April 8 – next grant quarterly report due
National Volunteer Week April 19-25. Tips on celebrating your volunteers here: http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/
MAY 14-16: ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS (next quarterly meeting – details to follow)
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO
Main Street Arkansas Calendar April 6 -10, 2009
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MONDAY Cary - annual
TUESDAY Cary – annual; Mark, Searcy
WEDNESDAY Caroline, Susan & Mark – Batesville
THURSDAY Cary, Greg & Boyd – El Dorado
FRIDAY Nancy – annual
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants
Complete the Street
Reinventing America’s Cities
New Urban Agenda in AR
Main Street Helena, Rogers & El Dorado Press
ANCRC/RETT Comments
AHPP Offers National Register Training
4 Grant Opportunities
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Allocations- Arkansas
Central Arkansas to receive $3.2 mill from Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. http://bit.ly/nhSEr
Complete the Streets
http://www.metafilter.com/80368/Complete-Streets
Senator Tom Harkin (IA) and Representative Doris Matsui (CA-5) have introduced the Complete Streets Act of 2009 into the US Senate (S. 584) and House (H.R. 1443), to ensure that federal transportation infrastructure investments provide safe travel for Americans whether they are driving, bicycling, walking, or taking public transportation.
Reinventing America’s Cities
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/arts/design/29ouro.html?scp=3&sq=architecture&st=cse
New Urban Agenda in Arkansas
http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=5236801f-250a-44c9-a66c-3d538ab709cf&WeblogID=
Main Street Helena Press:
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/homepage/x1098980154/City-cleanup-coming-April-18
Main Street Rogers Hummingbird, Butterfly Park
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2009/03/22/news/032109rzparks.txt
Helena Blues Fest Considers Charging for 1st Time
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/apr/02/1st-time-blues-fest-weighs-charging-fans-20090402/
(subscriber only, sorry)
Main Street El Dorado Press:
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2009/04/03/switzer-to-be-speaker-at-night-of-champi-28.php
ANCRC/RETT comments
http://www.underthedome.com/2009/03/9-million-remaining-in-alternative.html#comments
AHPP TO HOLD FREE NATIONAL REGISTER TRAINING SESSION
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will offer a free training session Wednesday, April 22, for anyone interested in nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of historically significant sites, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.
The training session will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 170 of the Tower Building at 323 Center Street in Little Rock. The session will include background information on the National Register, the criteria for listing properties on the National Register, and instruction on completing a successful National Register application.
For more information on the free session, call the AHPP at (501) 324-9880 [TDD 501-324-9811] or send an e-mail message to info@arkansaspreservation.org. Registration is limited to the first 20 applicants.
Enterprise Community Partners Opens Application for Spring Round of Green Communities Grants
Green Communities is a five-year, $555 million commitment by Enterprise Community Partners to build more than 8,500 healthy, efficient homes for low-income people and to make environmentally sustainable development the mainstream in the affordable housing industry. Green Communities provides funds and expertise to enable developers to build and rehabilitate homes that are healthier, more energy efficient, and better for the environment
Through its spring grant round, Enterprise will award a total of $500,000 to developments committed to providing green affordable housing. Grant awards will range between $20,000 and $75,000 per project. In general, Green Communities grants will be made as part of a package of favorable financing intended to improve the feasibility of integrating green building items throughout affordable housing developments.
Grants may be used for a variety of costs, including planning related to the integrated design process (architectural work, charrette, engineering, site surveys, analysis of energy use, and environmental reviews), green construction items, construction review and performance testing, and energy services.
The grant program is open to 501(c) (3) nonprofits, public housing authorities, tribally designated housing entities, for-profit entities, and for-profit entities participating through joint ventures with qualified organizations. The applicant and the development team must demonstrate their qualifications to successfully carry out the proposed development.
Visit the Green Communities Web site for complete grant program information and eligibility criteria.
Tony Hawk Foundation Announces Deadlines for Skatepark Grants
Deadline: October 1, 2009
The primary mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to promote high-quality, public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States by providing grants to encourage and facilitate the design, development, construction, and operation of new skateboard parks and facilities.
The foundation primarily considers funding for projects designed and built by qualified and experienced skatepark contractors and that include local skaters in the design process, are in low- income areas and/or areas with a high population of at-risk youth, can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment, have a creative mix of street obstacles and transition/vert terrain, do not require skaters or their parents to sign waivers, encourage skaters to look after their own safety and the safety of others, are open during daylight hours 365 days a year, do not charge an entrance fee, and are in areas that currently have no skateboarding facilities.
Grants range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000 each. The foundation may also offer technical assistance on design and construction, promotional materials, training materials, and safety information, and facilitate support from vendors, suppliers, and community leaders.
The applicant must be a 501(c) (3) public charity or a state or local agency (including public school systems or public projects).
The foundation anticipates approving grant requests twice a year (spring and fall). Applicants may apply for a grant a total of two times. Grant recipients that have received no more than $1,000 may also re-apply once.
Visit the Tony Hawk Foundation Web site for complete program information.
National Geographic and Changemakers Announce Geotourism Innovation Competition
Deadline: May 20, 2009
National Geographic and Ashoka Changemakers (http://www.changemakers.net/ ) have announced the second annual global Geotourism Challenge. This year's theme is Power of Place - Sustaining the Future of Destinations.
This collaborative competition is designed to identify and showcase innovators, both individuals and organizations that directly or indirectly promote tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place -- its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.
The competition is open to all types of organizations (charitable, private, or public) from all countries. Entries must describe how a program or activity is new and different. Projects must be beyond the idea stage and able to prove success on the local, regional, or global level. The innovation should demonstrate the potential to be successfully replicated in other places and to become self-sustaining.
Competition entries will be posted online and made available for anyone to view and collaborate with by providing new ideas and connections to new resources, and by asking insightful questions.
A panel of judges will select finalists from the entries, and the Changemakers community will then vote online to select three award winners. The three winners will each receive a cash prize of $5,000.
Funds for Local Company Communities
Office Depot Foundation
The Office Depot Foundation supports local nonprofit organizations that make a positive impact on the quality of life in company communities around the world. The Foundation provides grants through the following funding categories: Making a Difference in Children's Lives supports activities that serve, teach, and inspire children, youth, and families. Building Communities focuses on civic organizations and activities that serve the needs of the community. Disaster Relief funds recognized national, regional, and local relief agencies. Requests must be submitted online through the Foundation's website by April 30, 2009, with the exception of Disaster Relief requests, which are accepted throughout the year. Visit the website listed above to take the required eligibility test.
The application period for 2009 grants will be open from December 29, 2008, through April 30, 2009.
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