Monday, December 27, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 27, 2010


Historic Downtown Rogers

We wish you the best for the coming year.

MSA Assistant Director job is posted until January 5
http://tinyurl.com/MSADAH


Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 27 - 31, 2010
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MONDAY
TUESDAY Susan – Rogers; Greg – out
WEDNESDAY Susan – Rogers; Nancy & Greg – out
THURSDAY Nancy & Greg – out
FRIDAY office closed
**********************************************************************************


Main Street Helena’s Paula Oliver Makes a Donation to the DCC
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=134441&catid=2

Main Street Batesville Press
http://www.guardonline.com/content/main-street-offers-gifts

The Giving Effect – connects donors of ‘things’ to non-profits
www.thegivingeffect.com/
Is your Main Street/Downtown organization signed up? You should be

The Placemaking Dividend

http://www.planetizen.com/node/47402

Monday, December 20, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 20, 2010


Downtown Sheridan

Has your program received USDA funding? If so, please let me know as the National Main Street Center is collecting that data.

Happy Holidays from the MSA staff

Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 13 - 17, 2010
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MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Greg – out
THURSDAY office closed
FRIDAY office closed
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Newsweek Covers the Main Street Program
Downtown Helena Gets a Business Incubator
Downtown Eureka Springs Coverage
Downtown Ft. Smith Growth
High Profile: Vanessa McKuin
Arkansas – Tourism as an Export
Study Shows 3 Qualities to Attach People to Place



Newsweek Covers the Main Street Program

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/16/how-to-save-main-street.print.html
- they get the name of the National Trust Main Street Center wrong (calling it Main Street America) but we’ll take national coverage of downtown revitalization everyday

Downtown Helena Gets a Business Incubator
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/newsnow/x1714281391/DBP-awards-an-186-000-grant-for-Phillips-County-business-incubator

Downtown Eureka Springs Coverage
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/dec/12/christmas-cavalcade-20101212/

Downtown Ft. Smith Going Great Guns
http://www.swtimes.com/news/article_6e2ca51c-0864-11e0-a2af-001cc4c03286.html

High Profile: Vanessa McKuin & the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/dec/19/historic-alliance-chief-blass-site-typifi-20101219/
- subscriber only, sorry. But, there’s still time to buy tickets to the January 14 Preservation Awards at preservearkansas.org

Arkansas Tourism as an Export
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=124679

Gallup-Knight Foundation Study Looks at Benefits of Loving Your Community
Gallup and the Knight Foundation partnered to look into the effects of attachment to place in 26 cities. The Knight Soul of the Community project found that people’s love and passion for their communities may be leading to economic growth. The project interviewed almost 43,000 people over three years and found three main qualities attach people to place. According to the study,
1)social offerings (entertainment venues and meeting places)
2) openness (how welcoming a place is), and the
3)area’s aesthetics (its physical beauty and green spaces)
are more important than people’s perceptions of the economy, jobs or basic services in creating an emotional bond.

“This study is important because its findings about emotional attachment to place point to a new perspective that we encourage leaders to consider; it is especially valuable as we aim to strengthen our communities during this tough economic time,” said Paula Ellis, Knight Foundation’s vice president for strategic initiatives.
Resource: http://www.soulofthecommunity.org/

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 13, 2010


Historic Downtown Ozark

Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 13 - 17, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Mark – Ozark (sm. biz consult), Greg – out
TUESDAY Susan, Mark, Nancy – Walnut Ridge (design & sm. biz site visits)
WEDNESDAY Cary – out a.m. (training)
THURSDAY
FRIDAY Greg – out
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Main Street El Dorado in the News
Your Story About a Nonprofit
A Small Bypassed Town Reclaims Its Identity
Using Internet Marketing to Promote Your Events



Good Main Street/Downtown El Dorado Press
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/dec/11/el-dorado-city-roll-20101211/
- Subscriber only, Sorry.

Your Story About A Nonprofit

This Season of Giving, help your favorite nonprofit gain visibility and attract donors and more volunteers. You can do that by writing a review about your experience with them.
Whether you're a volunteer, donor, client served or board member, you can give your favorite nonprofits the gift of a review. Tell others why you think they are great. You can write a review of any nonprofit at GreatNonprofits.org which lists over 1.2M nonprofits.

Nonprofits have few marketing resources, so you can help bring your favorite nonprofit some much needed visibility by writing a review. Won't you take 3 minutes to share your story?
Go to greatnonprofits.org

A Bypassed Small Nebraska Town Reclaims Its Identity
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/08land.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

Using Internet Marketing to Promote Your Events
http://ruraltourismmarketing.com/2010/12/online-events-marketing-for-your-small-town-five-easy-steps/

Monday, December 6, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 6 - 10, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 6 - 10, 2010
*********************************************************************************
MONDAY Mark – out
TUESDAY Mark – out; Susan & Nancy – Paragould & Walnut Ridge
WEDNESDAY Mark – Texarkana; Greg – out
THURSDAY Greg – out
FRIDAY Greg – out
*********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Online Review Sites Can Threaten Businesses’ Reputations
Statewide Workshops on CDBG
Grant Opportunity
Online Training for Property Repair



As Internet Review Sites Grow, Business’ Reputations Can be Threatened
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=124388
- This is a worthy piece to share with your local businesses. It’s worth your ER committee’s time to take a look at reviews & on the web to determine if they’re accurate.

Statewide workshops to focus on CDBG application procedures

AEDC’s Grants Management Division will host application workshops in five locations throughout Arkansas to inform the public on the procedures for applying for grants and loans from four different agencies and organizations. AEDC administers the state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, as well as several state-funded grant programs aimed at economic development. For more information regarding workshop locations, contact Dana Heatley at (501) 682-1211 or dheatley at arkansasedc.com.

Outreach Programs in Company Communities Supported
Ameriprise Financial Community Relations Program
The Ameriprise Financial Community Relations Program supports nonprofit organizations in company communities throughout the United States whose shared goal is to improve the lives of individuals from all walks of life. The company's community outreach focuses on Meeting Basic Needs and Supporting Community Vitality. (Requests from nonprofit organizations where company employees/advisors/retirees volunteer are also considered.) The application deadlines are February 1, May 1 and September 1, annually. Visit the company’s website to review the Community Relations guidelines and submit an online application.

