As many of you know, I will be out of the office from May 15 – June 24. I am fortunate to be chosen as a member of a Rotary Group Study Exchange team that will visit central Italy during that period. I am very grateful to my bosses for allowing me to be gone such an extended period of time. I’m also grateful to our staff that will pick up the slack in my absence. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to check my email during my absence and it’s cost prohibitive to take a cell phone. If you’re interested, I’ll be blogging about my travels at: http://rotary6150gse2010.blogspot.com/ when there’s Internet availability.
Next Quarterly Meeting – July 21-22. Details to follow
Main Street Arkansas Calendar May 10-14, 2010
*********************************************************************************
MONDAY
TUESDAY Tourism Rally, State Capitol
WEDNESDAY Advisory Board Meeting – New ADN city selection
THURSDAY Most Endangered Places Announcement/Preservation Libations
FRIDAY Caroline – out
**********************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
Great KATV Video Coverage of Downtown Helena
Loan Fund Designated to Boost Revitalization of Downtown Helena
IRS Regs Change for NonProfits
Main Street Hardy/MSA Press
Formation of a Council of Arkansas NonProfits
Nominate Outstanding Volunteers
Back to the City/Cul de Sacs
Farmers Market Stuff
Conference Scholarship Opportunity
6 Grant Opportunities
Great Coverage of Downtown/Main Street Helena http://cfc.katv.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=64500&cat=fun Loan Fund Designed to Boost Downtown Revitalization of Helena/West Helenahttp://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/br/articles/?id=1947 - property must be listed on or qualify for the National Register of Historic Places
Write Soon, Says the IRS http://bit.ly/a8Lst6 Arkansas Democrat Gazette article. Subscriber Only, Sorry
This article reminds us that all non-profits, regardless of income, must file their taxes by May 15. This is a significant IRS change as organization revenues under $25,000 once did not have to file. If an organization hasn’t filed their returns in three years, they could lose their non-profit status.
More on this from the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence On May 15th 3863 of nonprofits in Arkansas will lose their tax-exempt status. Will your nonprofit be one of them? The Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics has developed a simple tool to find out if you need to file:
http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/statePicker.php?prog=epostcard&display=state Don’t throw away your tax exemption – Last Chance
Main Street Hardy/Main Street Arkansas Presshttp://www.villageronline.com/story/1630441.html Formation of a Council of Arkansas Non Profits The Arkansas Coalition for Excellence is organizing councils in five regions of Arkansas, which will be local roundtable discussion forums linking nonprofit organizations, businesses, government, and the community.
If you are interested in participating, or would like more information, please contact Joe Schafer, ACE Education Director, by E-mail to jschafer at acenonprofit.org or call 501-993-7932.
Nominate Outstanding Volunteers The awards nomination deadline has been extended! You now have until Friday, May 14th to nominate outstanding volunteers for their work on our public lands! So if you know an outstanding public lands volunteer, work with a committed nonprofit in your efforts to preserve and protect our shared spaces, or are a member of an organization that participates in public lands volunteering, please consider submitting a nomination.
Winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington D.C. scheduled for Friday, July 16, 2010. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.
Back to the City http://hbr.org/2010/05/back-to-the-city/ar/1 The Unintended Consequences of Cul de Sacs (or as I call them, Cul de Sucks)
http://hbr.org/2010/05/back-to-the-city/sb1 Economic Impact of Farmers' Markets in Mississippihttp://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2582.html Farmers' Market Manager Training Manual AvailableWith funding from a three-year SARE Professional Development grant, the Farmers' Market Federation of New York used market experiences and research to develop an innovative new "Farmers' Market Manager Training Manual (PDF/7MB)." The manual describes the role of market managers and provides checklists, sample policies, worksheets, and other hands-on tools to help managers start markets, build market communities, and harness the power of these communities to sustain the markets and their local food systems.
The NTHP has an excellent track record for considering all types of diversity for their scholarships – from gender to geography & beyond. With the conference so close geographically, I urge you to consider this option. THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2010 DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM The Diversity Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to community leaders from diverse backgrounds to attend the National Preservation Conference, to be held next in Austin, Texas, October 27-30, 2010.
