Main Street Arkansas: M3

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 25, 2008

OCTOBER 6-8, DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, BAY ST. LOUIS, MS

Main Street Arkansas Calendar August 25 -29, 2008
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MONDAY Nancy, Susan & Mark – Sheridan (tech visit); Caroline, Batesville (pm)
TUESDAY Susan, Helena; Cary & Greg, El Dorado
WEDNESDAY Nancy & Cary – Pine Bluff
THURSDAY Susan, Searcy
FRIDAY Cary – off

MONDAY - LABOR DAY, office closed
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IN THIS ISSUE:

MSR LEADERSHIP CHANGE
8 COMMON VALUES OF SUCCESSFUL DOWNTOWNS
REAKONOMICS & SUBURBIA
12 LESSONS ON DOWNTOWN RETAILING
GRANT OPPORTUNITY
BICYCLE RACKS
COLLECTION OF HISTORIC BUSINESS SIGNS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
BROWNFIELDS INFORMATION
TORUISM IN ARKANSAS
RETAIL PROMOTIONS THAT WORK WEBINAR
2 MORE GRANT OPPORTUNITES

It is with great sadness I share the news that Marge Wolf, executive director of Main Street Rogers, has accepted a new position with the NW Arkansas Food Bank. We will miss her greatly.

Rogers Seeks New Leader
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/234802/

8 Common Values All Successful Downtowns Embrace, per Alex Krieger, formerly of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design
http://www.businessreport.com/news/2008/jul/28/eight-enough-edvl1/

Freakonomics asks “What is the future of Suburbian?”
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/what-is-the-future-of-suburbia-a-freakonomics-quorum/?hp

12 Lessons on Downtown Retailing Today
http://www.lisc.org/content/publications/detail/7410/.

American Trails Education & Information Project Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=42647

Creative Bicycle Racks (designed, in part, by David Byrne)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/arts/design/09bike.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=david%20byrne&st=cse&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
- many of you have used DTR money for bike racks, I encourage those of you who are looking at doing that in the future to be creative in the bike rack’s design. For examples, see the photos of the racks designed by the former Talking Head

Great Collection of Historic Business Signs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/society_in_decline/sets/72157594323475636/detail/

Funding to Promote Food Retail Guide
http://www.healthyplanning.org/foodretailfunding.html

Brownfields Conference Call to Answer FAQs

In anticipation of the soon to be released FY09 Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, and Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Proposal Guidelines, EPA Region 6 will host conference call sessions to answer grant proposal questions concerning threshold and ranking criteria.
Questions and responses can relate to Threshold Criteria, eligibility of proposed grant budget cost, Cleanup and RLF cost share eligibility, and clarifications on guidelines Ranking Criteria.

Link to FAQs:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/publications/fy2009faqs.pdf

The following conference call sessions have been scheduled:
Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Grant Proposals:
Thursday, August 28, 9:30am - 10:30am Central Time
Cleanup Grant Proposals:
Thursday, August 28, 1:30pm - 2:30pm Central Time
Assessment (Coalition) Grant Proposals:
Tuesday, September 9, 9:30am - 10:30am Central Time
Join the conference with the following access number:
Conference Call Number: (866)299-3188
Participants Code: 2146657273

Please contact Dorothy Crawford (214-665-2771) or Karen Peycke
(214-665-7273) if you need additional information.

FYI. Just released publication concerning RLF grants:

The Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization just posted, Unlocking Brownfields Redevelopment: Establishing a Local Revolving Loan Fund Program, EPA-560-F-08-280 (August 2008) on our website.
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

Arkansas Working to Build Image as Tourist, Business Locale
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=107235

Retail Promotions That Work Webinar
With Kathy LaPlante - National Trust Main Street Center (Read Bio)
Date & Time: Friday, September 26 - 1:00-2:00 pm EDT
Sidewalk sales, moonlight madness, holiday open houses... are the “ho-hum” retail events boring even you? Learn from a marketing and promotions innovator about new, more effective retail sales and events that are producing increased revenue for merchants in Main Street communities around the country. Get the basics of how to plan and fund retail activities, and discover new techniques for getting merchants to participate.
If you sign-up for this webinar, we encourage you to invite your Promotions Committee Chair or a couple of leading merchants to join you in your office for the presentation. It's one more way of enlisting support and leadership to help jump start a future retail event in your commercial district.
Register today

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=42673

Funds for Skateboard Parks in Low-Income Communities
Tony Hawk Foundation
The mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to foster lasting improvements in society, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. The principal focus of the Foundation's grant program is to facilitate the design, development, construction, and operation of new, quality skateboard parks located in low-income communities throughout the United States. The Foundation looks for projects that can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment, particularly in the form of fundraising by local skateboarders and other community groups. Priority is given to projects that are designed and built by qualified and experienced skateboard park contractors and include local skaters in the design process. Upcoming application deadlines are October 1, 2008, and March 2, 2009. Visit the website listed above to access the online application information.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 21, 2008

NEXT WEEK - 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 WEEK - 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 21 – July 25, 2008
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MONDAY Mark, Caroline & Susan – Batesville
TUESDAY Cary – West Memphis; Greg, Susan – Crawfordsville
WEDNESDAY Cary – Helena, RHDI Quarterly Meeting
THURSDAY Cary – Paris, Arkansas Community Development Conference; Nancy & Mark – Helena
FRIDAY Nancy – annual leave, Susan – Searcy
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IN THIS ISSUE
Grant Announcement
Inquiry
Press In Various Communities
2 Grant Announcements
GreatNonProfits.org
Preserve America Info
Smart Growth Parking Publication
2 Good In State Workshops

We announced our Slipcover & Downtown Revitalization grants Thursday. Each of the recipient programs should have received their letter from Governor Beebe congratulating them by now. Press releases have been sent to your local newspaper. Congratulations to all.

