Main Street Arkansas Update - July 14, 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

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

October 20-21 - Artlinks 2008: The Value of the Arts in the 21st-Century, Little Rock

NOVEMBER 15-18 NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM, LITTLE ROCK more at www.americantrails.org (good place for Rails to Trails information)

Main Street Arkansas Calendar July 14 – July 18, 2008
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MONDAY orientation – Leigh Ann Hastings, West Memphis
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Cary – West Memphis & Osceola
THURSDAY Susan - Searcy
FRIDAY Susan - Ozark
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Cool Public Bench Project in Downtown Texarkana
Good Main Street Batesville Press:
DeWitt ADN Press:
Rector Historic District Press
Arkansas & The Creative Economy Report – Part 3
A Case in HyperGrowth
Economy Concerns Non-Profits
Changing Housing Patterns Are Good For Downtowns
Good RHDI Press
Downtown Jackson, MS Leaders Visit LR
Gas Prices Spark Interest in Downtown/Urban Living
3 Grant Opportunities
Rural Philanthropy White Paper
Main Street Osceola Sponsors Business Development Seminars
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Cool Public Bench Project in Downtown Texarkana
http://www.underthedome.com/2008/07/arkansas-historical-benches.html
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localnews/2008/07/03/from-where-we-sit-city-s-history-is-well-67.php

Good Main Street Batesville Press:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/46352

DeWitt ADN Press:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/46352

Rector Historic District Press
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=105982
- National Register survey is a benefit of the ADN & partnership with the AHPP

Deep Roots & High Hopes
Arkansas & The Creative Economy Report Part 3
http://www.arkansasarts.com/programs/DeeprootsHighHopes.pdf

Sprawling, Sprawling ...
Move To A Suburb--And The World Moves Out With You: A Case Study In Hypergrowth.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/88957

Economy Concerns Some Non-Profits
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=106132

4 More Direct Links to Articles Detailing How Housing Patterns Are Changing
- this reiterates our need to prep our downtowns for upper-story housing. The market is coming, if not already there.
Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise – New York Times
Suburbs a Mile Too Far for Some – The Wall Street Journal
Wealth Evaporates as Gas Prices Clobber McMansions – Bloomberg
Home Buying Practices Adjust to High Gas Prices – AP

Good RHDI Press:
http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/br/2008/b/pages/1-article.html

Jackson, MS Downtown Leaders Visit LR
http://www.wapt.com/news/16836524/detail.html
- Judi Casavechia of SoMa & I were privileged to speak to this group Friday

Gas Prices Sparking Interest In Urban Living
http://www.revitalizationonline.com/article.asp?id=2960

Coldwell Banker sales associates working in urban markets across the United States indicate they are seeing interest in urban living increasing because of the high cost of gasoline. While 96 percent of the 903 sales associates surveyed report that rising gas and oil prices are a concern to their clients, 78 percent report that higher fuel costs are increasing their desire to consider living in an urban setting.

According to the Coldwell Banker survey, the primary reasons for this interest in urban living are related to work commute and energy-efficient modes of transportation:
 81 percent cite minimizing a reduced work commute as a reason for the interest in urban living;
 54 percent agree that access to public transportation is appealing; and
 75 percent agree that the ability to walk to more places is a positive.
"Over the past several years, we have seen a boom in downtown living all over the country, and this is not just reserved to major cities," said Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. "It is interesting to note that the study showed that 53 percent of our surveyed sales associates have seen an increased interest in urban living compared to five years ago."

Coldwell Banker surveyed sales associates who also reported they have seen an 84-percent spike in interest for properties with a home office, as compared with five years ago, indicating a trend toward telecommuting. While the study also found that 64 percent of surveyed sales associates report their clients increasingly look for homes with green amenities that could save on heating, cooling, and electricity costs, only 42 percent surveyed believe saving on energy costs is a reason for their client's interest in urban living.