The Program provides financial assistance to approximately 60 community leaders from diverse socio-economic, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to attend the National Preservation Conference. Through interactive sessions, presentations, informal gatherings, and tours of the host city and surrounding areas, participants will learn the necessary tools to strengthen their commitment and effectiveness in preserving historic places and revitalizing communities.
The National Trust seeks culturally diverse applicants whose attendance at the Conference will benefit their communities and whose commitment to historic preservation will be reinforced by their participation. Recipients will have an opportunity to express their perspectives during the Conference and to take advantage of National Trust programs after the Conference.
For program and application information, please visit
http://www.preservationnation.org/resources/training/npc/diversity-scholarship-program/or contact scholarship at nthp.org
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BY TUESDAY, JUNE 1
FORD FOUNDATION (09/17/10)
With the Space for Change Planning and Pre-Development grants, the Foundation has launched a 10-year, $100 million initiative to support a new generation of arts spaces nationwide. In partnership with Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) and the MetLife Foundation, the Ford Foundation will provide support for critical planning and pre-development activities that may precede partnering in or leading a facility project. Organizations with a strong track record 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. A wide range of facilities are eligible for support including work- and/or live-work space for artists; performance facilities; rehearsal spaces; gallery spaces; community arts and educational facilities; and any other types of spaces where artists work, where art works are made or presented, or where educational activities associated with the arts and involving artists take place. Additional information can be found on the Web site. | Avg. Grant: $100,000 | Contact Info: FORD FOUNDATION, Rise Wilson, LINC, Attn: Planning and Pre-Development Grants, 237 W. 35th St., Suite 1202, New York, NY , 10001, Ph: 646-731-3275, Visit Website
Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation Grant The Foundation’s mission is to build strong and vibrant communities, improve the quality of life, and make a positive difference. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on the following areas: education, community development, health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and civic life. Education grants should eliminate the pre-K-12 “achievement gap” in education through public school-sponsored or facilitated curriculum based programs; advance teaching through teacher recruitment, professional development, support, and retention; and facilitate merit-based access to higher education for underrepresented groups. Community development grants support the creation and sustaining of affordable housing, revitalize low- to moderate-income neighborhoods; facilitate job creation, workforce development, and financial literacy/empowerment; and provide economic development for minority and underserved groups and/or low- to moderate-income areas. Health and human services grants seek to enable and sustain independence for individuals and families and ensure access to both health education programs and quality health care. Arts and culture grants facilitate access to and participation in cultural experiences for those with low- to moderate income; and ensure the availability of a broad array of artistic opportunities/venues that reflect the diversity of the community. Environment grants support programs where preservation is the primary purpose and conservation of natural resources, endangered species, and the global environment are priorities. Civic grants support organizations that enhance a community’s quality of life. All applicants must take an eligibility quiz found on the Web site. The Foundation accepts applications for national grants but for grants requests from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, and Texas must apply through Wells Fargo’s Corporate Giving site. Additional information can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $5,000 To $100,000 | Contact Info: Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, Georgette (Gigi) Dixon, 301 S. College St., MAC D1053-251, Charlotte, NC, 28202, Ph: 704-715-8579, Send Email, Visit Website
Georgia Pacific Grant The Foundation supports a wide range of organizations that improve the quality of life in communities where the Company operates, and where the Company employees live and work. The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on what it calls the four Es: Education, Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Community Enrichment. Community enrichment grants include support for affordable housing and cultural programs. Environmental grants support resource conservation and clean air/clean water. Entrepreneurship grants target youth, women, and minorities. Company communities can be found in Alabama, Nevada, Arkansas, New Jersey, Arizona, New Hampshire, California, New Mexico, Delaware, New York, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Oklahoma, Illinois, Oregon, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington, Michigan, West Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Wyoming, and Mississippi. Applicants are asked to complete the eligibility survey found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $1,000 To $5,000 | Contact Info: GEORGIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION , Visit Website
Conservation Fund Accepting Entries for Kodak American Greenways ProgramEastman Kodak Company, the Conservation Fund, and the National Geographic Society invite organizations working to create or improve a greenway, trail, or waterway to apply for a Kodak American Greenways Award grant.
