Main Street Arkansas Update - October 31, 2011

Historic Downtown Dumas

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 31 – November 4, 2011
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MONDAY - Cary, Mark- off
TUESDAY - Cary, Mark- off
WEDNESDAY - Cary, Mark, Greg- off, Susan & Samantha – Pine Bluff
THURSDAY - Cary, Mark, Greg- off
FRIDAY - Mark, Greg- off

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THIS ISSUE:
South Main to host 2011 Cornbread Festival
Three Main Street cities recognized as Main Street Preservation Cities of Distinction
The Reality TV Approach to Public Participation
Grant Opportunities
Three weeks remain to submit applications to the AIA’s 2012 Sustainable Design Assessment
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South Main to host 2011 Cornbread Festival
http://www.thebernicegarden.org/2011/07/cornbread-festival-set-for-november-5th-calling-all-arkansans/

Three Main Street cities recognized as Main Street Preservation Cities of Distinction
http://www.pageturnpro.com/Arkansas-Business-Group/32107-Arkansas-Business-City-of-Distinction-2011/index.html#/12

The Reality TV Approach to Public Participation
Urban planning professors from the University of Kansas suggest that televising community meetings and using techniques from reality TV could significantly increase public participation.
http://www.news.ku.edu/2011/october/28/realitytv.shtml

Grant Opportunities
The National Endowment for the Humanities offers planning and implementation of historical and cultural exhibits or other project formats that creatively engage audience in humanities idea.
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=SvDTTnxNQrLbL6pyfxLmyGXksLNGL9vcJyNSxyDnt4vbND7Gm1Lc!-102435184?oppId=129114&mode=VIEW

The National Endowment for the Humanities also offers another grant opportunity through the Division of Public Programs America’s Media Makers grant. Grants are available for projects that encourage dialogue, discussion, and civic engagement, and foster learning among people of all ages.
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=qz5MTnMVDR92cLdGJr2BCXZ61fyFKf8qYfGGG2Jh6xXD3n2bpVb4!-102435184?oppId=129115&mode=VIEW

Three weeks remain to submit applications to the AIA’s 2012 Sustainable Design Assesssment Program

http://www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS075425

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 17, 2011

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MONDAY Cary (NTHP Conference), Susan - Rogers & Bentonville (site visits), Greg- off

TUESDAY Cary (NTHP Conference), Susan - Rogers & Bentonville (site visits), Greg- off

WEDNESDAY Cary (NTHP Conference), Susan - Rogers & Bentonville (site visits), Greg- off

Mark & Samantha – Helena (board meeting)

THURSDAY Cary (NTHP Conference), Greg- off

FRIDAY Cary (NTHP Conference), Greg- off

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Eureka Springs Downtown Network host free blogging for Business 101 Class

Paragould business owners recognized

Russellville Downtown Rendezvous

New Technologies Increase Citizen Investment In Cities

Three Keys to Creating Great “Good Places”

Small Business Saturday

Find your city or county municpal codes online

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Eureka Springs Downtown Network host free blogging for Business 101 Class

Stephanie McCratic, Social Media Developer for The Belford Group, will be teaching a Blogging for Business 101 class for the Eureka Springs Downtown Network. This is for anyone interested in getting started blogging for their business or who need a kick start. Learn about how to get started, what to do, and what to expect.For more information, click here.

Paragould business owners recognized

http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2011/10/02/local_news/doc4e86418311a0f240392854.txt

Russellville Downtown Rendezvous

http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/15999576/article-Downtown-rendezvous?instance=top_news

New Technologies Increase Citizen Investment in Cities

A recent Pew Research study revealed that 58% of 25-34 year old Americans own smartphones, and communicate with each other and their city governments in new ways. Learn how you can increase engagement with mobile technologies.

http://americancityandcounty.com/technology/mobile-citizen-engagement-20111012/

Three Keys to Creating Great “Good Places”

The liveliest public spaces share a few core ingredients.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665202/3-keys-to-creating-great-good-places

Small Business Saturday

Mark your calendars for November 26 is Small Business Saturday. As the movement grows, find out how you can take advantage of the Big Event.
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/small-business-saturday-1869/

Find your city or county municipal codes online

http://www.municode.com/

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 10, 2011

Make Plans to Attend the Arkansas Community Development Society’s Annual Conference – October 19, Conway, AR. Agenda & more information here

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 10 - 14, 2011

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MONDAY Cary & Sam – Texarkana (program visioning); Susan – Blytheville & Osceola (merchant visits)

TUESDAY Cary & Sam – Texarkana (program visioning)

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY Susan – annual

FRIDAY Cary & Susan – annual

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Great Main Street Siloam Springs Vide

Main Street Paragould Press

Facebook to Offer $50 Ad Credit for Small Biz

8 Amazing Facts About Downtowns

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal

2 Grant Opportunities

RFP Mayors’ Institute on Design

Great Main Street Siloam Springs Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnblrM5Xw6E