If you have special zoning for ‘entertainment properties’ owned by a public or non-profit &/or have dealt with updating city regulations for banners, please contact me or Anita Parrett in Blytheville.

Paragould’s Own Gina Jarrett’s 1st in a Series of Columns for the Paragould Daily Press:
http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2008/07/05/opinion/doc486edf2d80629476960269.txt

Good Main Street Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/07/14/news/doc487b7de74bc81881850549.txt
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/07/17/news/doc487f6e9e6d953704519261.txt

Good Main Street El Dorado Press:
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2008/07/18/main-street-receives-grant-90.php

Good Russellville Press:
http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=18986

Good Main Street Rogers Press:
http://nwanews.com/bcdr/News/63862/

American Heritage Preservation Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=42279

Bank of America is partnering with the Institute to provide grants to small museums, libraries, and archives. The grants will raise awareness and fund preservation of treasures held in small museums, libraries and archives. Grants will help to preserve specific items, including works of art, artifacts and historical documents that are in need of conservation. Applicants will build on completed conservation assessments of their collections, to ensure that the Bank of America/IMLS grants are used in accordance with best practices in the field, and underscore the importance of assessment planning.

Tourism Cares Accepting Letters of Inquiry for Worldwide Grant Program

Deadline: October 1, 2008 (Letters of Inquiry)

Tourism Cares' (http://www.tourismcares.org/ ) Worldwide Grant Program distributes charitable grants to worthy tourism-related nonprofit organizations worldwide for capital improvements or programs.

The program's primary consideration is to fund projects and programs whose goal is capital ("brick-and-mortar") improvements that serve to protect, restore, or conserve sites of exceptional cultural, historic, or natural significance; or the education of local host communities and the traveling public about the conservation and preservation of sites of exceptional cultural, historical, or natural significance.

Program grants average $10,000 each; however, based on availability of funds, grants of up to $100,000 each will be considered. The 2008 Worldwide Grant Program goals call for a balanced distribution of grants to U.S. and non-U.S. recipients.

U.S.-based applicant organizations must have nonprofit, tax- exempt, 501(c) (3) status; non-U.S.-based applicant organizations must have status equivalent to the 501(c) (3) designation.

Letter of Inquiry packets are available at the Tourism Cares website.

Check out www.greatnonprofits.org
GreatNonprofits is a place to find, review, and talk about great—and perhaps not so great—nonprofits.

If you have direct experience with a nonprofit, share your knowledge and help other people discover trustworthy nonprofits that are making a difference.

Preserve America Funding Passes House
http://www.preservationdirectory.com/PreservationBlogs/ArticleDetail.aspx?id=582&catid=14
- each Main Street & Network program needs to be PA communities. We’ll talk more about this in Hardy We have PA application templates for you.

Parking Matters Publication – “Designing, Operating & Financing Structured Parking in Smart Growth Communities
http://www.parking.org/parkingmatters070106.pdf

Two Upcoming Workshops

August 6: Reinventing Communities Seminar, Peabody Hotel, Little Rock.
James A. Richardson Jr., Executive Director of the National Rural Funders Collaborative will speak on regionalism and ways to “reinvent” communities following a systemic shock such as a natural disaster, loss of a major employer or a changing economy. The seminar is sponsored by the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve, and will take place at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock from 4 - 6 p.m.
To register, call Julie Kerr at 501-324-8296 or e-mail julie.a.kerr@stls.frb.org

October 28: Workshop: Jump-Starting a Brighter Future for Communities through Quality of Place, Mather Lodge, Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton.
Does your community strive to move beyond ordinary? Would you like to attract entrepreneurs back to their hometown to generate economic opportunities? Is your community struggling to recover in the wake of recent disasters? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, your community may benefit from strategies to improve its quality of place. Community leaders are invited to a workshop to be held October 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at historic Mather Lodge on Petit Jean Mountain. Registration - by July 25 - is required. There will be a charge of $35, to cover the cost of meals and educational materials.
Instructors Dr. Mark Peterson and Maureen Rose will lead an active learning session and provide grab-and-go tools to jump-start community development projects for communities, civic groups, youth organizations, boards and councils. Participants will receive a quality of place toolkit to identify community projects for innovation, entrepreneurship, beautification, heritage, and more. Learn to create extraordinary personal experiences leading to high quality of place.
Learn what attracts people to live, work and play in your community.
Create an action plan for a quality of place feature for your county or community. To register, call or email Maureen Rose at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Community and Economic Development program office: 501-671-2066; mrose@uaex.edu

Monday, July 14, 2008

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
***************************************************************************************************************
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