THE COCA COLA FOUNDATION (OPEN)

The philanthropic arm of the beverage Company partners with organizations around the globe to help develop and maintain vibrant, sustainable, and local communities. The Foundation supports initiatives focused on water stewardship, fitness and active lifestyles, and sustainable packaging. Water stewardship grants emphasize conservation, clean water and sanitation. Fitness/Active Lifestyle grants support projects relating to physical activity and nutrition education. Sustainable Packaging grants fund community recycling efforts and research/innovation efforts. In addition, local support for projects differs around the world. In Africa and Latin America, education and HIV/AIDS are a priority. In the European Union, the Pacific Group, and the United States, grants are awarded for education initiatives and/or scholarships. Additional information is available on the Web site. | Grant Range: $500 To $2,000,000 | Contact Info: THE COCA COLA FOUNDATION, PO Box 1734, Atlanta, GA, 30301, Visit Website

Support for Company Communities
Gannett Foundation
The Gannett Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that serve the communities across the United States where Gannett Co., Inc., owns a newspaper or broadcast station. (For a list of Gannett communities go to http://www.gannettfoundation.org/contacts.htm.) The Foundation generally supports projects that take a creative approach to such fundamental issues as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment. However, each local Gannett operation establishes its own funding priorities, depending upon local needs. Applications should be submitted to the local newspaper publisher or TV station general manager by August 15, 2008. Application FAQs and forms are available on the Foundation's website listed above.
Little Rock’s KTHV is owned by Gannett

Deadline: September 15, and March 15, Annually

Furthermore Program Offers Grants in Nonfiction Publishing

An initiative of the J.M. Kaplan Fund ( http://jmkfund.org/ ), the Furthermore program supports nonfiction book publishing about the urban experience; natural and historic resources; art, architecture, and design; cultural history; and civil liberties and other public issues.

The program seeks work that appeals to an informed general audience; gives evidence of high standards in editing, design, and production; promises a reasonable shelf life; might not otherwise achieve top quality or even come into being; and "represents a contribution without which we would be the poorer."

Applicants must be 501(c) (3) organizations. Grant recipients have included civic and academic institutions, museums, independent and university presses, and professional societies. Trade publishers and public agencies may apply for grants in partnership with an eligible nonprofit sponsor. Applications from individuals are not accepted.

Grants range from $500 to approximately $15,000 each and may support writing, research, editing, design, indexing, photography, illustration, and printing and binding.

See the Furthermore Web site for complete program information and application form.

RURAL PHILANTHROPY: Building Dialogue from Within
http://www.ncrp.org/publications/RuralPhilanthropy2007.asp
Rural philanthropy is one part of the nonprofit sector that has not received as much attention, or funding, from the foundation community. The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) has published a report detailing the problems faced by rural nonprofits.
“Rural Philanthropy: Building Dialogue From Within” by Rachael Swierzewski maintains that there are several obstacles that deter foundations from engaging in more aggressive rural grantmaking.
• Perceptions of rural people and places. Sweeping generalizations and stereotypes – “safe communities” and “serene landscapes” – blind people to the fact that rural areas face many of the same problems as inner cities, such as a shortage of schools, health clinics and hospitals.
• Minimal exposure to the foundation world. Isolation from major grantmaking centers keeps rural nonprofits from establishing relationships with grantmakers. Few foundations conduct tours of rural areas.
• The numbers. In their efforts to make a difference, foundations want to see large numbers. Sparse populations in rural areas work counter to this desire.
• Rural capacity. Research shows that foundation officers perceive rural nonprofits as having capacity problems.
• Weak local infrastructures. Nonprofits generally don’t work well in isolation, and a rural setting often dictates both geographic and interest-related distance.

Main Street Osceola Sponsoring Seminars:
Business Financing Options
Monday, July 28, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
108 W. Hale, Downtown Osceola
Cost: $35
Seminar Highlights: This seminar will explain how and where to get financing for prospective and existing businesses. Credit requirements, places to go for funding and the Small Business Administration's loan guaranty program will be presented.
Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBDC Center Director
Cosponsor: Main Street Osceola; Osceola Chamber of Commerce

Managing Cash Flow
Monday, August 04, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
108 W. Hale, Downtown Osceola
Cost $30
Seminar Highlights: Cash planning is a key to business survival. Learn the important concepts of short-and long-term cash budgeting. Do you know your cash needs for next year, next month, tomorrow? Don't gamble with your businesses' money. Learn to take control of your cash planning now.
Speaker: Herb Lawrence, ASU SBDC Director
Cosponsor: Main Street Osceola; Osceola Chamber of Commerce