Monday, November 24, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 24, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO


Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 24 - 28, 2008

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MONDAY Nancy, Russellville
TUESDAY Caroline, Mark, Greg – annual leave
WEDNESDAY Cary, Caroline, Mark – annual leave
THURSDAY closed - Thanksgiving
FRIDAY closed - Thanksgiving
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Preservation Today TV
Follow-Up From the Recent NTHP Conference
Texarkana Press
Cy Sutherland’s Passing
Lawmakers Propose Grant Program for Scenic Trails, Improvement Districts
AHPP Grant Workshop
Preserve America News
Main Street Center Update
Is the Mall Dead?
3 Grant Opportunities
Community Development Workshop
2008 Arkansas Small Business Profile
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Preservation Today TV

Preservation Today is dedicated to inspiring connections to heritage values through new media. Visit our shownotes site at www.preservationtoday.com
http://www.preservationtoday.blip.tv/

Follow-Up From the Recent National Trust Conference
 You can listen to the plenary talks and special lectures from Tulsa online. Visit http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/featured-speakers/ to hear what you missed, or hear again what you loved.
 There are more than 40 handouts from sessions now available online, and more are being added daily. Visit http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/additional-resources/session-handouts-tulsa/ to download the ones you want to have.
 Session proposal submission is open for the National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, October 13 - 17, 2009. For more information, or to submit a proposal for a session, visit http://www.eshow2000.com/nthp/2009/

Texarkana Press:
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2008/11/19/revitalization-funds-available-for-arkan-96.php

Cyrus Sutherland, Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Preservationist, Dies at 88
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=109951

Lawmakers propose grant program for scenic trails, improvement districts

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2008/11/20/News/349142.html

If your program or town is interested in an HPRG grant, you should plan on attending

AHPP OFFERS FREE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP JANUARY 13


The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a grant-writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center at 501 W. 9th St. in Little Rock for people interested in applying for the agency’s County Courthouse Restoration of Historic Preservation Restoration grant programs, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.
Admission is free, but reservations must be made by Tuesday, January 6, by calling Joia Burton at (501) 324-9883 or sending e-mail to joia@arkansasheritage.org .
The AHPP’s grant programs to be covered in the workshop are:
• County Courthouse Restoration Subgrants, which are financed through Real Estate Transfer Tax funds distributed by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for rehabilitation of historic county courthouses across Arkansas
• Historic Preservation Restoration Grants, which distribute funds raised through the Real Estate Transfer Tax to rehabilitate buildings that are listed on the Arkansas or National Registers of Historic Places and owned by local governments or not-for-profit organizations

PRESERVE AMERICA LEGISLATION PUT OFF UNTIL NEXT CONGRESS

The Preserve America and Save America's Treasures programs will not be authorized this Congress. The lame duck session did not provide enough time to overcome procedural objections to an omnibus public lands bill that included the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has been quoted as saying that "we're better off waiting until we come back." He said the bill would be taken up in January when the Senate returns.

Tom Coburn (R-OK), the bill's primary opponent, threatened a filibuster -- reading the bill in its entirety to delay or prevent action. According to Senator Reid, the bill would take 24 hours or more to read in full.

The authorizing legislation, originally H.R. 3981/S.2262 had significant bipartisan support. 58 Representatives and 8 Senators cosponsored the bill prior to its being folded into the lands omnibus.

Share your Promotion Success Stories!
Every downtown markets itself but why are some campaigns more successful. How do you maximize promotion dollars on untested ideas? We'd like to hear your most successful promotions to share in next month's issue of the member e-Update.
Respond to our survey here.

Featured Benefit - Secure Online Contribution Pages
Make it easier for your constituents to support your organization. With secure online contribution pages donors can contribute to your organization from the comfort of their home or office. The National Trust can host contribution pages on our secure website and you can link to our secure online contribution pages through your web page free of charge.
Contact mainstreet@nthp.org for more information.