Monday, July 7, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 7, 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 7 – July 11, 2008
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MONDAY Greg, Susan, Nancy – annual leave
TUESDAY Greg & Caroline – Sheridan; Nancy – Blytheville; Mark – annual leave
WEDNESDAY Cary – Legislative Review; Mark – annual leave
THURSDAY Mark – annual leave
FRIDAY Cary – LR
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IN THIS ISSUE
DOWNTOWNWALNUTRIDGE.ORG
HOT DOG CART IN ARGENTA
SMARTHOUSE WAY UPDATE
SOMA PANHANDELING ISSUES
PARAGOULD FARMERS MARKET PRESS
WALNUT RIDGE ADN PRESS
RECTOR ADN PRESS
NTHP ON SMART CITY RADIO
MAIN STREET’S HOPE VI APPORTIONMNET
3 GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
ONLINE DONATION OPPORTUNITY
HELP LOCAL, DOWNTOWN BIZ CREATE WEBSITE
SUBURBAN DREAM DYING?
HOUSE MUSEUMS IN TROUBLE

Check out http://downtownwalnutridge.org/

Hot Dog Cart in Argenta
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/229487

Main Street Argenta Brownfields/SmartHouse Way Press:
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/jun/30/nlr-development-site-waiting-soil-cleanup-20080630/?news/arkansas
- subscriber only, sorry

SoMa Panhandling Issues Press:
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=68344
- harsh comments by readers & viewers

Paragould Farmers Market Press:
http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2008/06/23/top_story/doc485db72e2bdff537158042.txt

ADN presentation highlights meeting
http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2008-07-02/news/story3.php

Walnut Ridge Interior Design Press
http://thetd.com/freepages/2008-07-02/news/story4.php

Rector ADN Press
http://www.claycountydemocrat.com/story/1441841.html

Recently on Smart City Radio
Host Carol Colletta spoke with Emily Wadhams. She's the Vice President of Public Policy for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington. She says that preserving and retrofitting historic buildings with new technology can be more environmentally friendly that building new buildings.
I encourage you to listen to it here (or to subscribe to the podcast like I do!):

http://smartcityradio.fluidhosting.com/2008/06-June/062608_SMARTCITY.mp3
- having listened to this, I got the impression Ms Colletta was unconvinced that preservationist weren’t still tilting at windmills, hoping to save every structure, no matter condition or potential use. She also seemed skeptical of the idea that retrofitting buildings is the highest & best solution to our energy issues. Lesson here, IMHO, is that we as preservationist have to continue to make the economic case for our work as we continue to fight the [false] impression that we’re hysterical and irrational rather than focused on using preservation as an economic and community development tool. End rant.

Hope VI – Main Street Apportionment
The next round of the FY `08 HOPE VI Main Street Grants Program is now underway. For a PowerPoint orientation, you can visit:

www.mainstreet.org/medialibrary/HOPE-VI-Main-Street-Overview.ppt

This program provides grants of up to $1 million each to small communities for affordable housing projects that are part of a downtown revitalization plan. The program debuted two years ago and three official Main Street communities received funding. Let's build on that achievement!

The deadline for submission is August 18th, 2008. Project requirements are summarized below; complete program details are available in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) which can be found here: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/hope6/grants/fy08/

Grant Opportunities:

National Endowment for the Humanities
America's Historical and Cultural Organizations: Planning Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=42175

National Endowment for the Humanities
America's Historical and Cultural Organizations: Implementation Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=42176

Mid-Career Grant Program 2008

The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation will award a research grant up to $25,000 to mid¬career professionals who have an advanced or professional degree and at least 10 years experience in historic preservation or related fields, including architecture, landscape architecture, architectural conservation, urban design, environmental planning, archeology, architectural history, and the decorative arts. Additional smaller grants, up to $10,000, are made at the discretion of the Trustees.

The grants are intended to support projects of innovative original research or creative design that advance the practice of historic preservation in the U.S. These grants may be partially supported through the generosity of the Kress Foundation.

Please see our web site at www.fitchfoundation.org for details or contact Erin Tobin, Executive Director, at info@fitchfoundation.org.

The application deadline is Friday, September 19, 2008 (postmarked).
ONLINE DONATION OPPORTUNITY
- this is something each of you should do. There are a couple of programs without websites and a couple of programs desperately in need of a website update. I encourage you to use this opportunity as leverage with a local web developer to help with in-kind donation of services. Also consider using DTR funds for website work.
Statewide Partner Preservation Oklahoma received a $10K online contribution this month through its contribution page hosted by the National Trust. This contribution is the largest single gift a Partner has received through this service, which is free to Statewide and Local Partners. Congratulations, POK!
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported that online charitable contributions average the same size as donations made by cash or check. If your organization does not have the capacity to accept online donations, consider a collaboration with the National Trust's Membership Department.
The National Trust can host contribution pages via a secure web site. Activity reports will be e-mailed weekly, with contributions forwarded on a monthly or quarterly basis. There is no fee for this service, and the National Trust will offer a complimentary membership to each contributor. To participate in this free service, get in touch with Margaret Gattis by email or phone, 202.588.6118.
And on that note:

From our friends at alt.Consulting:
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With Google Page Creator (click here), you can build a website in just a few minutes even if you don't have a lot of experience - and it is free. We encourage you to check it out.
The first step to your new website is to sign up for an email address through Google. Your "gmail" name becomes your homepage name so you want to set up your account using some version of your business name.
The process is simple - you choose your layout and design and can easily add text, pictures and links. You preview your site before publishing it and you can easily 'unpublish' it if you want to make more changes.
To demonstrate, alt.Consulting built a new site using Google Page Creator. Click here to check out this site and read a special article on "Management Strategies that Work".