Online Training Videos for Historic Property Repair
http://www.youtube.com/user/KansasSHPO

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 29 – December 3, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 29 – December 3, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Susan, Rogers
WEDNESDAY Cary – Downtown LR Partnership Meeting
THURSDAY Cary – Breakthrough Solutions Conference, NLR; Mark – out
FRIDAY Susan & Nancy – El Dorado (merchant site visit)
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Monticello Square Appropriation
The Old House is the Greenest
Downtown Greenwood, MS
A New World Approach to Historic Preservation



Council Appropriates $20k for Downtown Square in Monticello
http://mymonticellonews.net/articles/2010/11/19/news/local_news/doc4ce448966b4d2280068812.txt

The Old House May Be the Greener One
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/17/pm-this-old-house-may-be-the-greener-one/

Good Piece on Our Colleagues in Greenwood, MS
http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=1656
“Preserving our historic buildings has been our No. 1 asset other than the people,” Mayor Carolyn McAdams told the Delta Business Journal earlier this year.

A New World Approach to Historic Preservation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/19/AR2010111900221.html

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 22, 2010



Happy Thanksgiving from the Main Street Arkansas staff. We are thankful for all you do to revitalize Arkansas’s downtowns. Have a great holiday.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 22 - 26, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Greg – out
TUESDAY Susan – Paragould (merchant site visit); Greg – out
WEDNESDAY Greg – out
THURSDAY Thanksgiving – Office Closed
FRIDAY Thanksgiving – Office Closed
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Downtown Eureka Springs Promo
Main Street Helena Receives Grant
3 Grant Opportunities
Non Profit Executives Survey


Downtown Eureka Springs Christmas Promotion
http://www.slideshare.net/MoxieWorks/holiday-promotion-2010

Main Street Helena Receives Grant
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=207015

http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=10797923

Grant Opportunity
The Division of Public Programs at the U.S. National Endowment for the Humanities funds humanities projects that are intended for broad public audiences at museums, libraries, historic sites and other historical and cultural organizations. New application guidelines are now posted on the NEH website for its America's Historical and Cultural Organizations grant competition. The next two deadlines are January 12 and August 17. Other grant information is also available at the website. Grants support interpretive exhibitions, reading or film discussion series, historic site interpretation, lecture series and symposia, and digital projects. NEH encourages projects that offer multiple formats and make creative use of new technology to deliver humanities content. Program officers in the Division of Public Programs are available to discuss project ideas or to read a draft of a proposal. Call the NEH Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 for more information.

In-Kind Assistance for Cities Worldwide
IBM Smarter Cities Challenge www.smartercitieschallenge.org
The Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year IBM Corporate Citizenship initiative to enable up to 100 cities around the world to become smarter by enhancing their capacity to collect, analyze, and act upon information across multiple core systems; apply systems analysis to the key problems facing cities; create an environment where global cities can learn from one another; and foster partnerships that address critical challenges, enabling cities around the world to become more vibrant and livable places for their citizens.
Each city participating in the Challenge will receive a donation of IBM services and/or technology valued at $250,000 to $400,000 USD to address a specific problem or opportunity selected by the city. The donation will be primarily in the form of talent - the expertise of IBM professionals who will work closely with city leaders to deliver recommendations on the selected issue. Cities will also have access to an array of other IBM resources throughout the grant period. The application deadline is December 31, 2010. Visit the Smarter Cities Challenge to learn more about the initiative and submit an online application.

Fiskars Invites Applications for Project Orange Thumb Garden Grants and Makeovers
Fiskars, a global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden, and outdoors, has opened the application process for 2011 Project Orange Thumb garden grants and makeovers in the United States and Canada.
The annual Project Orange Thumb program provides tools, materials, and other support to help communities reach their goals for neighborhood beautification, community collaboration, and healthy, sustainable food sources. This year, Fiskars is giving groups the chance to apply for a garden makeover in their area as well as garden grants.
The program is open to any community group for use on a gardening project. Past recipients have included school and church groups, master gardener groups, and community organizations.
Fiskars will choose eleven recipients from the pool of grant applicants — ten will receive $5,000 each in cash and tools, and one applicant will receive a complete garden makeover.
Complete program guidelines and application are available at the Fiskars Web site.

Non Profit Executives Survey
Daring to Lead is the every-five-years national study of nonprofit executive directors; it's the study that first discovered, for instance, that 65% of EDs are on their first jobs as an ED.
If you are a nonprofit CEO or executive director, please lend your perspective to the third Daring to Lead study. Earlier Daring to Lead studies have been among the highest-impact research in the nonprofit sector, resulting in major foundation initiatives supporting executive directors, succession planning, and emerging leaders.
If you are CEO/executive director, make sure the researchers at CompassPoint and the Meyer Foundation get it right: http://www.eSurveysPro.com/Survey.aspx?id=95e69d90-948a-48a2-a583-0c32f4... read more »

Monday, November 15, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 15, 2010




Caroline has decided to stay home & be a full-time mom. We wish her well.

I sent out information on Small Business Saturday to our executive directors & Downtown Network contacts last week, but for everyone else, please take a moment to check out http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/ Take part November 27 & please give strong consideration to your organization participating in this event.

Mark – out all week

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 15-19, 2010
*********************************************************************************
MONDAY Susan – Texarkana
TUESDAY Cary – West Memphis (Your Town follow-up)
WEDNESDAY Greg – out
THURSDAY Greg – out
FRIDAY Cary – Volunteerism Commission; Greg – out
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Start-Ups Drawn to the Pulse of Downtown
Winrock to Expand PRIME Program
AHPP Offers Free Grant Writing Workshop
SBA Seeks Nominations for Small Business Awards
Arts Council Seeks Living Treasures Nominations
Grant Opportunity


Start-Ups Are Drawn to the Pulse of Downtown
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303362404575580551045171876.html

Winrock to Expand PRIME Program (Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs)
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=124268

AHPP OFFERS FREE GRANT-WRITING WORKSHOP JANUARY 11

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a grant-writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 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 or Historic Preservation Restoration grant programs, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.
Admission is free, but reservations must be made by Tuesday, January 4, by calling Joia Burton at (501) 324-9883 or sending e-mail to joia at 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
Potential applicants are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent. Applicants submitting Letters of Intent by January 4 can receive technical assistance from the AHPP for the 2011 grant cycle and ensure that their grant requests focus on activities that will help safeguard the long-term survival of their historic properties. A letter of intent can be downloaded or submitted electronically by visiting www.arkansaspreservation.com/preservation-services/grant-programs/.


