Monday, March 26, 2012

Main Street Arkansas Update - March 26, 2012

Main Street Arkansas Calendar – March 26 - 30, 2012

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MONDAY Susan – Helena, Blytheville

TUESDAY Cary – speaking at Mid-South Basic Economic Development, UALR; Susan – Blytheville (merchant visits)

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY Susan – Batesville, Searcy (merchant visits); Cary – National Main Streets Conference; Sam – out

FRIDAY Cary – National Main Streets Conference

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IN THIS ISSUE:

El Dorado Hosts Business Competition

El Dorado Enters Its 2nd Act

PB Hosts Downtown Network Training

Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week April 1-7

Better Zoning Through Breaking Old Codes

12 Reasons to Visit the US - #12 Main Streets

Grant Opportunity

PR Opportunity

Gone in 60 Seconds in El Dorado

http://blog.innovatearkansas.org/2012/03/15/el-dorado-gone-in-60-has-its-own-facebook-page/

El Dorado Enters Its Second Act

http://innovation.arkansasbusiness.com/article/130231/el-dorado-enters-its-second-act-don-hale-commentary

Pine Bluff Hosts Downtown Network Training

http://www.pbcommercial.com/sections/news/news/local/main-street-revitalization-subject-network-training.html

Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week April 1-7

The first-ever Downtown Rogers Restaurant Week will be a seven-day celebration of the historic district’s finest food and drink from April 1-7, 2012. We have thirteen restaurants signed up. Go to the page on the Main Street web site to see the participating restaurants & sponsors - use this short link to view the page: http://Bit.ly/msr2012rw. A scan code has been created so people can check out the restaurants with their phone. We can use more restaurants to join the fun, so please encourage them to participate. We will be sending more emails and social media messages in the next 2 weeks.

Better Zoning Through Breaking Old Codes

http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/col-better-zoning-through-breaking-old-codes.html

12 Reasons to Visit the US - #12 Main Street

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/escape/usa/12-reasons-visit-us-2012-729642

Capacity Building Grants to Accelerate Community and Economic Development in Rural Areas
Department of Agriculture
The Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge provides support for the provision of technical assistance to develop rural communities’ capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or economic and community development. Activities eligible for support include the following: providing resources for professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, or legal); purchase of office equipment and software directly related to technical assistance; providing training and resource material on developing strategic plans, board operations, management, financial systems, and information technology; and hiring of staff to implement technical assistance related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development. The application deadline is May 9, 2012

Festival & Event Producers –

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.

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 $20 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