And when you need more than a simple presence on the web, we recommend that you hire a professional website developer to help you add the bells and whistles, allow you to sell items through your website and develop strategies for creating more traffic to your site.

Is America’s Suburban Dream Collapsing Into A Nightmare?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/16/suburb.city/index.html

Historic House Museums Struggling
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-16-historic-homes_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 30, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 23, 2008

We’ve started a YouTube page. Find it here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mainstreetarkansas

NEW: 2008 NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM: NOVEMBER 15-18, LITTLE ROCK more at www.americantrails.org (good place for Rails to Trails information)

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

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

Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 23-27, 2008
Cary – annual leave, all week
Caroline – Preservation Leadership Training, all week
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Nancy, annual
TUESDAY Greg & Susan, Jonesboro
WEDNESDAY Greg & Susan, Walnut Ridge & Rector
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
***************************************************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE
Batesville Press
El Dorado Press
DeWitt Press
SoMa Press
Light Rail, the UACDC & NW Arkansas
Citizens or Customers?
Downtown Kansas City
Tour the State with a Gas Rebate
What the National Register Really Means
Be A Top 20 Event as Ranked by the SE Tourism Society
Major Gifts: Finding the Perfect Donors

Good Downtown Batesville Press:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/45947

Good El Dorado Window Display Workshop Press:
http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2008/06/19/wonders-with-windows-71.php

CBS News Story of the El Dorado Promise
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/16/eveningnews/main4185453.shtml

DeWitt ADN Press:
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/homepage/x746924883/DeWitt-to-join-Main-St-Arkansas
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/x849708419/DeWitt-growing-local-square

SoMa Press:

University of Arkansas’s Community Design Center Recognized for Study Encouraging Light Rail in NW Arkansas
http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/10356.htm
- side note: I agree that light rail is not just needed, but necessary in both NW & Central AR. Costly now, yes, but more costly not to act, IMHO. Additionally, light rail would be a boon to our downtowns & other dense areas.

Do We Want To Be Citizens or Customers?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/06/12/Rykwert/index.html
interview with Joseph Rykwert, architectural historian & author (though I think he means Truman Show, not Truman Papers)

Downtown Kansas City

Here’s an interesting series of articles from the Kansas City Star last month. It’s a look at how much progress the downtown area has made in recent years and, intriguingly, a “report card” on specific elements of the turnaround. The report card is worth some time examining. Could it be used in other places to measure progress?

http://www.kansascity.com/downtown

TOUR THE STATE WITH A GAS REBATE
We don’t have to tell you about the high cost of gasoline. Today in Arkansas, unleaded fuel is averaging $3.89 per gallon.
Certainly, high gas prices are having an impact on the state’s tourism economy – both good and bad. In one respect, those who might travel out of state are staying closer to home, but the opposite is true, too.
To encourage more in-state tourism, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism said Tuesday that travelers to certain destinations within the state can receive gas rebates through the state's tourism web site, www.arkansas.com/hotdeals. Look under the tab that reads “gas rebates/offers” to view a full selection of businesses offering gas discounts.
The deals vary by location and include other incentives, too. For instance, you could get 10 gallons of gas at The Buffalo Outdoor Center in Ponca, or take $35 off a night's stay at one of the local luxury cabins through the end of the month.

Hotels in Little Rock and Rogers are offering gas cards of $20 or more if you book a reservation with them. Arsenic and Old Lace Bed & Breakfast Inn in Eureka Springs is offering $15 towards a room stay with a reservation of two or more nights through July 31.

If you’re a business wanting to participate in the incentive program, Parks and Tourism officials say a simple contact with the agency will get the process started.
Here’s more on the subject from our content partner, the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.

What Listing on the National Register of Historic Places Really Means
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2008/story-of-the-week/whats-in-a-name.html

Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society

Since 1985, the Southeast Tourism Society has published the Top 20 Events publication. Through a nomination process, the society chooses the Top 20 events going on in the Southeast for each month of the year, and publishes this list of winners quarterly. This publication is sent to over 300 newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, and others, as well as 125 AAA publications. The combined circulation runs into the millions. Current Top 20 Events are listed online at http://southeasttourism.org/top20/top20_julsep08.html.

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is a member of the Southeast Tourism Society. As a result, festivals and events in Arkansas may be submitted for the Top 20 Events publication, if they meet the following requirements set forth by the Southeast Tourism Society:

• 1,000 in attendance
• 3rd year in existence
• Payment of $10 nomination fee per event

Top 20 Events strongly encourages you to strengthen your nomination by providing supporting material such as:

• Photos
• Posters
• Brochures
• Press Releases
• News Clippings
• Volunteer Programs

Deadlines for Applications:

Event Occurring In: Submit by:
January/February/March 2009 July 11, 2008
April/May/June 2009 October 10, 2008
July/August/September 2009 January 9, 2009
October/November/December 2009 April 10, 2009
January/February/March 2010 July 10, 2009
April/May/June 2010 October 9, 2009
July/August/September 2010 January 8, 2010
October/November/December 2010 April 9, 2010

If you would like to nominate your event, contact the Tourism Development Section at (501) 682-5240 or e-mail kristine.puckett@arkansas.gov.