SBA SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS
The Arkansas District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the 2011 National Small Business Week Awards to be presented to winners in Arkansas next April. This local recognition leads up to the National Small Business Week event to be held during the week of May 15, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Each year, SBA recognizes successful business owners and community leaders that champion the cause of small businesses. The 2011 awards will include Arkansas Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Family-Owned Business of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. SBA will also present Champion Awards to individuals or organizations dedicated to supporting small businesses. Champion Awards include Financial Services, Minority Small Business, Home-Based Business, Veteran Small Business and Women in Business.

SBA invites any individual or organization dedicated to the support of the U.S. small business community to submit nominations. Contact Carol Silverstrom at (501) 324-7379, extension 227, with any questions. A copy of the nomination guidelines can be found at http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/_files/live/2011NomGuidelines.pdf.

Arts Council Seeks Living Treasure Nominations

The Arkansas Arts Council is seeking nominations for the 2011 Arkansas Living Treasure. Deadline for nominations is Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. Nomination forms are available on www.arkansasarts.org or by calling (501) 324-9766.

The Arkansas Living Treasure designation is presented annually to recognize an Arkansan who is outstanding in the creation of a traditional craft and has significantly contributed to the preservation of the art form. Nominations of artists who work in traditional craft forms such as pottery, weaving, broom making, leatherworking, metalsmithing and wood carving are encouraged.

An independent panel of professionals in the field of traditional crafts will select the recipient based on the following criteria: quality of work, community outreach and total contribution to the field of traditional crafts. The recipient will be honored in May 2011 during Arkansas Heritage Month.

For more information, contact Robin Muse McClea, artist services program manager, at robinm at arkansasheritage.org or call (501) 324-9348.

Support for Foot Trail Development
American Hiking Society: National Trails Fund

The National Trails Fund, sponsored by American Hiking Society (AHS), provides funding to grassroots nonprofit organizations throughout the country working toward establishing, protecting, and maintaining foot trails in America. The Fund’s grants help give local groups the resources they need to secure access, volunteers, tools, and materials to protect America's public trails. The following types of grants will be considered for the 2011 program: projects that have hikers as the primary constituency; projects that secure trail lands, including acquisition of trails and trail corridors and the costs associated with acquiring conservation easements; projects that will result in substantial ease of access, improved hiker safety, or avoidance of environmental damage; and projects that promote the trails constituency. Applying organizations must be AHS Alliance Members. The application deadline is December 15, 2010. Visit the American Hiking Society website for application guidelines as well as information on becoming an AHS Member.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 8, 2010



Main Street Arkansas Calendar November
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MONDAY Cary, Mark, Missy – Dumas (sm. biz consult, tech center opening); Susan – Russellville (city hall site visit)
TUESDAY Mark & Susan – Heber Springs (merchant consults)
WEDNESDAY Mark – Siloam Springs (interviews); Cary – downtown LR partnership
THURSDAY Closed for Veteran’s Day, except Cary (Downtown AR meeting)
FRIDAY Mark, Greg – Monticello (committee training); Cary – off
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Main Street Batesville Gets $30k
Survey from the National Main Street Center
AR Festival Association Accepting Award Noms
Best of Arkansas Poll
4 Grant Opportunities
Free Email Marketing Opportunity


Main Street Batesville Gets $30k for Streetscaping
http://www.guardonline.com/content/main-street-gets-30k-streetscaping

Survey from the National Trust Main Street Center
Well, here is another survey. It is about sustainability. It is important because your answers will help us understand what you know, what you are up to, and what you are interested in so we can develop resources to help you. It’s 35 questions with open answer boxes for you to share as much or as little as you want. Only the first question is required.

Even if your community isn’t focused/knowledgeable/interested in sustainability or being green – I need to hear from you. All answers are important. There is a wonky part that asks about codes and ordinances, so if you go to this page first, you can open a PDF of the survey before you take it, just in case you need help getting answers from your friends at the planning department.

There will be a random drawing for a free video flip cam, so don’t miss the Nov. 17th deadline. We gain an hour on the 7th, so there are no excuses.

Go directly to the survey.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SMCN5FK

AFLiE & Promo Award Submissions – DEADLINE January 7th
New this year: AFEA members can nominate their festival or event promotional materials free of charge! Get the recognition your event deserves. Show appreciation to your special volunteers and/or vendors by nominating them for awards in their respective categories. Nomination forms are available online or by visiting www.ArFEA.org.


Nominate Your Merchants for Arkansas Business Best Of
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/bestbiz.asp

ROBERT LEHMAN FOUNDATION (04/01/11)
The Foundation was incorporated in 1943 to serve as a vehicle for its Founder’s philanthropic work in the visual arts. The Founder was the former chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Foundation’s grantmaking is focused on the visual arts. Grants are made to museums, arts organizations, educational institutions, and other cultural organizations with the goal of enhancing the role of the visual arts within American and world culture. The Foundation is open to a variety of projects, from major museum exhibitions to lectures, to the construction of fine arts facilities to scholarly publications, and art school curricula. The Foundation has no application form and requests that potential applicants send a proposal of no more than three pages along with a program budget and a copy of the organization’s nonprofit status. The Foundation’s trustees reviews proposals on a bi-annual basis with meetings generally held in October and May. Additional information can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $500 To $1,100,000 | Contact Info: ROBERT LEHMAN FOUNDATION, 488 Madison Ave., 9th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, Ph: 212-661-1967, Fax: 212-593-9175, Visit Website

