Main Street Arkansas Update - November 26, 2007

There are quite a few good stories listed below which I collected during my time off last week. I particularly recommend the Argenta Express article by Kane Webb from yesterday’s D-G and the ShopMainStreet.org reminder.

Congratulations to Michael Drake on his wedding to Beth Gaines. I was privileged to attend the service where the pastor incorporated an Elvis mention into the ceremony. It warmed my heart.

Check out Main Street El Dorado on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/mainstreeteldorado

MSA Staff Calendar – November 26-30, 2007

Monday – Cary & Caroline – Paragould: Workplanning Session
Tuesday – Cary & Caroline – Paragould (a.m.); Mark & Susan – Texarkana
Wednesday – Mark & Susan – Texarkana
Thursday – Advisory Board Meeting
Friday

IN THIS ISSUE:
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Harsh Realities for those Who Buy in Historic Districts?
Fighting Over Historic Designation
$52 Million Invested in Phillips County in Last Two Years
Why Conservatives Should Care About Cities
Federal Heritage Areas Catching On
El Dorado Looking at Uses for Building
Progress Brings New Problems: Meredith Oakley Editorial on Parking in Argenta
The Argenta Express: Kane Webb feature
Baby Boomers a Higher Portion of Arkansas’s Economy vs. National Comparisons
Merchants weigh in on NLR Street Beat plan
ShopMainStreet.org Holiday Reminder
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Harsh Realities for those Who Buy in Historic Districts?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/17/AR2007111700221.html

Fighting Over Historic Designation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111602402_pf.html

$52 Million Invested in Phillips County in Last Two Years
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AR_DELTA_PROGRESS_AROL-?SITE=ARMOU&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-11-20-14-55-24

Why Conservatives Should Care About Cities
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=898

Federal Heritage Areas Catching On
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTzsEHIehbhbqmzhqt_JLTn-yqawD8T4MAGG0

El Dorado Looking at Uses for Building
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/208696

Progress Brings New Problems: Meredith Oakley Editorial on Parking in Argenta
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/208807

The Argenta Express: Kane Webb feature
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Perspective/208794

Baby Boomers a Higher Portion of Arkansas’s Economy vs. National Comparisons
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/208774

Merchants weigh in on NLR Street Beat plan
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2007/11/24/news/nws01.prt

ShopMainStreet.org Holiday Reminder
Dear Main Street Member,
The busiest time of the retail year is fast approaching - nearly one quarter of all online sales each year occur between November 1 and December 22. So now is the time to make sure your downtown stores are listed on ShopMainStreet.org.
ShopMainStreet.org, an online directory of e-commerce-enabled, independent Main Street businesses, is now entering its second holiday season. We have a great marketing plan ready to get some of those online dollars directed to Main Streets – including a special holiday challenge to National Trust members and others who care about supporting traditional downtowns. But the site is only as good as the businesses that are listed – so please ask your stores to sign-up today.
To get started:
Go to www.shopmainstreet.org/Member_Login.asp and login with your MainStreet.org user name and password. You will then be able to send e-mail invitations to your local businesses, allowing them to edit and submit their own listings. It's quick and simple to use - for you and your businesses. And remember, this is a benefit of your Main Street Network Membership so there is no cost to the businesses for their listing!
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Special Holiday Challenge to our Members:
To help motivate you, our Main Street members, we are instituting a Members Challenge for this holiday season:
Get 3 businesses listed on our website by November 30th and be entered into a raffle for a free year of membership (a $250 value)*
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Important Reminders:
• ShopMainStreet.org is only for independently owned, retail businesses located in your downtown, neighborhood, or Main Street commercial district.
• All businesses must have some sort of e-commerce capability – whether a full online store or just an online catalog of items.
• We review all businesses and those that are not appropriate for the site will not be approved.
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*: This means 3 total for your district, not 3 new ones (although we would love 3 new ones too). We didn't want to penalize those of you that supported us last year during the pilot phase.