Main Street Arkansas Update - September 24, 2007

September 24-28

Monday - Mark, Susan, Greg - out
Tuesday - Susan & Greg - out
Wednesday - Greg - out
Thursday -
Friday – Cary, Susan & Caroline – Lakeport

It’s a time of change here at the AHPP. Our long-time director Ken Grunewald’s last day is October 31. Additionally, Elizabeth Blackwell, our Education Outreach Coordinator is moving to Denver next week to work for the Colorado Historical Society. Of course, her husband, Chad Blackwell, Executive Director of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas will follow, so we’re losing him too. We’re deeply saddened by all of the departures but wish each of them luck in their next endeavors.

Destination Downtown

So good to see those of you who could make it to the conference in Natchitoches. We had a strong turnout. The sessions were excellent and the evening events were extraordinary, including an incredible fireworks show put on by the city of Natchitoches just for conference attendees. Thanks to our good friends in Louisiana for all their hard work. Next year’s conference is scheduled for October on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

File Size Limitation

DAH has instituted a 1.2 MB file size limitation on all emails. So, if you try to send us an email with an attachment larger, it will be rejected. We will begin using www.yousendit.com to send emails larger than 1.2 MB or we will take advantage of the DAH FTP (file transfer protocol) site in certain cases.

Personnel Policies

Last weeks e-blast mentioned an issue with a non-profit relating to their personnel policies. I noted that this would be a good time to check to ensure yours are up to date. Our friend, Stephanie Redman, with New Mexico Main Street, points out that www.boardsource.org has a good policy guideline documents. They offer several electronic documents on this topic, including a general brief, as well as papers on performance review, EEO, sexual harassment, and workplace environment available for $8. Also, I have a template I can send you at no charge. The boardsource pieces have probably been vetted a little more, so it might be worth your $8 investment.

http://www.mainstreetarkansas.blogspot.com/

If you haven’t checked out our blog in a while, please do. I’ve updated it with pictures from Destination Downtown, as well adding video by uploading the TV commercial for El Dorado’s MusicFest. I did all of this in about 20 minutes, exponentially quicker than it takes to have a full-fledged website updated. Something to consider.

IN THIS ISSUE
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TONS OF PRESS
DOWNTOWN ART IDEA
WEBSITE OF USE
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FLAVOR
NATURE TOURISM WORKSHOP
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New Life, New Hope

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/201826/

Nice piece in Tuesday’s D-G. It addresses the economic impact of historic preservation, Main Street, the RHDI, Lakeport and many other areas relevant to our work. The work of ARC is noted, and it’s made public that they will receive an Honor Award at the upcoming National Trust Conference in St. Paul.

Preservation Alliance says tax credits help economy

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Style/201836

Antebellum Home Gets Fresh Start as a Museum

1859 Lakeport Plantation Restored to be a Delta Attraction

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/sep/23/antebellum-home-gets-fresh-start-museum-20070923/?subscriber/national
Nice mention of the RHDI in this piece

Arkansas Tourism Looking Good (Joe David Rice Commentary)

http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?lID=71&sID=72&ms=73&cID=m&aID=99721.81535.111846

3rd Times a Charm for Sale of Downtown NLR Property

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/sep/20/3rd-time-charm-sale-nlr-parcel-20070920/

http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?lID=84&sID=85&ms=86&cID=Z&aID=99719.30438.111845

TIFs for Downtown NLR

http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/sep/20/nlr-mayor-says-tif-districts-are-rx-downt-20070920/
and the predictable discord from the school district
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/09/23/news/news01.txt

9 County Area Dreams for a New Dawn

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/National/202198

The nine counties are: Jefferson, Arkansas, Desha, Chicot, Bradley, Ashley, Lincoln, Drew and Cleveland.

High Profile: John Greer

John is one of Arkansas’s finest preservation architects. He’s a former Chair of the Little Rock HDC.
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2007/sep/23/john-thomas-greer-20070923/

Looking to increase the presence of art in you downtown? Check out the storm drain art here:
http://buzzfeed.com/buzz/Storm_Drain_Graffiti

www.floorplanner.com

A web-based floor planning application that creates complex layouts for any room in your home

The Geography of Flavor
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082100362.html

NATURE TOURISM WORKSHOP TO BE HELD IN BRINKLEY

A full day nature tourism workshop will be hosted October 27, 2007, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, at the Brinkley Convention Center in Brinkley by Audubon Arkansas, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The workshop is designed to provide expertise, resources and information for landowners, farmers, and small business owners interested in developing or expanding businesses to offer natural and cultural tourism.

Speakers will include Marla Johnson, CEO of Aristotle, Inc.; Jody Pagan, wildlife biologist for Five Oaks Wildlife Services in DeWitt; Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas School of Law; Dr. Dan Scheiman, Audubon's director of bird conservation; David Long of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; and Allen Stanley of the Arkansas Small Business Development Center.

The afternoon “Resource Buffet” will offer business owners, landowners and civic leaders an opportunity to meet one on one with the morning’s speakers. Topics for discussion will build on the morning’s offerings and include funding, habitat management, regional tourism opportunities, legal concerns, marketing options, business plans and business development.

The workshop fee is only $20, or $30 per couple, and includes lunch and a workshop resource manual. Students are no charge, but luncheon reservations are required. Reservations and payment are being received at the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Office. Call 870-747-3397 for reservations.