TIFFANY & CO. FOUNDATION
(OPEN)
Established in 2000, the Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the well known New York jeweler. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on two areas: the arts and the environment. Under the arts category, the Foundation shows a special appreciation for, and commitment to, advancing the arts. It supports the critically important work of educational, artistic, and cultural institutions dedicated to excellence in decorate arts design through the creation of gallery spaces and the support of key decorative arts exhibitions. Environmental grants are targeted toward responsible mine remediation; community development and standards-setting efforts; and the development of healthy marine ecosystems through key research and targeted educational outreach. It also funds programs that enhance urban environments through beautification and infrastructure improvements and the preservation of culturally significant landmarks. Prospective applicants are asked to use the online application system found on the Web site. The board of directors meets twice a year. | Grant Range: $25,000 To $600,000 | Contact Info: TIFFANY & CO. FOUNDATION, 600 Madison Ave., New York, NY , 10022, Visit Website

THE DANIEL K. THORNE FOUNDATION (OPEN)
Funded by Daniel K. Thorne of Star Lake Capital, the Foundation seeks to protect and sustain the diversity of the natural and built environment. First-time organizations are asked to submit a brief letter of interest before the Foundation will consider a grant proposal. The Foundation will not fund endowments or capital campaigns. | Grant Range: $2,000 To $75,000 | Contact Info: THE DANIEL K. THORNE FOUNDATION, c/o Stroock, Stroock and Lavan, 180 Maiden Lane, New York, NY , 10038, Ph: 212/806-6187, Send Email, Visit Website

AMGEN FOUNDATION (OPEN)
The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the pharmaceutical Company. It focuses its grantmaking on three areas: quality of care and access for patients, science education, and community life. Quality of care grants funds programs dedicated to providing patients, caregivers, and health care practitioners with information, education, and access. These programs are directed at patient empowerment and health care disparities/health inequalities. Science education grants support organizations committed to raising the value of science literacy for both students and teachers. Programs that provide pivotal, hands-on science experiences for students, as well as those that seek to support teacher quality and professional development are a priority. Community life grants support organizations and activities that make the community a desirable place to live and work. These grants helps to ensure that essential and social services, environmental programs, the excitement of the sciences and the richness of the arts are more accessible to all members of the community. Additional information including an online letter of inquiry form can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $100 To $100,000 | Contact Info: AMGEN FOUNDATION , One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, Ph: 805-447-4056, Fax: 805-447-1010, Send Email, Visit Website

Emma E-mail Marketing Offer: Free E-mail Marketing for Life
The e-mail blast tool, Emma, announces "Emma 25", the annual initiative in which they award a lifetime of free Emma service to 25 deserving causes. It's their hope that, with an easy way to manage their email communications, these groups can reach more people, get more support and ultimately do even more great work in the world.

So, how does Emma 25 work? It's simple. Nonprofits apply at www.myemma.com/emma25, through Friday, November 12th. Once all the applications are in, Emma staffers will take on the near-impossible task of selecting 25 groups. This year's honorees will be announced during the first week of December.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - November 1, 2010


Historic Downtown Monticello

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October November 1 - 5, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Cary – NTHP Conference
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Mark and Susan - Paragould
FRIDAY
**********************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:

Downtown Jonesboro Story
http://www.kait8.com/global/story.asp?s=13385371
Downtown Ozark Cleanup http://www.swtimes.com/news/article_9aec7120-e2a0-11df-80b6-001cc4c03286.html
Merle Haggard Coming to El Dorado – Tickets Still Availablehttp://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2010/10/20/-living-legend-11.php
Article on Annual Investor Campaign from a Great American Main Street Communityhttp://heritageconsultinginc.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/msnsepoct2010_final.pdf
pdf file

Monday, October 18, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 18, 2010



Downtown Rogers

Looking for a continuing education opportunity? Consider the Arkansas Community Development Society’s conference October 21 in Conway. More information at http://www.arcds.org/

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 18 - 22, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Greg & Susan – Rogers (visioning & merchant site visits)
TUESDAY Greg & Susan – Rogers (visioning & merchant site visits)
WEDNESDAY Mark – Monticello – presentation on small biz recruitment, retention
THURSDAY Cary, Greg, Susan, Mark – AR Community Development Conference – Conway
FRIDAY Susan – Texarkana
**********************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
Congrats to Downtown Pine Bluff
Spring Street, Eureka, One of America’s Best Streets 2010, per the AIA
New Businesses in Downtown Rogers
Freak Hail Storm in Helena
SBA & Google Can Help Your Downtown Businesses
Rural Southern Non-Profit Survey
Good Downtown Ft Smith Press
Urban Parks
Ready for Groupon In Your City?


Congratulations to Downtown Pine Bluff on receiving a $30,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank

Spring Street in Eureka, One of America’s 10 Best Streets http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/streets/2010/
New Businesses in Downtown Rogers http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/oct/14/empty-storefronts-filled-19-new-businesses/
Freak Hail Storm Hits Downtown Helena Last Week http://theloop.kait8.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=19209836&item_index=8&all=1&sort=NULL
Google and the Small Business Administration have partnered to educate local businesses about how to succeed online. Each video describes how a small business owner successfully uses the internet to grow his or her business. It's important to be where your customers are...online.
http://www.google.com/help/places/partners/sba/index.html
Rural Southern Non-Profit Executive Director Survey https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGFZMkJqbnNyQmpzYTNvLXBBZV9KRXc6MQ
Good Downtown Fort Smith Press http://www.swtimes.com/business/article_e2d3e21a-d47d-11df-9df2-001cc4c002e0.html
Urban Parks http://www.tnr.com/article/books-and-arts/magazine76951/city-parks-urban-planning

Ready for Groupon in Your City? It’s in LR. http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=123896

Monday, October 11, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 11, 2010


Downtown Heber Springs

Looking for a continuing education opportunity? Consider the Arkansas Community Development Society’s conference October 21 in Conway. More information at http://www.arcds.org/

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 11- 15, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Mark, Susan – Blytheville
THURSDAY
FRIDAY Greg – Jonesboro; Mark – Blytheville
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Congrats to Downtown Eureka Springs & Main Street Helena
Henry Awards
King Biscuit is Back
2 Grant Opportunities


Congratulations to Downtown Eureka Springs on receiving a grant from the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence that will provide training on leadership, grant writing, financial management and other management topics through the Strengthening Communities Fund program

Also, congratulations to Main Street Helena on their receipt of a $8,000 Federal Home Loan Bank grant.

