Monday, January 26, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 26, 2009

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 January 26 – 30, 2009
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MONDAY Caroline – out
TUESDAY Nancy – Helena
WEDNESDAY Greg, Mark, Susan, Caroline – Searcy
THURSDAY Greg, Mark – Searcy
FRIDAY Cary, Greg, Caroline, Susan – out p.m.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Arkansas’s Analysis of Future Traffic Congestion & Capacity Needs
Local & Loving It
New Mexico Main Street White Papers on the 4-Points and the Recession
2008 Arkansas Small Business Profile


Arkansas’s Analysis of Future Traffic Congestion & Capacity Needs
http://www.reason.org/ps346/ar.shtml
- we’re ranked 29th in the US http://www.reason.org/ps346/maps/state.shtml

Local & Loving It

http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/081228/081228green-local.html
- Thanks to Betsy McGuire for pointing this out to me. This article provides updated reinvestment statistics. They are:
• Of every $100 spent in a chain store, $14 goes back into the local economy. For a locally owned business, $45 goes back (Institute for Local Self Reliance)

New Mexico Main Street’s White Paper’s on Dealing with the 4-Points During A Recession
http://www.edd.state.nm.us/mainStreet/insideTrack/index.html
- these are excellent pieces & well worth your time. Scroll down to the bottom of the page & click the links. They’re in pdf format.

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

Friday, January 16, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 19, 2009

DATES TO REMEMBER:

T
HIS WEEK - 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 January 19 – 23, 2009
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MONDAY office closed, MLK Day
TUESDAY QUARTERLY TRAINING
WEDNESDAY QUARTERLY TRAINING
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Bill Would Create Tax Credits for Business Improvement Districts
Main Street Harrison Press
National Main Street Trends Survey
TopEventsUSA.com
Grant Opportunity
Small Business Seminars in Arkansas


Bill Would Create Tax Credits for Business Improvement Districts
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=111234
Rep. Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, on Monday filed HB1060 and HB1059, which would establish a state investment tax credit for central business improvement districts.
The texts of the full bills are available here and here

More on that here:
http://tinyurl.com/HB-1059-60

Good Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2009/01/12/news/doc496914ec6a02d352994744.txt

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2009/01/14/news/doc496e2550a43fd615035815.txt

Announcing the 2009 National Main Streets Trends Survey: Be Heard!

In 2008, the national media talked a lot about what has been happening on “Main Street.” Have you noticed that reporters on the nightly news refer to Main Street as any street that isn’t Wall Street?

Now’s your chance to tell us what has been happening on the real Main Streets—the revitalizing commercial districts that are the heart of civic life and local economies. Please give us 15-20 minutes of your time to complete the online 2009 National Main Street Trends Survey. Make sure your voice is heard as we take the pulse of the Main Street movement.

This year we ask about your successes, how your holiday shopping season went, and how your program uses social media tools. A few questions ask you to estimate the number of businesses in your district (and the % change from last year), the number of rehab projects, the number of business openings and closings, and your operational budget. We use this information to determine the state of Main Street, create national news, and learn about your innovative ideas and triumphs for case study material for our National Main Streets Conference Opening Plenary presentation and other Center materials.

Be sure to fill it out before Wednesday, January 28, 2009.

Go to the survey now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=sKOFr17pr8MlJv72iT1CIQ_3d_3d

TopEventsUSA.com’s Top Arkansas Events
http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-arkansas.html

Only a few events are listed in Main Street or Network towns. Nominate your events here:
http://www.topeventsusa.com/top-events-nominations.html

Grants Target Environmental and Social Justice Programs
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

The mission of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is to promote a sustainable and just social and natural system. The Foundation provides support to grassroots nonprofit organizations nationwide through the following grantmaking programs. The Foundation's Protect the Health and Environment of Communities Threatened by Toxics program supports state and regional organizations that address toxics exposure and contamination. The Advance Environmental Justice program supports organizations that work to counter environmental degradation in low-income communities and communities of color. The Promote a Sustainable Agricultural and Food System program supports rural and urban organizations that focus on issues involving sustainable agriculture and community food security. The Ensure Quality Reproductive Health Care as a Human Right program supports organizations that advocate for public policies to safeguard reproductive freedom. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the website listed above for details on each of the Foundation's grantmaking programs.


Two great seminars at 15 locations...
Starting a Business in Arkansas
If you're thinking of going into business, then this seminar is the place to start.
• Business plan keys for success
• Requirements to start a business
• Common pitfalls to avoid
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 6 - 9 P.M.
Growing Your Business in Tough Economic Times
Looking for ways to recession-proof your existing business? Learn how your small business can survive and thrive.
• Guerilla Marketing
• Cash flow and inventory management
• Customer satisfaction and retention
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 6 - 9 P.M.
For More Information or To Register, Click Here!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 5, 2009

As we begin a new year, I want to start our communication with a sincere “thank you” for all the work you do. Your commitment, particularly the commitment of our volunteers, truly makes a difference in each & every one of your towns. Our work, revitalizing our historic downtowns, provides an improved quality of place. This makes towns better places to live and aids in economic recruitment on both the large & small scale. Again, thank you.

If you’re looking for a roommate for the upcoming National Main Streets Conference, please let one of us know.

One administrative note – this is the time when new boards & officers are elected. Staff members - please send me contact information for people who need to be added to this e-blast. If your term has ended & you’d like to unsubscribe, just drop me an email.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

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 January 5-9, 2009
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MONDAY Greg, Susan, Mark – Rogers; Cary, LR (pm)
TUESDAY Greg, Susan, Mark - Rogers
WEDNESDAY Nancy – Walnut Ridge
THURSDAY Caroline – Harrison
FRIDAY HPAA Awards Banquet
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Bail Out the Arts
Call for Photos
Eureka Press
Walnut Ridge Press
Harrison Press
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Bail Out the Arts!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/28/AR2008122801274.html

Call for photos
During the Conference Opening Plenary, we will again showcase great images of activity in Main Street communities and would love to include your most recent photos. We will select the best quality images for the Opening Plenary slide show, as well as for upcoming issues of Main Street News, our website, and presentations.
Submit your photos here!

Good Eureka Springs Press:
http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1487274.html

Walnut Ridge’s Acceptance to the Downtown Network Among Top Stories of 08 in Lawrence County
http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2008-12-31/news/story3.php

Harrison Hotel Seville Press:
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=110806