Main Street Arkansas Update - January 7, 2008

January 7 – 11, 2008
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Orientation with Jann Farmer of Dumas, Sandi Thomas of Harrison, Susan Fetsch of Osceola & Kym McFadden of Heber Springs; Municipal League Banquet/MSA Awards
Thursday Roundtable & State Report; Cary, Mark, Susan, Nancy, Marian & Missy depart for Blytheville
Friday Cary, Mark, Susan, Nancy, Marian & Missy – Blytheville; RHDI Year 3 Planning + site visits

Susan Fetsch is the new executive director of Main Street Osceola & Kym McFadden is the new executive director of Downtown Heber Springs Network. They will be attending the upcoming roundtable. Please make them feel welcome when you see them.

FINAL REMINDER – Main Street Arkansas Awards January 9, 2008 7pm in conjunction with the Arkansas Municipal League Conference. Quarterly Training (roundtable & state report) is January 10 8 a.m.


We have been able to secure reserved tables for MSA attendees (all 94 of you!). I believe they will be down front. Please look for the place cards when you arrive Wednesday night.


Parade Giving Challenge

I’ve set up a ‘give button’ to vote for the National Trust’s Main Street Center on our blog www.mainstreetarkansas.blogspot.com – more information on the Parade Giving Challenge below & on the website www.parade.com/givingchallenge

Take the Giving Challenge. It’s your chance to get $50,000 for your favorite charity.
This is your chance to mobilize your network and champion your cause. The Case Foundation is awarding a total of $500,000 in grants through the America’s Giving Challenge presented by Parade. You could get $50,000 for your favorite charity. It’s fun and easy. Take the Challenge. Go to www.parade.com/givingchallenge today!



IN THIS ISSUE
Good Arkansas DeltaMade Press
Arkansas Urban Forestry Conference
High Cost of Free Parking Video
SeedAmerica
Creative Economy Grants
Rialto Theater in El Dorado Closes
Small Shops See Their Smallness As Selling Point

The Death of the Shopping Mall – Long Live Lifestyle Centers

Blueprint for American Prosperity – Brookings Institute Plan for Urban America

4 Grant Opportunities


Good Arkansas DeltaMade Press
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/213021

Arkansas Urban Forestry Commission 2008 Conference
AUFC will be partnering with the Arkansas Recreation & Parks Assoc (ARPA) February 19-21, 2008 at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, sponsored by the Chesapeake Energy Corporation. For more information, contact AUFC at 1-800-958-5865.
To register, click here: REGISTER

Great embedded video on the High Cost of Free Parking with Professor of Urban Planning Donald Shoup
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/21/donald-shoup-plays-with-parking-fees-and-matchbox-cars/

SeedAmerica

SeedAmerica asks corporations to donate vacant industrial buildings so the space can be rented to small businesses.

SeedAmerica uses what's called the 561 Exchange or the RIM (replacement, market, income) Exchange. Those terms refer to IRS Publication 561, which spells out appraisal rules for donated property.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/12/19/seedamerica_1220.html



Regional Technology Strategies recently awarded several Creative Economy Grants including awards to

Eureka Springs $7,960 to expand its creative economy

Phillips County Community College $6,000 to support the Delta Center for Traditional Arts & Crafts



Historic Rialto Theater in Downtown El Dorado Closes, Owners Weighing Options

http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2008/01/03/rialto-theater-closes-doors-owner-now-we-79.php



Small Shops See Their Smallness As Selling Point

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/business/smallbusiness/15small.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1198699049-yAVzKiVQCx75b+cYu9O1Xw



The Death of the Shopping Mall – Long Live Lifestyle Centers

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10278717



Blueprint for American Prosperity

The Brookings Institute proposed a Blueprint for American Prosperity in November. It’s entitled Unleashing the Potential of a Metropolitan Nation.


Here’s Arkansas’s metro standings

http://www.brookings.edu/projects/~/media/Files/Projects/blueprint/statesbp/arkansasbp.pdf



According to this report:

All eight of Arkansas’s metro areas constitute 59 percent of the state’s population, 66 percent of the state’s jobs, and 69 percent of the state’s GDP.



4 Grant Opportunities

Interpreting America's Historic Places Planning Grants Grant

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15790



Interpreting America's Historic Places Implementation Grants Grant

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15791



We the People Challenge Grants in United States History, Institutions, and Culture Grant http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=true&oppId=15910

Apply for 2008 CARE Grant: deadline of March 17
Around $3 million will be available in 2008 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program.

EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities, and become self-sustaining. In 2007, $3.4 million in cooperative agreements were made available to more than 20 communities through the CARE program, a community-based, community-driven program that builds partnerships to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources.

Examples of projects include addressing abandoned, contaminated industrial and residential properties in Gary, Ind., dealing with agriculture-related toxics in Yakima County, Wash., and reducing air emissions from diesel trucks and buses in Woonsocket, R.I. Since 2005, the grants to reduce toxics in the environment have reached almost 50 communities in over 20 states. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. EPA will conduct three conference calls, Jan. 18, Feb. 11 and 27, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process.

Visit the CARE web site or download the RFP. To register for the upcoming CARE Internet Seminars go to www.cluin.org/studio/seminar.cfm.