Henry Awards
http://www.arkindustryinsider.com/henry-awards/

King Biscuit is Back
http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2010/10/08/helena-gets-its-biscuit-back
- reminder that King Biscuit began as a fundraiser for Main Street Helena. They’re still involved today.

2 Grant Opportunities
Grants Available to Help Nonprofit Organizations With Fundraising

Achieve, an Indianapolis-based consulting firm that provides fundraising, strategic planning, and management counsel to nonprofit organizations, is offering service grants to nonprofit organizations seeking assistance with fundraising. This is the third year Achieve is offering the program to organizations across the United States.
Seven grants are available for 2011: one for Achieve consulting services (value to be determined by scope of services, up to $20,000); two grants to the Achieve Academy, which includes a five-part webinar and one-on-one coaching on either Millennial engagement, developing a fundraising plan, or online engagement (valued at $350); and four grants for premium subscriptions to Achieve Access, an online resource library of more than 270 templates and guidance pieces, an annual pass to twelve webinars, and a subscription to Achieve's monthly newsletter (valued at $199).
Grantees will be selected based on each organization's level of need, type of assistance requested, and organizational readiness as described in the grant application. Selections will be made by Achieve's advisory board.
Achieve will offer an informational webinar on this grants program on October 14, 2010. Complete program information is available at the Achieve Web site.

Projects Encouraging Bicycling Fundeda good fit for downtowns
Bikes Belong Coalition
The goal of the Bikes Belong Coalition, sponsored by the American bicycle industry, is putting more people on bicycles more often. The Bikes Belong Grants Program provides support for projects that leverage federal funding and build momentum for bicycling in communities across the U.S. Funded projects can include bike paths, lanes, and routes, as well as bike parks, mountain bike trails, BMX facilities, and bicycle advocacy initiatives. The focus of the facility grant category is to connect existing facilities or create new biking opportunities. The advocacy grant category seeks to support large-scale, innovative, replicable advocacy initiatives that significantly increase ridership and improve conditions for bicycling in big U.S. cities. Applications are reviewed three times per year; the final 2010 deadline is November 30. Visit the Coalition’s website to submit an online application.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 4, 2010


Historic Downtown Morrilton

Looking for a continuing education opportunity? Consider the Arkansas Community Development Society’s conference October 21 in Conway. More information at http://www.arcds.org/

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 4 - 8, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Susan – Helena (working with downtown merchants in preparation for Blues Fest
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Cary – Helena
FRIDAY
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
What Makes the Happiest Communities?
Grant Opportunity
AR Biz of the Year Nominations
Batesville Press


What Makes the Happiest Communities?
http://www.parade.com/news/2010/10/03-youll-wish-you-were-here.html
- you’ll note that many of these things are typically addressed in Main Street work

Grant Opportunity (Rural Community Development Initiative)
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=58143

Arkansas Business of the Year Nominations (nominate someone in your downtown)
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/nominate_aboy.asp

Downtown Batesville Press
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/sep/26/community-catering/

Monday, September 27, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - September 27, 2010


Destination Downtown 2010


Main Street Arkansas Calendar September 27 – October 2, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Nancy & Susan – Texarkana (site visit with new biz owner)
TUESDAY Susan & Mark: Heber Springs & Searcy (workshop & small biz visits); Marian’s Birthday (email her good wishes at marian at arkansasheritage.org )
WEDNESDAY all staff – West Memphis: NEA Your Town Workshop
THURSDAY Cary – West Memphis: Your Town; Susan – Helena (merchant site visits)
FRIDAY Cary – West Memphis: Your Town
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
New web TV show focuses on non-profits
Creating Livable Communities
Study Links Obesity, Sprawl
Grant Opportunity
8 Free Website Tools for Small Biz
Top 20 Events Publication – Request for Submittals



New web TV show focuses on non-profits
10 minute reports every two weeks at: The NonProfit Times TV at:
www.nonprofittimes.tv

Creating Livable Cities
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-09-16/creating-livable-cities

Rutgers Study Links Walkable Communities, Lower Obesity Rates
http://www.montereyherald.com/health/ci_16090140?nclick_check=1

Grant Opportunity
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/forAmerica.shtm

8 Free Website Builder Tools for Small Businesses
http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/09/8-more-free-website-builder-tools-for-small-business.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SmallBusinessTrends+%28Small+Business+Trends%29

Top 20 Events Publication – Southeast Tourism Society
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.

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

Deadlines for Applications:

Event Occurring In: Submit by:
April/May/June 2011 October 8, 2010
July/August/September 2011 January 7, 2011
October/November/December 2011 April 8, 2011
January/February/March 2012 July 8, 2011
April/May/June 2012 October 7, 2011
July/August/September 2012 January 6, 2012

Monday, September 20, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - September 20, 2010


August Millar


Main Street Arkansas Calendar September 20 – 24, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Mark – Dumas (business consult); Susan – out
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Nita Fran orientation; Cary – Russellville
THURSDAY Susan - Helena
FRIDAY Susan - Helena
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Searcy Press
Paragould Receives Grant
Curve for Sprawl Slopes Downward
The Arcade Fire Tackles Sprawl
Google CEO on What Makes A Smart City


Main Street Searcy Searcy Press
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/sep/19/downtown-searcy-gets-down/

Profile: Amy Burton of Main Street Searcy
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/sep/19/front-and-center-amy-burton/

Main Street Paragould Receives $5,000 Grant
http://paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2010/09/17/local_news/doc4c92d9a8f3f97674587790.txt

Curve for Sprawl Slopes Downward
http://www.thefreemanonline.org/headline/the-demand-curve-for-sprawl-slopes-downward/#