The program invites land trusts, local governments, and other organizations to submit proposals for small greenway project grants. Funded projects typically advance one or more of the program goals — catalyzing new greenway projects, assisting grassroots greenway organizations, leveraging additional money for conservation and greenway development, and promoting use and enjoyment of greenways.
For 2010, the program anticipates awarding up to 50 percent of the grants to greenways projects that involve natural, cultural, and/or socio-political historical themes. Previous recipients have undertaken projects that included an addition to the historic Lewis and Clark Trail, the conversion of an abandoned rail line into a multi-use public trail along the historic Mission Zanja irrigation canal, and the construction of a trail connecting historically black colleges and universities in Tennessee.
Most grants will range from $500 to $1,000 each, with no grant exceeding $2,500.
Visit the Conservation Fund Web site for complete program information.
Contact:
Link to Complete RFP
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Issues Request for Proposals on Energy Efficiency Retrofit Policies and ProgramsThe Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has announced a call for proposals related to innovative, scalable strategies for energy efficiency retrofit programs or policies that address the existing building stock in the United States.
Funding priorities include but are not limited to sustainable and scalable business models for implementing energy efficiency retrofits; policies or programs that seek to advance aggregation of disparate or fragmented opportunities in energy efficiency retrofits to increase the energy savings potential; innovative financing models and other mechanisms to ease upfront costs of efficiency improvements or increase the attractiveness of investments in energy efficiency; policies or programs to secure greater energy efficient performance in buildings such as through benchmarking or improved operations and management; policies or programs to drive deep energy efficiency retrofits in existing buildings; policies or programs to address split incentives; and mechanisms to increase the effectiveness of and property owner participation in state, local, utility-sponsored, or privately-sponsored energy efficiency programs (proposed partnerships between such programs and applicants for DDCF support are encouraged.
Proposals may be targeted to any particular barrier or segment of the buildings market (e.g., office, commercial, institutional, retail, residential, single-family, or multi-family). Research to help formulate programs or policies to address barriers is eligible as long as the path to implementation or adoption is clear.
The foundation will invite full proposals based on from pre-proposals, with grant l ranging from $100,000 to $350,000 each. Up to a total of $3 million in grants will be awarded.
Applicants must be U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.
For more information and an online application from, visit the DDCF Web site.
Contact:
Link to Complete RFP
Keep America Beautiful Announces 2010 Graffiti Hurts Grant ProgramKeep America Beautiful has begun its 2010 Graffiti Hurts Grant Program, which offers three grants of $2,500 each to help communities step up their local graffiti-prevention activities.
This year's program will present one grant to a community with a population under 75,000, one to a community with between 75,000 and 250,000 residents, and one to a community with more than 250,000 residents. The funds must be used for projects that will be initiated in fall 2010 and completed no later than December 31, 2011.
Local governments, police departments, youth groups, downtown associations, crime prevention organizations, and other groups dedicated to eradicating graffiti vandalism are encouraged to apply. Proposed projects can address graffiti prevention and education, eradication, or enforcement of local anti-graffiti laws. Programs that include prevention initiatives n and engage and educate youth are encouraged to apply.
Program information and application are available at the Graffiti Hurts Web site.
Contact:
Link to Complete RFP
In the early 1900s, elephants paraded down 
The city of 
The Jefferson Coffee Shop, a popular spot in the 1930s, had a unique Mediterranean-influenced exterior, featuring a turret and a low-angle roofline, accented with corbelled brickwork and tiles. Entering the arched front doorway, one stepped into a beautiful interior of medallion-patterned floor tiles, a long counter lined with stools, and café tables dotted with fresh bouquets of flowers. Next to the front register was a display case of premium choice cigars. 
Posts
