Main Street Arkansas Update - September 17, 2007

September 17-21

Monday - Destination Downtown

Tuesday - Destination Downtown

Wednesday - Destination Downtown

Thursday - Caroline & Mark - Sheridan: Arkansas Downtown
Network Presentation. Cary, out

Friday - Cary, out



We're saddened to report that Melvin Schexnayder, husband of long time
MSA Advisory Board member, Ms. Charlotte Schexnayder died Wednesday.
Please keep their family in your thoughts during this difficult time.

http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7065607

If you'd like to send a note to the family and don't have their address,
please let me know and I will pass it along to you.



All programs requiring mini-grant reviews by MSA should now send their
projects directly to me.


Corky Keating has left Main Street Osceola. We're working with MSO on
their next course of action.



Fayetteville Downtown Partnership Folds Due to Lack of Funding

http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/57108/

they will try to operate as a volunteer staffed organization

Lots of lessons about diversity of funding to be learned from this.



The citizens of Blytheville passed a quarter-cent sales tax Tuesday. By
all accounts, downtown will see some of the benefits of the increased
revenue including continued renovation work on the Greyhound Bus
Station.



IN THIS ISSUE:
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AHPP PRESERVATION PLAN SURVEY

AR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE OCT 3 IN CONWAY

PARAGOULD HOSTS BLUE MONDAY SEPT 17

RUSSELLVILLE WINDOW DISPLAY WORKSHOP PRESS

TEXARKANA GRANT PRESS

LAKEPORT GRAND OPENING

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

ARGENTA CDC & THE FOI - LESSONS THAT C3 PROGRAMS SHOULD GLEAM

INTERESTING ARTICLE ABOUT FAYETTVILLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST

COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT MANUAL



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PLEASE SHARE YOUR OPINIONS WITH US



The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program staff is preparing to update
the five-year statewide comprehensive preservation plan and we want to
hear from you. An opinion survey will be available on our website until
September 30, 2007. It is vitally important that our constituents'
opinions be fully and accurately reflected in the goals and objectives
that will guide program decisions through 2012.



Please take a few moments to visit the website and complete the survey
at http://www.arkansaspreservation.org/planning-survey/ and share your
thoughts with us. If you need additional information or you prefer that
a hard copy be mailed to you, please contact Mona Hughes at (501)
324-9783 or by email at mona@arkansasheritage.org.




Community Development Society to hold annual conference in October


Little Rock, AR - The Arkansas Community Development Society's annual
conference is scheduled for October 3 at the Brewer-Hegeman Conference
Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

This year's theme is "Developing Partnerships for Community
Development."

Gov. Mike Beebe has been invited to deliver the keynote address. Maria
Luisa M. Haley, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development
Commission, is also scheduled to speak.

Several regional leaders will share their experiences in partnerships,
and panels will address partnerships in education, health care, housing,
tourism, marketing and entrepreneurship.

The Arkansas community Development Society is a nonprofit professional
organization whose purpose is to advance community development and the
community development profession in Arkansas. Members include
professionals in education, health care, social services, state and
local government, utilities and economic development as well as
community volunteers and civic organizations.

Registration is $45 in advance and $60 after Sept. 28. The registration
fee includes lunch and membership in the Arkansas Community Development
Society.

For registration information, contact Mary Ellen Klotz at 501-450-5372.
For additional information on the conference, you may also call Dr. Mark
Peterson, ACDS president, at (501) 671-2072 or Basil Julian, vice
president for programs, at (501) 682-7392.

KASU Blue Monday - Paragould

KASU presents William Lee Ellis at the next Blue Monday-Paragould on
September 17th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Brittny's Steakhouse in downtown
Paragould.



Good Russellville Press for the Window Display Workshop:

http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=15976



Main Street Texarkana Grant Press:

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2007/09/14/main-street-receives-funding.php



LAKEPORT GRAND OPENING

From Delta Byways and Arkansas Parks & Tourism

The opening festivities for Lakeport Plantation
http://mailsage.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=1C0TGU4cic> in Lake
Village <http://mailsage.aristotle.net/click.aspx?lid=1C0TGU4cjY> willbe held Sept. 28-30. Lakeport Plantation, the last remaining antebellum home on the Mississippi River in Arkansas that has not been destroyed or altered significantly, is considered one of Arkansas's foremost historic house sites. The three-day event will feature discussions by those involved in the restoration of Lakeport, tours of the house and other facilities, a plantation luncheon, a restoration demonstration and many other activities. The opening ceremonies will take place on Friday, September 28. Lakeport Plantation is an Arkansas State University Heritage Site. All activities are open to the public but pre-registration is required. For more information, call (870) 972-2803.


National Geographic Conservation Trust Grants



The Conservation Trust supports conservation activities that contribute
significantly to the preservation and sustainable use of the Earth's
biological, cultural, and historical resources and fit within the
mission of the National Geographic Society. Grant amounts vary, but
generally are in the $15,000 - $20,000 range. Open applications - no
deadline.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/research/grant/rg2.html



Judge says Argenta CDC should release documents relating to Executive Director's firing under FOI

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/sep/12/judge-let-public-see-argenta-firing-repor-20070912/

subscriber only, sorry



Important quotes:

"Ficklin sued the Argenta group Sept. 4 to prevent it from releasing the report to the North Little Rock Times, which filed a Freedom of Information request"



"Ficklin is considering a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the Argenta group."



Lesson:

They have a corporate Human Resource Policy (pg. 1 AG's opinion). The policy was allegedly violated in this case. Does your group have a formally adopted policy?


Consider this your reminder about D&O insurance for your organization.

Green Valley In Wal-Mart's Back Yard

Start-Ups Set Out to Sustain Giant's Eco-Friendly Focus


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR200700602689.html?sub=AR

nice article about Fayetteville in the Post. Thanks to Betsy McGuire for pointing this out.


CRA Manual

The National Community Redevelopment Coalition has updated their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) manual. It's available for free download in pdf format here:

http://www.ncrc.org/policy/cra/CRA%20Manual.pdf