The Arcade Fire’s New Album Tackles Sprawl

http://spur.org/blog/arcade_fires_new_album_tackles_suburban_sprawl_providing_compelling_city_planning_commentary
and continuing the Rock & Roll theme of this issue,
The Wilderness Downtown, Arcade Fire’s new single – only viewable in Chrome uses GPS technology to stretch this even further. Pretty cool when you put in places you know.
http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

Google CEO on What Makes a Smart City
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/googlopolis

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - September 7, 2010





NEXT WEEK - Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15
We still have 2 seats available if anyone needs a ride.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar September 6 – 10, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY closed – Labor Day
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Mark & Susan – West Memphis (merchant visits)
THURSDAY Greg, Mark, Susan - Monticello – 4 Point Training
FRIDAY
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Ozark: City on the Verge
MSR – 2 Press Pieces & a New MSR blog
2 Grant Opportunities



Ozark: City on the Verge
http://www.thecitywire.com/index.php?q=node/11504
nice article about the town which includes some coverage on the branding work we did

Main Street Rogers Picks Up Sponsorship
http://www.arvestblog.com/blog/2010/8/26/arvest_benton_county_sponsori.aspx
& MSR Frisco Fest Press
http://www.4029tv.com/news/24813269/detail.html

& a new MSR blog
http://thewordonwalnut.blogspot.com/

Grant Opportunity

$10,000 Award Ceiling - Deadline October 1, 2010

The Southern SARE Program and the Southern Rural Development Center, the sponsors of this competitive SCIG program, are seeking to invest in projects/programs that promote a stronger alignment between sustainable agriculture and community development strategies in the South. This type of alignment cannot be realized without strong and balanced working partnerships among people and organizations representing both sustainable agriculture and community development perspectives. As such, applicants MUST demonstrate that their project team has a good mix of backgrounds and experiences relevant to these two key arenas (i.e., sustainable agriculture and community
development).

http://www.southernsare.uga.edu/callpage.htm

T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES FOUNDATION
The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the financial services Company. It has a long tradition of philanthropy in the communities where its associates live and work. The Foundation provides grants to U.S.-based nonprofits that enhance community life through education, arts and culture, human services, and civic and community initiatives. Additional information can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $50 To $140,000 | Contact Info: T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES FOUNDATION, 100 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21202, Ph: 410-345-2000, Visit Website, Toll free number: 800-638-7890.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 30, 2010


Downtown Siloam Springs
Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15

Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 30 – September 3, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Nancy – off
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Cary – Blytheville Rotary; Susan – off
FRIDAY Susan – off
*********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Brownfield Fund Opportunity
Grant Opportunity
Know a Do-Gooder?
Preservation Wiki
Advisory Boards: Should We Have One?
Grant Opportunity


Brownfields Fund Opportunity
This is to let you know that the proposal guidelines for the FY2011 Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup grant competition were released today.

Proposals are due October 15.

The guidelines are posted on the Brownfields website: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm

HUD ANNOUNCES $189 MILLION AVAILABLE TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES
Obama Administration prioritizes early childhood education, community supports with $124 million in HOPE VI awards and $65 million in Choice Neighborhoods pilot grants

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-185

Know a Do-Gooder?
We bet you do, and now you can recognize their efforts by telling us about them!
We are pleased to announce Foundation for the Mid South Do-Gooders—an innovative online program to highlight good deeds in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. The program was established with $300,000 to give Mid-Southerners the voice to decide what to fund within their communities and states.
Visit our brand new, interactive website and nominate organizations and individuals, contributing to or supporting great deeds within their communities. No good deed is too big or too small to be considered. Nominations will be accepted until September 17, and, beginning October 3, the public will be invited to visit our website and vote to determine which finalists will receive grant awards. To nominate a Do-Gooder or review the rules and eligibility, go to www.fndmidsouth.org/do-gooders.

Preservation Wiki Seeks Contributors

Preservapedia, is a wiki-style (think Wikipedia) encyclopedia for preservation professionals sponsored by the National Center for Preservation Training and Technology. Their staff and interns have contributed over 300 articles on topics from linoleum to landscapes and they are seeking editors to help add, edit or expand articles. For more information see http://www.ncptt.nps.gov/preservation-wiki-seeks-contributors/ or contact Ed FitzGerald at admin@preservapedia.org.

Advisory Boards – What Is It? Should We Have One?
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/what-advisory-board-and-should-we-have-one

Grant Opportunity
Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program
The purpose of this e-mail is to make you aware of, and to ask you to share with your local partners, the most recent Federal Register Notice on the proposed FY2011 Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The notice announces revisions to the STEP implementation strategy for FY 2011 and to request suggested lines of research for the FY 2011 STEP via the STEP Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/step/index.htm in anticipation of future surface transportation legislation.
The full Notice is available at:
• Text version: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-07-02/html/2010-15949.htm
• PDF version: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-07-02/pdf/2010-15949.pdf
STEP is an FHWA-administered source of funding for research related to planning, environment and realty. The FHWA anticipates that the STEP or a similar program to provide resources for national research on issues related to planning, environment, and realty will be included in future surface transportation legislation.
Stakeholder input is required to identify the research topics that should receive priority consideration. Therefore, we are seeking input from all of our partners on the FY 2011 STEP.
FHWA will use STEP to fund research, field demonstrations, technology transfer, conferences, and workshops, as well as portions of various pooled fund research efforts. We anticipate that grants and cooperative agreements will continue to require a 50% match and that research contracts will not require a match.
The Office of Planning, Environment and Realty (HEP) has developed STEP research emphasis areas and has identified contacts for each (see below). The STEP contacts can answer questions that you may have regarding research planned or underway within a particular emphasis area.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 23, 2010


Historic Downtown Eureka Springs

Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15

Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 23 - 27, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Cary & Mark – Arkansas Economic Developers Conference – Hot Springs; Greg & Susan – Siloam Springs (merchant & board visits)
WEDNESDAY Cary & Mark – Arkansas Economic Developers Conference – Hot Springs; Greg & Susan – Rogers (merchant & board visits)
THURSDAY Cary – Breakthrough Solutions – Federal Reserve Bank, Little Rock; Mark, Susan, Nancy – Osceola (museum site visit)
FRIDAY Cary, Greg, Mark – Arkansas City & Choctaw Island (market analysis visit)
***********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Vote for Main Street Helena
Age of the City
Park Sponsorships
Networking. Old School


