Monday, July 18, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 18, 2011



Historic Downtown Osceola


As we mentioned last week in Ozark, if you are interested in producing an ice skating event in your community this winter, please contact Sandy Key.

Destination Downtown September 12-14; Tupelo, MS

Main Street Arkansas Calendar July 18 - 22, 2011
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MONDAY Mark – South Main (merchant visits)
TUESDAY Mark, Susan – Rogers (merchant visits) ; Greg, Samantha – Monticello & New Edinburg
WEDNESDAY Mark, Susan – Rogers (merchant visits) ; Greg, Samantha – Helena
THURSDAY Greg – DeWitt; Susan – Osceola (merchant visits)
FRIDAY Susan – Osceola (merchant visits)
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG)
Companies Head Back Downtown
Downtown Beating the Suburbs
Too Busy for Social Marketing Could Be Fatal
Post Office Offers Discounts for QR Codes on Biz Mail


As promised in Ozark
Rural Business Opportunity Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=ntD0TfBhk2KSQH1rFQPKzq4G6v9dqVLV34G5hD5vcZfq29lylpyh!-1346687983?oppId=102914&mode=VIEW

The USDA Rural Development's Rural Business Opportunity Grant program has $2.5 million available for proposals that support job creation and sustainable, economic development strategies in regions with exceptional needs Applications are due August 1.

Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact a Rural Development State Office for further information and copies of the application package. Applications may be submitted in electronic or
paper format. Electronic applications must be submitted through http://www.grants.gov by following the directions posted for the RBOG program. Paper applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the State where your project is located or, in the case of multi-state projects, in the State where the majority of the work will be conducted.

USDA Rural Development State Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200/TDD (501) 301-3279.

Companies Head Back Downtown
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/07/14/companies-head-back-downtown/

The suburban office market, a sector dominated by corporate office parks near highways, is being left in the dust by the recovery of major U.S. downtown
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304584404576442121473072328.html

Too Busy For Social Marketing Could Be Fatal
http://www.businessinsider.com/too-busy-for-social-media-marketing-could-be-fatal-2011-7

POST OFFICE OFFERS DISCOUNT FOR USING QR CODES ON BUSINESS MAIL
by Gwen Green, Communication Coordinator, UALR Lead Center
The U.S. Postal Service's Mobile Barcode Promotion for July and August offers business mailers a 3% discount on first-class and standard mail letters and flats that include a QR (quick response) code, a two-dimensional mobile barcode. According to the Postal Service, the promotion "is intended to build awareness of mobile technology and demonstrate to mailers how mobile barcodes can increase the value of mail."

To qualify for the discount, business mailers must use the barcodes to "initiate interaction with consumers via mobile smartphones to market, promote, or educate," and when scanned, the barcode must direct consumers to information relevant to the mailpiece's content. For additional guidelines and information, visit your local post office or see http://delivermagazine.com/mobilebarcodepromotion/.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 5, 2011






Main Street Arkansas Calendar July 4-8, 2011
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MONDAY office closed
TUESDAY Susan – Paragould & Rector
WEDNESDAY Cary & Greg – Helena
THURSDAY Susan – Osceola
FRIDAY
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IN THIS ISSUE:
SoMa REQ for Mural
Main Street Searcy Call for Recipes
Main Street Blytheville Press
Main Street Paragould Press
Non-Profit Secretary of State Reports Due Aug 31
Historic Preservation as a Spectator Sport
Grant Opportunity
Arkansas/China Business Summit


Southside Main Street Project (SoMa) in Little Rock will begin accepting responses to a Request for Qualification beginning July 1, 2011 from artists interested in designing a new mural. The mural, which will be selected by the SoMa Wall Mural Design Committee, will find a home on the wall of the United Systems of Arkansas Building owned by Glenn Petkovzek located at 1201 S. Main Street. Costs for the project are expected to range from $10,000 to $15,000. The application deadline is August 31, 2011. The mural project was originated by local businesses and residents wanting to increase SoMa's unique identity, its cultural cohesiveness and contribute to its public art. The mural project will compliment other artistic ventures in the area such as The Bernice Garden. If you would like a copy of the RFQ, it can be obtained online here or by emailing a request. If you are interested in making a contribution towards this project, please mail your donations to SoMa, P.O. Box 165494, Little Rock, AR 72216. For more information about this project, contact SoMa at 501.410.4875.

More SoMa News:
http://arkansasmatters.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=438207

Attention all Main Street Searcy Businesses, Supporters, Volunteers and Committee Members:

Main Street Searcy is seeking additional recipes for our cookbook! If you would like to see your recipes published in the Main Street Searcy cookbook, please submit them by with your name by Wednesday, July 6.

Mail: P.O. Box 1127, Searcy, AR 72145
Email: mainstreetsearcy at sbcglobal.net

Main Street Blytheville’s Farmers’ Market a Success
http://www.couriernews.net/story/1738312.html?response=no

Main Street Paragould Press
http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2011/06/30/local_news/doc4e0ba5e51b227299175279.txt

Annual Report to Arkansas Secretary of State due August 1, 2011

It is time for the Annual Report to the AR Sectretary of State's office. The report is due August 1, 2011. It is a requirement for all nonprofits registered in Arkansas. This year, there are two new questions on the report as a result of ACE's advocacy work with the Secretary of State's Office. You --our members and nonprofit friends-- have asked for a way to get a clear list of nonprofits in Arkansas. The best practice in states across the country is to have a list accessible through the Secretary of State's office since all nonprofits file their updated contacted information annually with the office.

To make this possible, we need to help the Secretary of State's office make this possible! Please take a few minutes and complete the questions. Note 1) whether or not you are registered with the IRS as a nonprofit and 2) that you are a 501 c(3) organization with a charitable purpose. This will help ALL charitable nonprofits in our state!!!

Currently, the Secretary of State's office groups all nonprofits whether 501 c(3), c(4), c(6) or otherwise in their database. When someone requests a list of Arkansas nonprofits from the Secretary of State's office, they get a list of ALL nonprofits even if they request charitable nonprofits only. Also, they get a list of organizations registered with the state but not necessarily with the IRS. The two optional questions asks for type of exemption---this means are you a c(3), c(4), c(6) or other. Secondly, it asks if you are registered with the IRS. Some nonprofits stop with the IRS and do not go through the full tax exempt process.

You will receive a form from the Secretary of State's office this week. See the form here. You can also complete the form online, though there are a few tweaks still being made to the online process. Contact ACE with any questions at (501) 375-1223. Thanks!


Has Historic Preservation Become a Spectator Sport?
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110628/OPINION04/306280003/Charles-Birnbaum-Has-historic-preservation-become-spectator-sport-

Grant Opportunity
Choice Neighborhood Initiative Planning Grant
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=98093&mode=VIEW

2011 Arkansas & China Business and Economic Summit
University of Central Arkansas, Acxiom and Wal-Mart present the inaugural Arkansas and China Business and Economic Summit. This annual event will provide executives and entrepreneurs a forum to network and share business experiences related to China and opportunities to establish new business relationships. Guest speakers include U.S. multi-national corporations, United States and Chinese commerce officials/diplomats, and Chinese research scholars.
University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, Arkansas 72035
College of Business Building
July 21, 2011
8 AM -- 4:30 PM

Register online: www.uca.edu/chinasummit
Registration: $90
Before July 8: $50
Major Credit Cards are accepted!