Major Gifts: Finding the Perfect Donors

Presenter: Julie Goebl
Date: Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Arkansas Community Foundation – Union Station
1400 W Markham, Ste 206, Little Rock, AR 72201
Cost: No Fee to Attend
To register: Go to http://sforce.benevon.com/intros/southern.htm and fill out the registration form. RSVP Required! Space is Limited.
Questions: Contact Alaina Szlachta at 206-709-9400 ext. 132 or alaina.szlachta@benevon.com
Learn a tested system to identify and cultivate donors who love your mission—donors who will give for operations, capital, and endowment. Find out how to grow your organization’s visibility in the community and engage your board in the fundraising process without requiring that they ask for money. This entry level workshop is designed for board members, executive directors, CEOs, and fund development professionals. By the end of this seminar you will have the fundamentals to embark on the path to sustainability and grow your major gifts programs year after year.
If you are unable to attend this session, please visit our Introductory Sessions Web page at benevon.com/introductions/default for information about conference call opportunities and other live in-person sessions in your area.

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 16, 2008

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

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

Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 16-20, 2008
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Cary, annual
TUESDAY Cary, annual; Susan & Mark – El Dorado (Window Display & Business Assistance Workshop)
WEDNESDAY Susan & Mark – El Dorado (Window Display & Business Assistance Workshop)
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
***************************************************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE
JONESBORO ADN PRESS
DEWITT ADN PRESS
MAIN STREET HARRISON PRESS
WALGREENS IN SOMA A NO-GO
LR’S CHERI NICHOLS DOG IN THE THIS PLACE MATTERS CAMPAIGN
4 GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
AHPP ACCEPTING PRE-APPLICATIONS FOR HPRG GRANTS
AWARD OPPORTUNITY
PRESNTATIONS FROM RECENT LISC FORUM AVAILABLE

Jonesboro ADN Press
http://www.jonesborosun.com/archivedstory.php?ID=33383&Search=downtown

DeWitt ADN Press
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/x746924883/DeWitt-to-join-Main-St-Arkansas

FedEx Boost Skate Park in Downtown Harrison
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/06/04/news/doc4846c5f464a64203773748.txt

Watch MSH’s Cookin’ On The Creek Commercial
http://mainstreetarkansas.blogspot.com/2008/06/main-street-harrisons-cookin-on-creek.html

Walgreens A No-Go in the SoMa Area
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2008/06/thumbs_down_for_walgreens.aspx
- this has been quite the interesting debate. I’ve asked Judi to speak about this for a ‘special topic’ during the roundtable at the upcoming Hardy Quarterly Training

Arkansas National Trust Advisor Cheri Nichols’ dog showcasing her house for the This Place Matters campaign
http://my.preservationnation.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=1802&page=NewsArticle&id=8195&security=1762&JServSessionIdr009=61s59qfmd2.app1a

Grant Opportunity
Professional Development Grants for Archives and Historical Publishing
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41915

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals to improve the training and education of professionals in the archival and historical publishing communities. Projects can be for professional education curriculum development; for basic and advanced institutes; or research seminars.

Interpreting America's Historic Places Planning Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41936

As part of the NEH's We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Interpreting America’s Historic Places planning grants support planning that leads to the interpretation of a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region.

Interpreting America's Historic Places Implementation Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41937

As part of the NEH’s We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Interpreting America’s Historic Places projects may interpret a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. The place taken as a whole must be significant to American history, and the project must convey its historic importance to visitors.

New Grant and Technical Assistance to Encourage Community Center Schools

Is your state facing threats of demolition or abandonment of neighborhood schools? When new schools are built, can your children to walk to their school? Do decision-makers understand the many roles schools play within your community? In addition to reaching educational objectives, do you believe that schools can serve other purposes in your neighborhood?

Concerned about the abandonment of older neighborhood schools and the siting of new schools outside of communities, the National Trust is offering an opportunity for organizations and coalitions in up to five states to analyze their state’s current policies and develop an educational outreach program with policy recommendations to help citizens and officials make informed choices when spending their limited dollars on school facilities. Selected organizations will receive a year of technical assistance and a $6,000 grant to: 1) research state policies and practices; 2) convene a policy summit to develop recommendations; 3) develop educational materials; and 4) hold a press event to announce policy findings. By participating in this program, organizations will secure community-centered schools for their state through the implementation of state-level policies. The proposal deadline is July 14, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. eastern.

Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and with support from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, the National Trust launched the Helping Johnny Walk to School: Sustaining Communities through Smart School Siting Policies program to help localities site their schools in a way that not only achieves their educational objectives, but also anchors the local neighborhood, supports better public health, creates a cleaner environment, spurs economic development, and offers additional amenities to the community.