Vote for Main Street Helena & Help Them Win $25k
http://my.preservationnation.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9353&security=2862&s_interest=2962

Beyond City Limits. The Age of Nations is Over. It’s the Age of the City
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/08/16/beyond_city_limits

This Park Sponsored By. . .
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=506217

Get Back to Business Networking
http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/taking-it-offline-getting-back-to-traditional-business-networking/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YoungentrepreneurcomBlog+%28YoungEntrepreneur.com+Blog%29

Monday, August 16, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 16, 2010


Historic Hotel Seville, Downtown Harrison

Caroline’s now on maternity leave. We expect her return in mid-October

Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15
We were only able to get 17 people to commit to the bus. This kept the prices out of the range we decided was affordable. We will depart early September 13. See you there.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 16 - 20, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Mark – annual leave; Susan & Greg – Sheridan
TUESDAY Cary – Harrison (meet with merchants association); Susan, Mark, Nancy – Helena
WEDNESDAY Cary – return from Harrison (a.m.)
THURSDAY Mark, Greg, Nancy – Jonesboro (4-Point Training); Susan – Russellville
FRIDAY Susan – DeWitt
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Arkansas Coalition for Excellence Sponsorship Contest
Facebook ‘Like’/Profile Changes Coming (again)
Berryville Hears from Greg
Volunteerism Month Offer


Win a Free Sponsorship Makeover
The Sponsorship Network is coming to Arkansas this September. Register to attend this special training, “New Rules for Engaging Corporate Sponsors,” by Friday, August 27th, and you could win a FREE Sponsorship Makeover (valued at $500)! For more details visit the ACE website at www.acenonprofit.org or click here.

Facebook ‘Like’ Profile and Page Roadmap Update & Changes
Facebook.com announced plans last October to remove application boxes and application info sections as well as reduce the width of application tabs to optimize for the new profile and Facebook Pages format. They will be moving forward with these changes the week of August 23 and want to help you understand what to expect.
Based on feedback from developers, Facebook has committed to the following plans to ensure a smooth transition:
Boxes. We will notify users via messaging in profile boxes and in the Help Center that the "Boxes" tab, boxes on profiles and Pages, and application info sections will be going away.
Application Tabs. Next week, we will give Page admins the ability to preview their custom tabs in the new 520 pixel width so they can modify their layouts as needed. All profile and Page tabs will be resized automatically beginning the week of August 23.
These updates are designed to simplify navigation for users, reduce complexity for developers, and enable us to build the next generation of tools for growing your business with Facebook. Subscribe to the developer blog to learn about our new roadmap in the coming weeks.
Fran, a Platform product marketing manager, is busy updating the roadmap.

Berryville Hears from Greg
http://www.harrisondaily.com/news/article_3bd4c82c-a4ed-11df-9ff1-001cc4c03286.html


Volunteerism Month

Volunteers: Hear the cry, See the Need Lend a Hand!

Bookmarks have been created with this theme to help you show appreciation to your volunteers during September.

If you would like to order these bookmarks please email: beth.jacks at arkansas.gov with the following information:
Organization
Address
and the number of bookmarks you would like to request.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 9, 2010




Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15

Susan – annual leave – Monday - Thursday
Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 9 - 13, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Cary, Mark & Nancy - Batesville, merchant site visit & Hardy – 4 Point Training
TUESDAY Greg – Berryville: speaking with Chamber about Arkansas Downtown Network
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY Susan – Rogers & Siloam Springs; Nancy – Batesville
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
El Dorado Press
Eureka Springs Press
Next American City
Camouflaged Public Art
Grant Opportunity


Ride to El Dorado for a Weekend Jaunt
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20108010314

Eureka Springs snags preservation award
http://www.lovelycitizen.com/story/1654711.html

Next American City
Next American City has partnered with IBM's Smarter Cities blog and is looking for the Next American City, please tell us what your city and town is doing to move into the 21st century, how are they using technology, and open data to make your city more interactive? please post to http://smartercities.tumblr.com/ the 3 most popular posts will win a free subscription. Please share this! Thanks


Camouflaged Public Art
http://laist.com/2010/07/29/scavenger_hunting_for_culver_citys.php

Grant Opportunity
INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES
(12/01/10)
The Institute’s Conservation Assessment Program awards grants for an assessment of a museums' collections as well as its environmental conditions and policies and procedures relating to collections care. The Program, supported through a cooperative agreement between the Institute and Heritage Preservation, supports a two-day site visit by a conservation professional to perform the assessment. For museums located in historic structures, the program supports a preservation architect site visit. The Program also helps institutions with living animal collections, such as zoos and aquariums that do not have an assessment of the animals’ physical conditions and habitats. Institutions with fully surveyed living animal collections may assess the conservation needs of their material collections only. Botanic gardens and arboretums may assess the conservation needs of both their living and material collections. Additional information can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $3,000 To $7,000 | Contact Info: INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, Sara Gonzales, Coordinator, CAP, Heritage Preservation, 1012 14th St. NW , Suite 1200, Washington , DC, 20005, Ph: 202-233-0800, Send Email, Visit Website, Institute of Museum and Library Services: 1800 M St. NW, 9th Floor, Washington DC 20036; 202-653-4657; 202-653-4600; www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/conservAssessment.shtm

Monday, August 2, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 2, 2010



Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15
We’re still waiting on a response to our survey regarding bus rental to New Iberia from a few of you. Please let me know if you need me to resend the survey link.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 2 - 6, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY Cary – Conway (Community Development Institute Board Meeting)
TUESDAY Mark, Susan, Nancy – Rogers (work with merchants)
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Cary – Conway (CDI), Ft. Worth (meet with new National Trust President)
FRIDAY
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
AR Community Development Society Accepting Awards Applications
In-Kind Advertising for Non-Profits from Google
Green Arkansas Travel
Grant Program to Support Green Technology in Arkansas
Urbanized – the Documentary


Arkansas Community Development Society Accepting Awards Applications
The purpose of this award of merit is to provide recognition of successful programs and projects taking place in Arkansas communities, and to promote best practices in community development across the state. Nominations are due September 27. You can find the nomination forms here and more information about the awards here

In-kind advertising for non-profit organizations
http://www.google.com/grants/
Google Grants is a unique in-kind donation program awarding free AdWords advertising to select charitable organizations. We support organizations sharing our philosophy of community service to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts.