Is the Mall Dead?
http://www.newsweek.com/id/168753

Seed Money for Community News Ventures
New Voices
New Voices, administered by J-Lab and supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is a pioneering program to seed innovative community news ventures in the United States. Projects can produce news and information for a geographic area such as a small town, city, county, state, or region, or they can serve a community of interest. Funding is available for print or electronic news initiatives, including online, cable, broadcast, narrowcast, satellite, and mobile efforts. Grantees will receive $17,000 the first year and may apply for $8,000 in matching funds in the second year. Nonprofit organizations and education institutions, including public broadcasters, independent media, and colleges and universities, are eligible to apply. Of the eight projects to be funded in 2009, at least three grants are targeted for news initiatives in Knight Foundation communities. Applications must be submitted by February 12, 2009. Visit the New Voices website to review the 2009 Request for Proposals.

NEH’s America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations Implementation Grants Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=43391

America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations implementation grants support traveling or long-term museum exhibitions, library-based projects, interpretation of historic places or areas, interpretive Web sites, or other project formats that creatively engage audiences in exploring humanities ideas and questions. Applications for panel exhibitions are accepted only from organizations other than museums, such as libraries or library systems.

America's Historical and Cultural Organizations Planning Grants http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=43390

Dec. 11, 2008 | 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Achieving Extraordinary Results in Ordinary Communities
The Peabody Little Rock Hotel
3 Statehouse Plaza
Little Rock, AR 72201
In communities across the country, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things in community development, often because of one enthusiastic person who steps up to make things happen. These leaders have the ability to galvanize others to accomplish solutions to problems and to move their communities forward.
Vaughn Grisham, director of the McLean Institute for Community Development and a professor of sociology at the University of Mississippi, has studied the dynamics of these communities. In this event sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, he will discuss what he has learned and the tools communities need to create positive change from within. Grisham’s delightful storytelling ability will bring community development best practices to life for the audience.
A reception will follow Grisham’s talk.
Register online by Dec. 5. You may also register by calling Julie Kerr at 501-324-8296 or by sending her an e-mail at julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org.

2008 Arkansas Small Business Profile
http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/profiles/08ar.pdf

.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 17, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO


Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 10-14, 2008

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MONDAY Susan – Blytheville
TUESDAY Susan – Blytheville/Helena
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Mark, Susan, Greg – Siloam Springs; Nancy – West Memphis
FRIDAY Greg – annual leave
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Batesville & Harrison Press
IRS 990 Updates
4 Grant Opportunities
Design As Activism
Esquire Endorses Little Rock (But Doesn’t Tell Anyone)
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Good Main Street Batesville Press:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/49545

Good Main Street Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/11/14/news/doc491db403a17d2424348522.txt

IRS Updates, November 2008: Mini-Courses on the New 990 and a Colleges and Universities Project
Last month, the IRS launched on-line mini-courses on the new 990 and kicked off a colleges and universities compliance review.
New 990 Mini-Courses
The IRS has added five mini-courses to its on-line training site for exempt organizations:
• Preparing to File the New Form 990—Overview of changes to the form and tips on getting ready to file it
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part I—General instructions for completing the form and walk-through of the heading and financial sections
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part II—Walk-through of the accomplishments, compliance, and compensation sections
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part III—Walk-through of the governance, management, disclosure, and summary sections; the checklist of required schedules; and Schedule A
• The Redesigned Form 990, Part IV—Walk-through of Schedules C, F, G, I, M, and R

The courses are available to all at no charge. You can access each from www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=166625,00.html or the bottom of www.stayexempt.org/home_mini_courses.html.