Since publishing the seminal work Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School: Historic Neighborhood Schools in the Age of Sprawl and listing the threat to older neighborhood schools on the America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Sites list in 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has continually sought ways to raise awareness about the important link between community vitality and walkable neighborhood schools. This new effort is a program of the National Trust Center for State and Local Policy which provides technical assistance, trains advocates, and conducts research on policies that impact the country’s historic resources. Partners in this work with include authors Constance Beaumont and Tom Hylton, as well as organizations such as Safe Routes to School, The Rural School and Community Trust, and the 21st Century School Fund.

For more information about this issue and details about applying for this new grant opportunity, visit http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/historic-schools/ or contact Renee Viers Kuhlman, Director of Special Projects, Center for State and Local Policy, at Phone: 202-588-6234, e-mail: renee_kuhlman@nthp.org.

AHPP ACCEPTING PRE-APPLICATIONS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANTS
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, will now accept Letters of Intent at any time during the year from constituents who intend to apply for grant funding through its Historic Preservation Restoration Grant and County Courthouse Restoration Subgrant programs, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced today.
“Each historic building has a unique set of preservation concerns and we attempt to work with each applicant to prioritize these specific issues. For example, if a property has a leaking roof, we would not award a grant for a floor restoration,” McSwain said. “By sending Letters of Intent, potential applicants can receive technical assistance from the AHPP and ensure that their grant requests during the spring grant cycle focus on things that will help ensure the long-term survival of their historic buildings.”
Two Historic Preservation Restoration Grant options are available:
• Option 1 grants of up to $10,000 are available to the owners of properties that are listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places or are non-contributing structures in National Register historic districts if the grant project will make the property eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and the owner follows through with National Register listing
• Option 2 grants of $10,000 or more are available to the owners of properties that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and owned by a not-for-profit organization or a local government.
County Courthouse Restoration Subgrants are available for preservation work at county courthouse buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The program uses funds provided by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, which distributes money raised through the state Real Estate Transfer Tax.
Guidelines and applications for the Letters of can be downloaded from the AHPP web site at http://www.arkansaspreservation.org/preservation-services/grant-programs/ or by writing AHPP Grants, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center St., Little Rock, AR 72201. Requests also can be sent to the agency via fax at (501) 324-9184 or via e-mail at joia@arkansasheritage.org

Independent Sector Accepting Nominations for the John W. Gardner Leadership Award

Deadline: January 30, 2009

The John W. Gardner Leadership Award was established in 1985 to honor outstanding Americans who exemplify the leadership and ideals of John W. Gardner (1912-2002), American statesman and founding chair of Independent Sector (http://www.independentsector.org/ ).

Independent Sector presents the award each year to an individual whose leadership in or with the nonprofit community has been transformative and who has mobilized and unified people, institutions, or causes that improve people's lives.

Accompanying this award is a prize of $10,000 and a replica of an original relief bust of John Gardner.

Anyone may nominate an individual for the award. Nominations should be made without the candidate's knowledge.

Visit the Independent Sector Web site for nomination guidelines and a nomination form.

Want Copies of the Presentations Given at LISC’s latest Urban Forum? Go here:
http://www.lisc.org/urbanforum/conference/schedule.php
- click on the session that interests you (for example Monday’s 2pm session on Negotiating TIF’s To A Better Community) & you’ll see a link to a pdf version of the session handouts.

Friday, June 13, 2008

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
***************************************************************************************************************
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)
***************************************************************************************************************
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.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 2, 2008

MSA IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE’VE ADDED EIGHT NEW DOWNTOWN NETWORK COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE:

CRAWFORDSVILLE
DEWITT
SHERIDAN
RECTOR
SILOAM SPRINGS
WALNUT RIDGE
MORRILTON
JONESBORO

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

NEW – 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

Main Street Arkansas Calendar June 2-6, 2008

***************************************************************************************************************

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY Susan & Mark - annual
THURSDAY Cary, West Memphis, HR work; Susan & Mark – annual
FRIDAY Greg, Morrilton

***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:

BATESVILLE PRESS

FESTIVAL IDEA

SELF GUIDED AUDIO TOUR IN LR

THE EFFECT OF FESTIVALS UNCLEAR

STAYCATIONS

ON THE MEDIA

DOWNTOWN LIBRARIES BACK IN STYLE

5 GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

THE COLLABORATION PRIZE

Good Main Street Batesville Press:

http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/45488

Looking for a new festival idea? Here’s what’s being done in Louisville, KY.

www.lebowskifest.com

Why Louisville? Because they thought of it first.

What’s weird & hasn’t been capitalized upon yet? Food for thought for the Promotions Committee.

New Self Guided Audio Tour in Little Rock

www.littlerock.com/audiotour/default.asp

a story about the tour: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=66541&catid=2

this idea was paid for, in part, by a Department of Heritage grant.

Trickle Down Effect of Festivals Unclear

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/227532

Staycations:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2008/04/staycation.html

This week's episode of NPR's On The Media is about place:
http://www.onthemedia.org/

Downtown Libraries Are Back In Style

http://pcj.typepad.com/planning_commissioners_jo/2008/05/downtown-librar.html#more

Grant to Participate in Three Brownfields Conferences

- this is one many of you should take a long, hard look at. There are numerous potential brownfields in our Main Street & Network communities which could be turned into viable property with the right remediation. Main Street Argenta recently completed a successful brownfield clean-up.