New Arkansas Tourism Website
www.GreenArkansasTravel.com

Grant Program to Support Green Tech in Arkansas
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=123003
The Arkansas Energy Office, a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, announced Tuesday a $2.7 million grant program to support the improvement and continued growth of "green" technology companies in Arkansas.

Urbanized – the Documentary
http://www.urbanizedfilm.com/
Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? Unlike many other fields of design, cities aren't created by any one specialist or expert. There are many contributors to urban change, including ordinary citizens who can have a great impact improving the cities in which they live. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized will frame a global discussion on the future of cities.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 26, 2010




Destination Downtown Conference – September 13-15

Main Street Arkansas Calendar July 26 - 30, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Cary – West Memphis (Your Town & Kitchen Incubator planning)
WEDNESDAY Mark, Susan – Rogers (site visits with merchants)
THURSDAY Mark, Susan – Rogers (site visits with merchants)
FRIDAY
*********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Awards
Reach Customers in 140 Characters
3 Grant Opportunities



Keep Arkansas Beautiful Awards
The July 31 deadline for cities to submit entries for the third annual Arkansas Shine Awards is almost here! This program of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (KAB) honors communities that have adopted a comprehensive approach to keeping their hometowns clean and green.

Reach Customers in 140 Characters, All of Them Free
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/business/smallbusiness/27sbiz.html?ref=smallbusiness

FORD FOUNDATION (09/17/10)
The Foundation’s Space for Change supports a new generation of arts spaces in the United States. The Program’s Planning and Pre-Development grants are administered by Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC). Grants will provide support for critical planning and pre-development activities that may precede partnering in or leading a facility project. Nonprofit arts organizations with strong track records of artistic excellence, who are intending to buy, build, renovate, partner in the development of, or become anchor tenants in a vibrant artist space can apply for up to $100,000 in support of a facility project. The deadline is for letters of inquiry for the final grant round. Additional information including an online letter of inquiry form can be found on the LINC Web site. | Avg. Grant: $100,000 | Contact Info: FORD FOUNDATION , Rise Wilson, Leveraging Investments in Creativity, Attn: Planni, 237 W. 35th St., Suite 1202, New York, NY , 10001, Ph: 646-731-3275, Visit Website

Museum Collections Projects Supported
American Heritage Preservation Program

The purpose of the American Heritage Preservation Program, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in partnership with Bank of America, is to fund the preservation of treasures held in small and mid-sized museums, libraries, and archives throughout the United States. Grants of up to $3,000 are available for the purpose of preserving specific items, including works of art, artifacts, and historical documents that are in need of conservation. Projects in the following areas are eligible for funding: treatment of library, museum, and archival collections; improvement of collections storage; and environmental improvement of collections. These grants are not intended to fund a small portion of a larger project, but are aimed at completing a stand-alone conservation project. The final application deadline for this program is September 15, 2010. Visit the IMLS website to download the grant program guidelines.

Grants Enhance Company Communities
Ameriprise Financial Community Relations Program

The Ameriprise Financial Community Relations Program is committed to giving back to company communities throughout the United States by supporting nonprofit organizations whose shared goal is to improve the lives of individuals from all walks of life. The company's community outreach focuses on three key priorities: The Meeting Basic Needs category focuses on programs that help at-risk populations stabilize their lives and become more self-sufficient. The Supporting Community Vitality category promotes programs that build strong communities by creating economic vitality and cultural enrichment. The Volunteer Driven Causes category provides grants to nonprofit organizations where company employees, advisors, or retirees volunteer. Requests are reviewed three times per year. The upcoming deadline is September 1, 2010. Visit the company’s website to submit an online application.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 19, 2010

Main Street Arkansas Calendar July 19 - 23, 2010
**********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Quarterly Training – Paragould
WEDNESDAY Quarterly Training – Paragould
THURSDAY Quarterly Training – Paragould
FRIDAY
**********************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:

Main Street Matters in Community Development
CNNMoney Rates Rogers 10th Best Place to Live
AR Arts Council Needs Your Help
Reinventing the Parking Lot
Walking: Not Just for Cities Anymore
Multi-Use Downtown Development Puts Malls to Shame


Main Street Matters in Community Development
http://newfoundnation.com/2010/04/07/main-street-matters-in-community-development/
- this is kinda meta as I’m sorta quoting myself, but it’s a big deal to me that Rex Nelson said I “hit the nail on the head”. I’m a huge fan of his blog & Saturday Democrat-Gazette columns. Read his blog at http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/

CNNMoney Rates Rogers 10th Best Place to Live in the U.S. (note the photo is of downtown)
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/100-best-places-to-live-in-america-2010-edition

The Arkansas Arts Council Needs Your Help
The AAC is conducting a statewide survey to seek input that will help us determine how to serve you better in the years to come. Your response will help us continue to advance the arts in Arkansas. All collected responses are confidential.
http://www.arkansasarts.org/news/default.aspx?id=193

Reinventing the Parking Lot
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1990806,00.html

Walking, Not Just for Cities Anymore
http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0709_walkable_spaces_leinberger.aspx

Multi-Use Downtown Development Puts Malls to Shame
http://citiwire.net/post/2133/

Monday, July 12, 2010

Students' street art livens up downtown Ozark




Ozark Middle schoolers' murals, done in the style of urban street art, adorn several vacant building storefronts in downtown Ozark. Their art teacher, Nancy McKenzie, helped create the mural program to liven up the long-ignored buildings, and spark new interest in downtown properties with cartoon bubbles that read, "This location rocks!"

While school's out for the summer, Cindy Garmo, another local artist and active member on the Main Street Ozark Design Committee, will continue the mural program with her own creations.