Main Street Arkansas Update - June 9, 2008

NEXT MSA QUARTERLY TRAINING: JULY 29-30, HARDY
TOPIC: MAIN TO MAIN (HOW CAN WE REPLICATE THIS IN AR?)
SPEAKER: LEON STEELE, MAIN TO MAIN COORDINATOR, LOUISIANA MAIN STREET
THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY NEARLY ALL OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AFTER LAST YEAR’S DESTINATION DOWNTOWN CONFERENCE

JULY 24-25 - ARKANSAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION SUMMER MEETING, MT MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 6-8, DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, BAY ST. LOUIS, MS
OCTOBER 21-25 – NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, TULSA, OK

NOTE: I was recently speaking with one of our directors who lives in an area where there’s been a long history of people commuting 30 minutes or more out of town to work. A banker had recently mentioned to this person that real estate loan closings in that area had gone from an average of $1 million a month to $3 million a month because people were no longer willing to drive so far with gas prices continuing to soar. I note this as an opportunity for downtown upper story housing and historic neighborhoods adjacent to our downtowns.

Want to see Main Street El Dorado’s Showdown at Sunset commercial? Check out our blog at:
http://mainstreetarkansas.blogspot.com/2008/06/main-street-el-dorados-showdown-at.html
Very nice work.

Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 9-13, 2008
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MONDAY Cary, Susan & Nancy – Dumas, site visit, tour; Greg & Caroline – Batesville (visioning, part 2)
TUESDAY Cary - Harrison
WEDNESDAY Greg, Heber Springs; Susan, Batesville (site visit)
THURSDAY Susan, Mark, Greg & Nancy - Eureka Springs (tech visits) Cary – DeWitt (speech to community re: Welcome to ADN) (7:30pm)
FRIDAY Susan, Mark, Greg & Nancy Eureka Springs (tech visits)
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IN THIS ISSUE
211
Downtown Rogers to Become Wireless Hot Spot
Brownfields Loan to Main Street Argenta
Walnut Ridge Press
ES Press
Blytheville in Hallmark Magazine
Professional on LinkedIn
Rep. Harrelson on Gas & Downtowns
SoMa Plan Link
Grant Opportunity
Contest


211
Governor Mike Beebe recently announced a new statewide telephone system, “Arkansas 2-1-1,” that, will connect Arkansans with community-assistance programs and volunteer opportunities.

If you recruit and engage volunteers in your service I encourage you to include your program on 211. Visit arkansas211.org and see the link on the left hand side "Become part of the guide" which will provide you the information necessary to list your volunteer program as a volunteer site. It is very important that we do this so the volunteer opportunity database will be comprehensive.

Feel free to contact DOV if you have any questions.

Downtown Rogers to Become Wireless Hot Spot
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/06/02/news/060308rzwifi.txt
- ”Fees will be paid from a $1,000 grant AT&T awarded to Main Street Rogers”
This is a big deal. I can’t stress how important Internet connectivity is for our downtowns to be hubs of 21st Century economic development. All of our downtowns need to be wireless hot spots. Good work MSR!

Pulaski County Brownfields Program to Award $785,000 Loan to Main Street Argenta
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=105519

Walnut Ridge ADN Press
http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2008-06-04/news/story2.php

Eureka Springs ADN Workshop Set (scroll down)
http://www.lovelycitizen.com/story/1433872.html

The June issue of Hallmark Magazine has a feature on the Greyhound Bus Station in Blytheville. On newsstands now (sorry, no web link available).

Professionals Latch on to LinkedIn:
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=105396
- At the recent MicroEnterprise conference I attended, LinkedIn was one of three social networking sites recommended for programs to use to expand their information & volunteer base. The other two are MySpace and Facebook. MSA has both a MySpace & Facebook page. LinkedIn is more for individuals. Many of the AHPP staff (including me) are listed on LinkedIn. If you are & aren’t one of our ‘connections’ search for us & add us.

Rep. Harrelson comments on how high speed & improved rail will help our downtowns:
http://www.underthedome.com/2008/06/amtrak-benefitting-from-gas-prices.html#comments
- agreed. As usual.

The final draft of the Urban Design Plan for the Southside Main Street (SoMa) Neighborhood
http://ualr.edu/minors/urbanstudies/uploads/2008/05/SoMa%20Rpt%205-28-08.pdf

Investments in the Future of Rural America
CHS Foundation
The CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the future of rural America, agriculture, and cooperative business through education and leadership development. The Foundation supports national efforts related to its mission as well as programs within the CHS trade territory for regional, multi-state, or statewide projects. The Foundation funding focuses on the following program areas: Cooperative Education, Rural Youth and Leadership Development, Farm and Agricultural Safety, Returning Value to Rural Communities, and University Partnerships. All applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, with the exception of Cooperative Education applications, which are due in the fall of each year. Visit the website listed above for a description of each grant category and online application instructions.

Announcing the 2008 "Imaging our National Heritage" NHL Photo Contest

The National Park Service is looking for fantastic photographs of National Historic Landmarks, our nation's most significant treasures. Entries must be received by June 30, 2008.