Preservation Programs Supported Worldwide
Tourism Cares

Tourism Cares is a nonprofit organization, funded primarily by the tourism industry, that is dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations. The Tourism Cares Worldwide Grant Program provides grants to tourism-related nonprofit organizations throughout the world. Primary consideration is given to projects that focus on capital improvements that conserve, preserve, or restore sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance. An additional focus area is the education of local host communities and the traveling public about the preservation of exceptional sites. The program strives for a balanced distribution of grants to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. The first of three letter of inquiry deadlines for 2009 is January 30. Visit the website listed above for detailed instructions for submitting a letter of inquiry packet.

Home Depot to Accept Housing Impact Grants Program Applications

Deadline: December 15, 2008

The Home Depot's ( http://www.homedepot.com ) Housing Impact Grants program is a quarterly grants process designed to assist nonprofit organizations in North America whose projects involve affordable housing built responsibly in a timely manner. Projects that seek to build or rebuild affordable housing will be eligible for grants of $1,000 to $3,000 each. Preference will be given to projects that integrate sustainability.

Beginning in 2008, the Housing Impact Grants program will fully align with the Home Depot Foundation's Affordable Housing Built Responsibly program. The online process will remain competitive and will be open to nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status whose projects align with the new grant guidelines in North America.

The Home Depot will only fund nonprofit organizations that have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States, or that have a notification of registration and confirmation of registration from the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency Charities Division in Canada.

Applications for the next funding cycle may be submitted from November 1 to December 15, 2008.

For more information on the Housing Impact Grants program, visit the Home Depot Web site.

Grants Address Economically Isolated Communities

Hitachi Foundation: Business and Communities Grants Program
The Hitachi Foundation's grantmaking strategy is aimed at enhancing opportunity and quality of life for economically isolated people. The Foundation's Business and Communities Grants Program focuses on the role of both businesses and communities in addressing economic isolation and strengthening the field of corporate citizenship. Through the program, the Foundation develops partnerships with nonprofit organizations that enable economically challenged people to retain and advance in their jobs, earn living wages, and accumulate savings and assets. Interested organizations may submit an online inquiry to provide information about project ideas at any time. If the idea addresses the Foundation's priorities, a proposal may be requested. Visit the Foundation's website for program details.

Social Change Projects Funded Nationwide
Ben & Jerry's Foundation

Ben & Jerry's Foundation provides support to nonprofit, grassroots organizations throughout the United States that facilitate progressive social change. Grant applicants need to demonstrate that their projects will lead to societal, institutional, and/or environmental change; address the root causes of social or environmental problems; and lead to new ways of thinking and acting. Projects must facilitate leadership development and strengthen the self-empowerment efforts of those who have traditionally been disenfranchised in our society. The Foundation does not make grants to support basic or direct social service programs. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time. Visit the website listed above to review the funding guidelines and download the application form.

Design As Activism
http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=3538

Things Esquire Magazine Quietly Endorses But Doesn’t Tell Anyone
One of the 24 endorsements: Little Rock

http://www.esquire.com/features/the-endorsement/things-we-endorse-quietly-1108?src=nl&mag=esq&list=enl&kw=ist

Monday, November 10, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 10, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 10-14, 2008

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MONDAY Mark, Susan & Nancy – annual leave;
TUESDAY closed – Veterans Day; Caroline – Texarkana
WEDNESDAY Executive Director orientation – Rogers, Jonesboro
THURSDAY Susan & Mark – Walnut Ridge
FRIDAY

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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MSA’s Public Service Announcement
AEDC Grant Workshop
One Minute Main Street Survey
George Hamilton Returns to Downtown Blytheville
SoMa News
Non-Profit Center in Downtown Rogers
Profile: Preservation Architect Tommy Jameson
Heritage Month Grants
Playground Grant Opportunity
How to Spend $3.9 Billion – Neighborhoods
More 990 Resources
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MSA’s Public Service Announcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rjtmsw5WsE




AEDC Grant Workshop

Application workshops will be held in five locations in the State of Arkansas to inform the public on the procedures for applying for grants from six different agencies and organizations: the Community Resource Group, the Arkansas Department of Rural Services, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Community Facilities Program.