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41795

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals from eligible entities (as defined at Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 104(k)(1)) and non-profit organizations for financial assistance to assist non-federal personnel (states, tribes, local governments, non-profits, industry and community groups) in participating in three national Brownfields conferences to be planned and held over a five-year period, beginning in 2009.

The Brownfields conferences provide training, research and technical assistance to communities to facilitate the inventory of brownfield sites, site assessments and remediation of brownfield sites, community involvement, and site preparation. The successful applicant will be the primary non-federal co-sponsor for the conference and EPA will be the primary federal co-sponsor.

NEW PRESERVE AMERICA STEWARDS PROGRAM

The new Preserve America initiative—Preserve America Stewards—will recognize exemplary stewardship programs that have demonstrated a successful use of volunteer time and commitment in order to help care for our cultural heritage. Government entities (federal, tribal, state, or local), non-profit organizations, and businesses are eligible to apply to have their programs recognized. Designated programs will receive a certificate of recognition as well as a letter of congratulations signed by First Lady, Mrs. Bush, similar to the existing Preserve America Community recognition program. The application form and guidance are available at www.preserveamerica.gov. While the quarterly schedule for submissions makes June 1st the next deadline, applicants are encouraged to submit applications at any time over the summer if they are interested in being among the first programs to be designated as Preserve America Stewards. For further information, contact Druscilla Null at dnull@achp.gov or at 202-606-8532.

Grant Opportunities:

Grants for America’s Media Makers

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41720

Grants for America’s Media Makers support media projects that explore significant events, figures, or developments in the humanities and offer creative and new approaches to humanities content. America’s Media Makers projects promote active exploration and engagement for broad public audiences in history, literature, archaeology, art history, comparative religion, philosophy, and other fields of the humanities. NEH supports the development of humanities content and interactivity that excites, informs, and stirs thoughtful reflection and urges applicants to consider more than one format for presenting humanities ideas to the public.

Grant for Historical Publications & Records

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41708

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission promotes the preservation and use of America's documentary heritage essential to understanding our democracy, history, and culture. The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals for archives and records projects to carry out fundamental archival activities that promote the preservation and use of America's documentary heritage essential to understanding our democracy, history, and culture. The Commission is particularly concerned that some historical collections in archives and repositories are difficult for most researchers to find because they are not processed or represented in national catalogs.

Grant for Historical Publications & Records

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=41711

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission supports projects that promote the preservation and use of America's documentary heritage essential to understanding our democracy, history, and culture. The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals to publish historical records of national significance. Projects may focus on the papers of major figures from American life or cover broad historical movements in politics, military, business, reform movements, the arts, and other aspects of the national experience.

Preserve America Grants: Applications for Round Two of funding for FY 2008 Preserve America grants are now available. The Preserve America matching-grant program provides planning funding to designated Preserve America Communities to support preservation efforts through heritage tourism, education, and historic preservation planning. The application is available at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/hpg/PreserveAmerica/application.htm. Due June 30, 2008:

- Towns can apply for PA grants even WITHOUT yet being named a PA community. You simply must have your PA application ‘in the pipeline’. Gaining PA status is pretty easy. We can provide you with sample PA applications. Arkansas PA communities are:

Blytheville
Dumas
El Dorado
Eureka Springs
Fort Smith
Helena
Little Rock
Osceola
Van Buren

Why should nonprofits compete when they can do more through collaboration?
Introducing The Collaboration Prize, a $250,000 prize that recognizes collaborations among two or more nonprofit organizations that each would otherwise provide the same or similar programs or services and compete for clients, financial resources and staff.

If you know about a prize-worthy collaboration, forward this message to the nonprofits involved. Nominations are accepted starting June 1, 2008.
Visit www.thecollaborationprize.org for details.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - May 28, 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

LAST CALL - INVOICES for GRANTS awarded this fiscal year DUE in office THIS FRIDAY, MAY 30 – no exceptions!

OCTOBER 6-8, DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, BAY ST. LOUIS, MS

OCTOBER 21-25 – NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, TULSA, OK

Main Street Arkansas Calendar May 27-30, 2008

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MONDAY MSA offices closed for Memorial Day
TUESDAY Caroline – ill
WEDNESDAY Mark & Susan, El Dorado
THURSDAY Main Street Arkansas Advisory Board Meeting
FRIDAY Cary – out

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AHPP LETTER TO AR BIZ
DODDS LETTER TO AR BIZ
SoMa PRESS
NATURALLY ARKANSAS
SPRING RUNS CELEBRATE NATURAL BEAUTY OF DOWNTOWN
HOW TO CHOOSE BEST TREES FOR URBAN LANDSCAPE
LOCAL HORITCULTURAL TALENTS SHOWCASED THROUGH GARDEN AND HOUSE TOURS
PROMOTE LOCAL FLORAL ARTISTRY DOWNTOWN THOUGH JURIED SHOWS & EXHIBITIONS
MAIN STREET ORVILLE, OHIO IMPLEMENTS SUCCESSFUL HANGING BASKET PROGRAM

AHPP LETTER TO AR BIZ (Full Text Posted at the End of the E-Blast)
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=105084

PAUL DODDS’ LETTER TO AR BIZ (Full Text Posted at the End of the E-Blast)
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=105267
- Paul is the President of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas

Southside Main Street invites passers-by to have a seat, enjoy
http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/may/20/southside-main-street-invites-passers--ha-20080520/
- subscriber only, sorry.

