Main Street Arkansas Update - November 10, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Calendar November 10-14, 2008

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MONDAY Mark, Susan & Nancy – annual leave;
TUESDAY closed – Veterans Day; Caroline – Texarkana
WEDNESDAY Executive Director orientation – Rogers, Jonesboro
THURSDAY Susan & Mark – Walnut Ridge
FRIDAY

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IN THIS ISSUE:
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MSA’s Public Service Announcement
AEDC Grant Workshop
One Minute Main Street Survey
George Hamilton Returns to Downtown Blytheville
SoMa News
Non-Profit Center in Downtown Rogers
Profile: Preservation Architect Tommy Jameson
Heritage Month Grants
Playground Grant Opportunity
How to Spend $3.9 Billion – Neighborhoods
More 990 Resources
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MSA’s Public Service Announcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rjtmsw5WsE



AEDC Grant Workshop

Application workshops will be held in five locations in the State of Arkansas to inform the public on the procedures for applying for grants from six different agencies and organizations: the Community Resource Group, the Arkansas Department of Rural Services, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Community Facilities Program.

Workshop locations are:

• Friday, November 14 10am Dumas Community Center

• Tuesday, November 18 10am, Calhoun & Carney Building, Prescott

• Tuesday, November, 25 10am, Newport Chamber of Commerce

• Tuesday, December 2, 10am, Central Arkansas Planning & Development District, Lonoke

• Thursday, December, 4 10am, Washington County Courthouse, Fayetteville

For more information contact Dana Heatley at AEDC. 501.682.1211

One Minute Main Street Survey

Take the National Main Street Center's "One Minute Main Street Survey" to share with us what is happening economically - on your Main Street today. Your answers to just three quick questions can help us understand where we are and where we're heading.
http://my.preservationnation.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=7861

Blytheville native George Hamilton returns & speaks downtown at the Ritz

http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/49298

He began his conversation by reminiscing about his many afternoons spent watching movies in the Ritz Theater and describing how much downtown Blytheville had changed over the years. Someone remarked earlier to him that he remembered the area quite vividly.

“It’s been in my mind my whole life,” he explained.

South Main LR (SoMa)

34 period streetlights are being installed on Main Street between I-630 and 17th Street. The cost of the lights is $109,000.

Non Profit Center in Downtown Rogers

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/242058/

Preservation Architect Profile: Tommy Jameson

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Perspective/240830/

Heritage Month Grants:

Uniquely Arkansas: Preparations for the 2009 Heritage Month are underway, with the theme “Only in Arkansas: Exploring Our Natural Heritage.” The focus will be on the Ar­kansas Natural Heritage Commission as it highlights plant and animal species “endemic” to Arkansas, i.e., only found in Arkansas.

Communities statewide are invited to celebrate one-of-a-kind natural riches. Grant applications for themed projects are now accepted. More information can be found at www.arkansasheritage.com.



Playground Grant Opportunity:

http://kaboom.org/DoItYourselfResources/KaBOOMChallengeGrants/tabid/96/Default.aspx

One of the biggest challenges facing any community-built playground project is fundraising. That is why KaBOOM! offers communities occasional grant opportunities to begin or complete playspace projects.

KaBOOM! is not a direct grant-making foundation. However, from time to time it does administer challenge grant programs sponsored by its Funding Partners. Designed to be a ''challenge'' to other fundraising efforts, these grants inspire civic groups, individuals and other businesses to join in and support local playspace projects. Previous recipients of KaBOOM! challenge grants have gone on to raise tens of thousands of dollars each for their projects, achieving their playspace goals within months.

In 2008, KaBOOM! is teaming up with Stonyfield Farms to offer two $50,000 grants for new playspaces. For a chance to win a $50,000 grant for a community-built playground, and the chance to help choose another group to receive the same prize, have your school or youth group collect specially-marked Stonyfield Farm yogurt lids through December 31, 2008. The group that sends the most lids to Stonyfield wins.

How to Spend $3.92 Billion: Stabilizing Neighborhoods by Addressing Foreclosed and Abandoned Properties

A new paper outlines 11 key principles that states, counties, and cities should follow as they plan for and use the $3.92 billion in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds. Suggestions include understanding the local housing market, targeting property acquisition, building the capacity to hold properties until reuse, and integrating acquisition and rehabilitation with other neighborhood stabilization strategies. Author Alan Mallach notes that despite the short time frame in which states and localities have to submit action plans and allocate NSP funds, strategic targeting is critical. At the end of the day, if the NSP funds are not targeted, some properties will be rehabilitated or demolished, but sustained neighborhood improvement will not be realized. The full report is available on the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's web site. (.pdf)

Thanks to Kathy LaPlante for this one

More Form 990 Resources
Are you starting to get nervous about this new form 990? Have you even had the time to think about it yet? The National Council of Nonprofit Associations has compiled some great resources related to the new IRS form 990.
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/?q=policy/form990changes