Workshop locations are:

• Friday, November 14 10am Dumas Community Center

• Tuesday, November 18 10am, Calhoun & Carney Building, Prescott

• Tuesday, November, 25 10am, Newport Chamber of Commerce

• Tuesday, December 2, 10am, Central Arkansas Planning & Development District, Lonoke

• Thursday, December, 4 10am, Washington County Courthouse, Fayetteville

For more information contact Dana Heatley at AEDC. 501.682.1211

One Minute Main Street Survey

Take the National Main Street Center's "One Minute Main Street Survey" to share with us what is happening economically - on your Main Street today. Your answers to just three quick questions can help us understand where we are and where we're heading.
http://my.preservationnation.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=7861

Blytheville native George Hamilton returns & speaks downtown at the Ritz

http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/49298

He began his conversation by reminiscing about his many afternoons spent watching movies in the Ritz Theater and describing how much downtown Blytheville had changed over the years. Someone remarked earlier to him that he remembered the area quite vividly.

It’s been in my mind my whole life,” he explained.

South Main LR (SoMa)

34 period streetlights are being installed on Main Street between I-630 and 17th Street. The cost of the lights is $109,000.

Non Profit Center in Downtown Rogers

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/242058/

Preservation Architect Profile: Tommy Jameson

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Perspective/240830/

Heritage Month Grants:

Uniquely Arkansas: Preparations for the 2009 Heritage Month are underway, with the theme “Only in Arkansas: Exploring Our Natural Heritage.” The focus will be on the Ar­kansas Natural Heritage Commission as it highlights plant and animal species “endemic” to Arkansas, i.e., only found in Arkansas.

Communities statewide are invited to celebrate one-of-a-kind natural riches. Grant applications for themed projects are now accepted. More information can be found at www.arkansasheritage.com.



Playground Grant Opportunity:

http://kaboom.org/DoItYourselfResources/KaBOOMChallengeGrants/tabid/96/Default.aspx

One of the biggest challenges facing any community-built playground project is fundraising. That is why KaBOOM! offers communities occasional grant opportunities to begin or complete playspace projects.

KaBOOM! is not a direct grant-making foundation. However, from time to time it does administer challenge grant programs sponsored by its Funding Partners. Designed to be a ''challenge'' to other fundraising efforts, these grants inspire civic groups, individuals and other businesses to join in and support local playspace projects. Previous recipients of KaBOOM! challenge grants have gone on to raise tens of thousands of dollars each for their projects, achieving their playspace goals within months.

In 2008, KaBOOM! is teaming up with Stonyfield Farms to offer two $50,000 grants for new playspaces. For a chance to win a $50,000 grant for a community-built playground, and the chance to help choose another group to receive the same prize, have your school or youth group collect specially-marked Stonyfield Farm yogurt lids through December 31, 2008. The group that sends the most lids to Stonyfield wins.

How to Spend $3.92 Billion: Stabilizing Neighborhoods by Addressing Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties

A new paper outlines 11 key principles that states, counties, and cities should follow as they plan for and use the $3.92 billion in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds. Suggestions include understanding the local housing market, targeting property acquisition, building the capacity to hold properties until reuse, and integrating acquisition and rehabilitation with other neighborhood stabilization strategies. Author Alan Mallach notes that despite the short time frame in which states and localities have to submit action plans and allocate NSP funds, strategic targeting is critical. At the end of the day, if the NSP funds are not targeted, some properties will be rehabilitated or demolished, but sustained neighborhood improvement will not be realized. The full report is available on the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's web site. (.pdf)

Thanks to Kathy LaPlante for this one

More Form 990 Resources
Are you starting to get nervous about this new form 990? Have you even had the time to think about it yet? The National Council of Nonprofit Associations has compiled some great resources related to the new IRS form 990.
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/?q=policy/form990changes

