Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 27, 2011




Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 27 – July 1, 2011
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MONDAY Cary – off
TUESDAY Cary – off
WEDNESDAY Susan – Helena
THURSDAY
FRIDAY Greg – off
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Snapps donate building for pocket park to house Beatles sculpture in Walnut Ridge
If Every Family Spent $10 A Month Locally, We Would All Feel Better About The Economy
Do you know who your Arkansas Travel writers are?
Grant Opportunity for Farmer’s Markets
Workshop in Fayettevile on the composition of nonprofit oversight: strategic, tactical, and visionary.


Snapps donate building for pocket park to house Beatles sculpture in Walnut Ridge

Charles Snapp oulines planned changes to two buildings he and his wife, Jackie, have purchased and docated to the Downtown Walnut Ridge organization. Brett Cooper, a member of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee, said the two buildings will be renovated into a pocket park to display The Beatles sculpture being planned as one of two attractions in the downtown area. http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2011-06-22/news/story5.php

If Every Family Spent $10 A Month Locally, We Would All Feel Better About The Economy

Just think. If every family in the country spent just $10 a month with a locally-owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $9.3 billion* would be directly returned to local economies. That means better schools, better roads, more support for police, fire and rescue departments and stronger local economies. Find out what kind of economic impact you could make by doing the same in your metro area. http://www.independentwestand.org/spend_local/

Do you know who your Arkansas Travel writers are?
http://www.visitmyarkansas.com/default.aspx

Grant Opportunity for Farmer’s Markets
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) was created through an amendment of the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976. The grants, administered by the FMPP, are targeted to agriculture programs, agri-tourism, activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Approximately $5 million is allocated for FMPP for Fiscal Year 2010 and $10 million for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The maximum amount awarded for any one proposal cannot exceed associations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities and Tribal governments. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/fmpp

Workshop in Fayettevile on the composition of nonprofit oversight: strategic, tactical, and visionary.
One of the primary components missing from any organization’s strategic plan (if they have one) is an implementation phase; in other words, between staff and board, who’s responsible for what and when will specific objectives be accomplished. In this course, led by Maxie Carpenter, you will learn that the reason for this is a lack of understanding of the following three things;
1. Strategy and what it really looks like.
2. The difference between strategy and tactics.
3. How vision is the underpinning of the entire process.

About Maxie Carpenter:
Maxie Carpenter is an independent consultant and advisor. He was formerly Vice President of the People & Training/Development Divisions for Wal-Mart Stores, benefiting from a 27+ year career. As President of MVC Advisory Resource, Inc, he brings an experiential corporate perspective to individuals and organizations across the country, assisting them with process management that includes, but is not limited to: Organizational Development / Culture / Ethics; Leading Change / Building Teams; Executive Coaching / Leadership Development / Training; Non-profit / For Profit Board Development.

Workshop Details: Thursday, July 7th. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Fayetteville Public Library, 401 West Mountain St., Fayetteville AR. Fee: $40 for ACE members/ $60 for non-members. This workshop is being presented by the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE) and the Fayetteville Public Library Nonprofit Resource Center. Register at: https://acenonprofit.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/register&id=10&reset=1

Monday, June 20, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 20, 2011



Historic Downtown Batesville

Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 20 -24, 2011
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MONDAY Greg – Eureka Springs
TUESDAY Greg – Eureka Springs; Cary – Russellville, Fayetteville; Mark, Susan – Rogers
WEDNESDAY Cary – Rogers, Eureka Springs
THURSDAY Cary – Harrison, Morrilton
FRIDAY Cary – off
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Main Street Batesville/Citizens Bank $1 Million Low-Interest Loan Pool Announced
Paragould Passes Sales Tax for Economic Development
A Logo Is Not A Brand
Grant Opportunity for Cooperative Development Centers
NPS TRCA Community Assistance Available
3 Grant Opportunities


Main Street Batesville/Citizens Bank $1 Million Low-Interest Loan Pool Announced
Robb Roberts, Senior Vice President and Head of Lending at Citizens Bank, announces the banks plans to commit $1 million for loans that's designed to facilitate revitalization, beautification and business development in Batesville's downtown historic district. Citizens also is committing $15,000 for the remainder of 2011 in grant funds with a 3-1 match for aesthetic exterior improvements. http://youtu.be/RWlBfSYlLHQ

Paragould Passes Sales Tax for Economic Development
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.aspx?aid=127053

A Logo Is Not A Brand
http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2011/06/a-logo-is-not-a-brand.html

Grant Opportunity for Cooperative Development Centers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to help rural businesses create jobs through cooperative development centers. Under the RCDG program, grants of up to $225,000 may be awarded to colleges, universities and non-profit groups to create and operate centers that help individuals or groups establish, expand or operate rural businesses, especially cooperatives. Grants may be used to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, and help businesses develop new markets for their products and services. Funds may finance up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing and operating the cooperative centers. Recipients must match 25 percent of the total project cost. Applications are due July 22, 2011. For more information, see page 32943 of the June 7 Federal Register, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-06-07/pdf/2011-13927.pdf.

