Main Street Arkansas Update - February 25, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER:
FEBRUARY 29 – FARMERS MARKET CONFERENCE, JONESBORO
MARCH 9-11 – GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, ROGERS
MARCH 15 – LETTER OF AGREEMENT, WORKPLAN, ETC DUE TO MSA
MARCH 30-APRIL 2 – NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, PHILADELPHIA, PA
OCTOBER 6-8, DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, BAY ST. LOUIS, MS
October 21-25 - National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, Tulsa, OK

Nancy will be off until March 10. She’s recovering well from her surgery & expects a full recovery.


Main Street Arkansas Calendar February 25 – 29, 2008
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MONDAY Cary, Susan & Mark – Blytheville
TUESDAY Mark, Susan & Brian Driscoll – Hardy (site visit)
WEDNESDAY Mark & Susan – UCA (speaking to the historic preservation class)
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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IN THIS ISSUE:

Texarkana Press
9 Cities Lower Energy Use
Planning Commissioners Journal on Downtown
Place Matters Article
Design Awards Opportunity
Mission Statements Article
New Orleans Volunteer Opportunity with NTHP
2 Grant Opportunities


Texarkana Year-End Review Press:
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2008/02/22/year-end-review-all-about-the-future-68.php

What 9 Cities Are Doing to Lower City Energy Use
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB120248655589254033.html

Planning Commissioners Journal Winter Issue: Downtown Futures is available to order
http://pcj.typepad.com/planning_commissioners_jo/2008/02/downtown-future.html

Articles include:
 Like a Business Park with Amenities. How one West Virginia city is trying to "position" its downtown.
 Behind the Curtains. The surprising impact that theater restorations can have in small city downtowns.
 Coming Together, Coming Back. A remote Nevada town learns how to help itself.
 A River Runs Through It. How developing a riverwalk has brought new life to a Colorado downtown.
 Downtown Housing. Discovering that new downtown housing is not just a big city phenomenon anymore.
 Future Downtowns. Why two outer-ring suburbs want their own downtown.

Make sure your Planning Department has a copy

Place Matters
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/02/14/qa-richard-florida.html

Awards for Greenways Design Projects
The Conservation Fund: Kodak American Greenways Awards Program
The Kodak American Greenways Awards Program, a partnership project of the Eastman Kodak Company and the Conservation Fund, provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways in communities throughout America. Greenways are corridors of protected public and private land established along rivers, ridges, abandoned railroad corridors, utility right-of-ways, canals, scenic roads, or other linear features. In general, grants can be used for all appropriate expenses needed to complete a greenway project including planning, technical assistance, legal, and other costs. Awards are primarily provided to local, regional, and statewide nonprofit organizations. Applications are accepted from March 1 to June 15, 2008. Visit the website listed above for application guidelines.

MISSION STATEMENTS
by Felicia Boone-Bozeman, Training Coordinator, SAU SBDC

An organization exists to accomplish something. At first, it has a clear purpose or mission, but over time its mission may become unclear as the organization grows, adds new products and markets, or faces new conditions in the environment. When a company begins to drift, it is time to renew its search for a purpose. A mission statement which has been handed down over the years loses relevance and ceases to speak to staff and supporters. Therefore, it is imperative that mission statements be examined and updated every few years.

A mission statement should possess certain qualities. Missions should be specific, realistic, and motivating. Missions should also stress the policies and values of the company as well as correspond to the current market environment. Companies should base their mission statements on its distinctive competencies and avoid defining their missions for public relations purposes which often lacks specific workable guidelines.

For additional information and sample mission statements, please visit http://www.bplans.com/dp/missionstatement.cfm

http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/?p=471
2008 Dates for NOLA Volunteer Opportunities
Once again, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is partnering with the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans to provide volunteer opportunities for those interested in helping with the city’s ongoing recovery efforts.
For a fee of $200 per person, volunteers receive housing and food for the week. Daily transportation to and from the work site will be covered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For questions on this worthwhile program, email Sean Vissar at svissar [at] prcno [dot] org or by phone at (504) 636-3076.
Click the links below to register online.
February 25 to 29, 2008
April 28 to May 2, 2008
June 23 to 27, 2008

Submit your nominations for American City & County's 2008 awards
Entry forms and official rules for American City & County's 2008 awards are now available online. Begin preparing your entries now for:

* Crown Communities - Counties - Open to any county government project in the United States substantially completed between April 2007 and March 2008. Projects can encompass virtually any aspect of county government, such as streets and highways, parks and recreation, solid waste collection and public safety. Due April 7, 2008.
* Municipal Leader of the Year - Open to all elected officials, department heads or employees working for any city government in the United States. Due August 11, 2008.
* Crown Communities - Cities - Open to any city government project in the United States substantially completed between November 2007 and August 2008. Projects can encompass virtually any aspect of city government, such as streets and highways, parks and recreation, solid waste collection, public safety or city management. Due August 11, 2008.

There are no restrictions on who can submit a nomination. Visit americancityandcounty.com for complete instructions.

NEH Challenge Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=40706
NEH challenge grants help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Awards are made to museums, public libraries, colleges, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, public television and radio stations, universities, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other nonprofit entities. Because of the matching requirements, these NEH awards also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support. Both federal and nonfederal funds must provide long-term benefits to the humanities. Challenge grant funds should not merely replace funds already being expended on the humanities, but instead should reflect careful strategic planning to strengthen and enhance the institution's activities in and commitment to the humanities. Activities supported Challenge grants most commonly augment or establish endowments that support humanities activities in education, public programming, scholarly research, and preservation. Institutions may use the income from invested funds to meet ongoing humanities-related costs. Examples include: faculty and staff positions, fellowships, lecture or exhibition series, visiting scholars or consultants, publishing subventions, maintenance of facilities, faculty and staff development, acquisitions, and preservation or conservation programs.

Hamburger Helper Accepting Applications for Hometown Helper Grant Program

Deadline: March 31, 2008

Hamburger Helper, a General Mills ( http://www.generalmills.com/ ) company, has announced a call for entries for the 2008 "My Home- town Helper" grant program, a nationwide initiative designed to lend a "helping hand" to local groups making a difference in their community.

People looking to improve their hometown -- from helping to fund a volunteer fire department, to restoring a town landmark, to supporting a local school -- are encouraged to submit entries.
Last year, the program gave away more than $200,000 in total grants and helped communities purchase new band equipment, build a school playground, and fund a tornado warning system, among other projects.

Applicants are invited to submit an essay of 250 words or less describing how the grant would help with their community project.
Award amounts will range from $500 to $15,000 each, and all requests for funding must be sponsored by a charitable organization, municipal or civic organization, or a public school. Funds will be awarded based on the merit of the project, including its impact on, and support within, the community.

Complete program information and an online application form are available at the program's Web site.