Main Street Paragould’s Octoberfest

http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2011/10/02/top_story/doc4e8640e2b234e670177658.txt

MSP Gives Awards

http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2011/10/02/local_news/doc4e86418311a0f240392854.txt

Facebook To Offer $50 Ad Credit for Small Biz in Jan

http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-launches-program-small-businesses-pages-ads/230038/

8 Amazing Facts About Downtowns

http://www.destinationdevelopment.com/2011/06/02/8-amazing-facts-about-downtowns/

Anatomy of a Grant Proposal

http://www2.guidestar.org/rxa/news/articles/2011/anatomy-of-a-grant-proposal.aspx?hq_e=el&hq_m=1333760&hq_l=7&hq_v=fd3771e936

Community Enhancement Programs Funded
Office Depot Foundation
The Office Depot Foundation supports nonprofit organizations, government agencies, libraries, and schools on a local and national scale that bring systemic change to the communities they serve. The Foundation provides grants averaging $1,000 in three distinct categories. The focus of the “Making a Difference in Children’s Lives” category is on activities that serve, teach, and inspire children, youth, and families. The “Building Communities” category targets civic organizations and activities that serve the needs of company communities. The purpose of the “Disaster Relief” category is to support the relief efforts of recognized local, regional, and national agencies. Priority is given to organizations that participate in the Office Depot Foundation Leadership Network. Requests are reviewed monthly. Visit the Foundation’s website to review the grant application guidelines and take the eligibility survey.

http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=354600044

KaBOOM! Offers Let's Play Spruce Grants for Playground Maintenance

With support from Dr Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! is awarding grants of $750 to communities that wish to make their playgrounds cleaner, safer, and more inviting.

Let's Play Spruce grants are designed to reward communities that have maintained and "spruced up" their playspaces since their playground build. Communities must demonstrate that they have maintained their playspace and have led an improvement project in the last sixty days.

Selected communities will receive a $750 gift card to further enhance or improve their playspace. Gift cards also can be used to refill the playground's wood fiber playground surfacing.

Applications will be accepted throughout the year; however the priority deadline is October 15, 2011.

Visit the KaBOOM! Web site for complete program guidelines and application requirements.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

Hat Tip to National Trust Main Street Center for this one:

Funding for Microbreweries. If you have an interested entrepreneur in your town, tell them about the Samuel Adams small business loans and financial business education seminars. Learn more.

Request for Proposals--Governors' Institute for Community Design
EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities is seeking proposals to fund one applicant to operate the Governors' Institute for Community Design. The institute will select and work with interested state leaders to deliver technical assistance to implement smart growth and sustainable community development approaches.

Application deadline: December 5, 2011

Main Street Arkansas Update - October 3, 2011

Make Plans to Attend the Arkansas Community Development Society’s Annual Conference – October 19, Conway, AR. Agenda & more information here

Main Street Arkansas Calendar October 3 - 7, 2011
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MONDAY Susan – out
TUESDAY Cary – Ft. Smith; Susan – out
WEDNESDAY Susan – Dumas (merchant visit)
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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Walnut Ridge in the WSJ
Main Street Searcy: Get Down Downtown
Downtown Batesville: Living the Landers
Main Street Russellville Hosts Tech Downtown
MSR Sets Masterplan Public Input
Watch CharityBuzz.com Founders’ Speech in LR
SBA Seeks Noms for Small Biz Awards
Reclaim Your Alleys
AHPP to Host National Register Training

Walnut Ridge Makes the WSJ
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904106704576578662518738784.html

Main Street Searcy Get Down Downtown Press:
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/sep/29/searcy-ready-get-down-downtown-20110929/?news-arkansas

Living the Landers
http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1762769.html

MSR Hosts New Students Downtown
http://www.arkansastechnews.com/index.php/university-news/5164-destination-downtown-coming-soon

Main Street Russellville Sets Masterplan Public Input
http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/15642682/article-Stakeholder--public-meetings-set-for-downtown-master-plan

Watch the CharityBuzz.com Founder’s Speech at the Clinton School
http://www.clintonschoolspeakers.com/lecture/view/charitybuzz-do-good-live-well/

SBA Seeks Nominations for Small Business Awards
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?zone=AB%255FENEWS%255FSmallBusiness&lID=&sID=&ms=&cID=k&aID=128530.54928.140655

Reclaim Your Alleys
http://daily.sightline.org/2011/08/26/alley-alley-in-come-free-2/

AHPP OFFERS FREE NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION TRAINING
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will offer a free training session Wednesday, October 12, for anyone interested in nominating a property to the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of historically significant sites, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.
The training session will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Room 170 of the Tower Building at 323 Center Street in Little Rock. The session will include background information on the National Register, the criteria for listing properties on the National Register, and instruction on completing a successful National Register application.
For more information on the free session, call the AHPP at (501) 324-9880 [TDD 501-324-9811] or send an e-mail message to ralph at arkansasheritage.org. Registration is limited to the first 20 applicants.