National Park Service RTCA Community Assistance Available
The NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) assists community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives. Communities throughout the United States are invited to apply for a full year of RTCA technical assistance. RTCA staff will provide guidance to selected communities to help them conserve waterways, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways.

THE 1675 FOUNDATION (10/01/11)
One of four Ware Family foundations created in 2004 upon the termination of the Oxford Foundation, this Foundation focuses its grantmaking on the following areas: health, human services, education, environment, and the arts. Health grants support access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured, behavioral and mental health, reproductive rights, and health research. Human services grants are awarded for programs and projects in food security, protection of the children and the elderly, and violence prevention and amelioration. Education grants seek to provide opportunities for educational enrichment for under-served children, early childhood education, and after-school programs. Land and water conservation/preservation is the priority of the environmental grants. Arts institutions and programs that provide access to and awareness of the arts are the priority of the arts grants. Grants are awarded to organizations located in Chester County, PA. Occasionally the trustees will make grants out of the area. Additional details can be found on the Web site. | Grant Range: $2,000 To $50,000 | Contact Info: THE 1675 FOUNDATION, Daphne Rowe, Executive Director, c/o Pembroke Philanthropy Advisors, 16 E. Lancaster Ave., Suite 102, Ardmore, PA, 19003, Ph: 610-896-3868, Visit Website

TKF Foundation Invites Planning Grant Applications for Urban Green Spaces

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=340800035

Tourism Cares Invites Letters of Inquiry for Worldwide Grants Program
Tourism Cares, a philanthropic organization of the tourism industry, works to preserve the travel experience for future generations. As part of this mission, the organization awards grants to preserve and facilitate access to important natural, cultural, and historic sites around the world.
In 2011, Tourism Cares will award grants of $10,000 to twelve organizations in two funding rounds. Letters of Inquiry are now being accepted for the second round. (Please note: In 2011, the worldwide grant application process will take place online only.)
Applicants must be organizations with nonprofit 501(c)(3) status (or the equivalent for non-U. S. organizations). Native American tribes that have U. S. government tax-exempt status are also eligible. Applications from organizations working with, or in, developing countries are welcome.
The physical site for which an applicant is requesting funding must be a tourism-related site with actual visitation (not projected future visitation) or a cultural, historic, or natural site of exceptional significance, defined as "critical to the interpretation of the local area, or essential to the maintenance of the history or culture of local indigenous peoples."
The project or program the organization is requesting funding for may be either a self-contained project, or an identifiable component of a larger project. The project or program must also involve one of the following: 1) brick-and-mortar capital improvements that help conserve, preserve, or restore the structures or its contents at the cultural, historic, or natural site; or 2) educational programs that will enhance the way the site is interpreted.
Visit the Tourism Cares Web site for complete program information and application procedures.
Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Monday, June 13, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 13, 2011


Historic Downtown Heber Springs

Nancy Update – Her surgery went well & she’s on the road to recovery. She’ll be back in 3-5 weeks. When we know more, we’ll let you know.


Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 13 -17, 2011
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MONDAY All Staff - Downtown Network Training – Heber Springs
TUESDAY All Staff - Downtown Network Training – Heber Springs
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY Samantha – Batesville (board meeting)
FRIDAY Susan – Paragould (merchant visits)
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Main Street Batesville Receives Grant
Main Street Helena Launches 2nd Saturdays
Arkansas Road Priorities
The Future of the Strip
Redesigned 990
Are Millennials Driving Downtown Corporate Relocations
Top 20 Events Publication



Main Street Batesville Receives Grant
http://www.guardonline.com/content/downtown-gets-2500

Main Street Helena To Launch 2nd Saturdays
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/newsnow/x530606149/Helena-to-launch-Second-Saturdays-June-11th

Arkansas Road Priorities
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/repair-priorities/arkansas

The Future of the Strip
http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2011/Mar/McMahonStrip

tip of the hat to our friend Stephanie Redman for this one
Redesigned 990
The Internal Revenue Service is accepting public comment on its redesigned Form 990, the annual reporting form used by tax-exempt entities (including many Main Street organizations). There are 11 specific categories of the 990 for which the IRS has invited comment.

If you or your communities are interested in commenting, please see the notice at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-11-36.pdf. Comments are due by August 1, 2011 and can be submitted by letter or email.

Are the Millennials Driving Downtown Corporate Relocations
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-avenue/89745/are-the-millennials-driving-downtown-corporate-relocations

Top 20 Events Publication
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:
January/February/March 2012 July 8, 2011
April/May/June 2012 October 7, 2011
July/August/September 2012 January 6, 2012
October/November/December 2012 April 6, 2012
January/February/March 2013 July 6, 2012
April/May/June 2013 October 5, 2012
July/August/September 2013 January 4, 2013
October/November/December 2013 April 5, 2013