Project – Garrett Building, Main Street El Dorado
• Best Window Display – (tie) Hoffman Architectural, Main Street Searcy, and Flowers by William, Main Street Dumas
• Best New Exterior Signage – Daisy BB Guns, Main Street Rogers
• Best Special Event – Downtown Blues and BBQ, Main Street Texarkana
• Best Promotional Publication – “Showdown at Sunset” Trading Cards, Main Street El Dorado (The Main Street Advisory Board gave an Award of Merit in this category for Main Street Paragould’s new program brochure.)
• Best New Downtown Business – (tie) Elm Street Bakery, Main Street El Dorado, and Cotton and Kudzu, Main Street Helena
• Best Upper Floor Development – Larry and Joy Pennington, Main Street Argenta
• Outstanding Main Street Merchant – Mary Gay Shipley, Main Street Blytheville
• Best Business Commitment to Downtown – (tie) Beth Guest, Main Street Rogers, and Rivertowne BBQ, Main Street Ozark
• Royce Bolding Volunteer of the Year – Ron Bird, Main Street Rogers
• Judy Thacker Board Member of the Year – Ed McClure, Main Street Rogers
• Spirit of Main Street – (tie) Ed Hollar, Main Street Batesville, and Ramona Clower, Main Street Blytheville
• Executive Director of the Year – Michael Drake, Main Street Argenta (This award winner is selected by vote of all of the Main Street Arkansas executive directors).

Congratulations to all the nominees & winners.

Save Our History
The Save Our History Grant Program provides funding to history organizations that partner with schools on a local community preservation project. Since launching the Save Our History Grant Program in 2004, The History Channel has awarded $1,000,000 in grants to organizations and schools large and small, urban, suburban and rural, in the northern, southern, eastern, western and central United States.

During the 2008-2009 school years, The History Channel will again award grants of up to $10,000 to historical organizations to fund hands-on, experiential educational projects that teach students about their local history and actively engage them in its preservation.

For guidelines and criteria, important dates, and to apply, please visit www.saveourhistory.com, and click on grants. Applications are due Friday, June 6, 2008.