Monday, November 3, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 3, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 3 - 7

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MONDAY Nancy – Dumas; Susan, Sheridan (am); Susan & Caroline – Harrison (pm)
TUESDAY Election Day – go vote (if you haven’t already)
WEDNESDAY Susan & Mark – El Dorado
THURSDAY Susan & Mark – Searcy
FRIDAY
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IN THIS ISSUE:
New Staff for Main Street Rogers
Main Street West Memphis Branding
Rector Press
SoMa Sculpture Garden
El Dorado Press
Siloam Springs Press
Hardy Press
DeWitt Press
NEA’s Your Town Workshop
Art, Craft & the Creative Economy in the Natural State Workshop
Diane Keaton’s Preservation Editorial
Green Meeting Practices in Arkansas
Dear Farmer & Chief
NEA Universal Design Grant
LR Hot Market in a Cold Economic Climate

Kerry Jensen to lead Main Street Rogers
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/10/20/news/102108rzmsrannounce.txt
http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/67008/

MSWM Branding Press:
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=109150

MSWM Kitchen Incubator Press:
http://memphis.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2008/10/27/story5.html?b=1225080000%5e1721582&surround=etf

Rector MSA & Downtown Network Press:
http://www.claycountydemocrat.com/story/1472170.html

SoMa Sculpture Garden
The Southside Main Street Project announces a competition to select four sculptures to be placed in the Bernice Garden at Daisy Bates and South Main. This is a public-private partnership between the SoMa organization and Anita Davis, the owner and developer of the Garden. It is being funded by Main Street Arkansas and private donations. For more details, an application form and deadlines, please go to
www.southsidemain.org.

Main Street El Dorado’s Mutt Strut
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2008/10/27/first-mutt-strut-30.php

Good Siloam Springs Press:
http://www.nwanews.com/hl/News/25943/

Room With A Boo. A Haunted Downtown Hardy Antique Mall?:
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/241853/print/
It’s for sale on ebay. It can be yours for $125,000

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Hardy-Hotel-Antique-Mall-Business-Property-HAUNTED_W0QQitemZ330263590953QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330263590953&_trkparms=72%3A1416%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1309&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Good DeWitt Press:
http://www.dewitt-ee.com/articles/2008/10/01/news/news02.txt

http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/x282369158/DeWitt-PRIDE-kicks-off

Your Town Design Workshop
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will be funding four Your Town: The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design workshops and are seeking your interest in producing a workshop between now and November 2009. This is an opportunity to bring design professionals to your community to help you tackle critical regional planning and design issues. Up to $22,000 will be available to a non-profit organization for each workshop.
http://www.yourtowndesign.org/

Deadline: December 12

Thanks to Renee Doty for this one:
ART AND CRAFT IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY OF THE NATURAL STATE
a workshop for public planners and leaders
The Arkansas Craft School is providing a significant workshop focusing on the support and economic impact of small creative industries. The workshop entitled “Art and Craft in the Creative Economy of the Natural State - a workshop for public planners and leaders” is scheduled for November 11-12, 2008, on the campus of the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas.

http://www.laffing-horse.com/arkansascraftschool/

Diane Keaton, avowed preservationist’s editorial on saving LA’s Ambassador Hotel:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-keaton13-2008oct13,0,3706817.story

Green Meeting Practices in Arkansas:
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=108845

Dear Farmer & Chief:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

NEA Universal Design Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=43227
Universal design is a design process that goes beyond minimum codes and standards to make spaces comfortably usable by people from childhood into their oldest years. It is not, as many mistakenly view it, the practice of meeting minimum access requirements. The Arts Endowment recognizes design’s ever present role in everyday life and is committed to encouraging and disseminating the best in universal design for the benefit of the American public. The NEA, with its national perspective and commitment to artistic excellence, is in a unique position to exercise a leadership role in this area

LR Hot Market in Cold Economic Climate
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=109270

Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grants
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/