Naturally Arkansas:
Visit Naturally Arkansas at: http://www.naturallyarkansas.org/, to learn about “Arkansas Grown,” the Arkansas Agricultural Department’s trademark for local products. Use their web site to look up local products in your area, and become acquainted with the farmers markets in your county. Naturally Arkansas a great network of all things local, for farmers, vendors—even entrepreneurial chefs who wish to buy local, and support the local economy.

Make use of horticultural resources for streetscape advice:

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service has offices in every county in the state. Contact them for advice as you landscape your downtown. Visit their web site at: http://www.uaex.edu/

Also visit the National Arbor Day Foundation and become a tree guru. Browse their database for tree types and find out what is most suitable to you downtown and climate. http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeGuide/browseTrees.cfm

Spring Runs Bring People into downtown and surrounding neighborhoods:

Add a Spring Run to one of your festivals downtown this year. The City of Oxford, Mississippi does a tremendous job with their annual Double Decker Festival. They routed the runs and walks, involving all ages, through Oxford’s surrounding historic neighborhoods. Read all about it: http://www.oxfordcvb.com/doubledecker/2008/run.html

Showcase Southern charm through local garden and house tours:

Gardening is the top hobby in America today. Almost every Southern town has an older surrounding neighborhood universally known for its eye-catching house gardens. Historic Charleston Foundation does a terrific job of showcasing the area’s most beautiful historic homes and charming Southern gardens. It’s a great way for communities to promote their downtown neighborhoods, and highlight the local green thumbs. For ideas, visit Charleston’s Festival of Houses and Gardens at: http://www.historiccharleston.org/news_events/festival.html. They’ve got some great festivities incorporated into the festival, involving local artists, musicians, chefs and such. Think about inviting neighbors to collaborate to produce a classic neighborhood event.

Exhibit Local Floral Artistry:

Local florists and master gardeners in your community may be quietly itching to show off their artistic talents and compete to produce exquisite pieces for the public to view. The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) just held its annual “Art in Bloom” exhibition earlier this month, where flowers were exhibited as fine art. http://www.artsmia.org/art-in-bloom But if you don’t have the wherewithal to host such an exhibition, consider transforming MIA’s exhibition into a broader downtown event. A few ideas: A sponsored competition of hanging and non-hanging flower boxes, free-standing floral sculptures, and fountain projects for public gathering places. Involve your local community master gardeners, university horticultural programs, 4-H kids, and neighborhood gardener gurus. Make it a juried show with prizes, and plan an evening event with music and food downtown.

Main Street Orville shares successful hanging basket program:

The Main Street Orville program, in Ohio, just finished hanging 250 hanging baskets in their downtown. The flower program is entirely funded by voluntary donations through a program they call Bloomin’ Orrville! The total cost is about $11,000 for the season. The cost covers the flowers and a maintenance contract with a local green house. Executive Director Darin Wasniewski reports, “This year we doubled the size of the program and the community stepped right up.” Main Street Orville worked with the local government and municipal utilities to provide a “painless” way to donate, Wasniewski said. Utility customers sign a contract to have $1, $2, $5, or $10 a month added to their utility bill. This money goes into a special fund for the Bloomin’ Orrville! program that they were able to request monies from to cover expenses. The donation stays in effect until the customer opts out. Main Street Orville raises nearly $6000 per year through this method alone and expect to increase funds each year. For more information on the hanging basket program, feel free to email Executive Director Darrin Wasniewski at: darrin@mainstreetorrville.org

Stranded in Suburbia

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/opinion/19krugman.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=login&oref=slogin

11 Most Endangered Announced

http://blogs.nationaltrust.org/preservationnation/?p=588

- and a nice discussion about the list on MetaFilter.

http://www.metafilter.com/71824/Coming-Soon-A-pink-hotel-a-boutique-and-a-swinging-hot-spot

AHPP LETTER TO AR BIZ PRINTED IN THE MAY 19-25 ISSUE

As the state's chief advocate for historic preservation, I am compelled to respond to comments noted in the most recent Arkansas Business about the economic sense of restoring "old" or historic buildings.

To begin with, I am forced to address the issue of tearing down a building to make more parking - when it comes to revitalizing downtowns, density is critical. Little Rock is littered with surface parking lots, gaps in the proverbial teeth of our building stock, and the last thing this city needs is more surface parking. In fact, except in the economically strongest downtowns, rarely is the quantity of available parking spaces the issue. There are plenty of spaces. The issue is nearly always management of the parking that already exists. Also, a surface parking lot precludes the sale of goods and services in that location. Almost no use provides less property tax revenue than a surface parking lot.

Secondly, now that we're living in a "green" world, we must recognize that the greenest building is the one that's already built. If we're not thinking of the embodied energy lost in tearing down a historic building and the energy it takes to create a new building, then we're not looking at the construction picture holistically. As a comparison, tearing down one small historic building wipes out the entire environmental benefit from the last 1,344,000 aluminum cans that were recycled. Nearly a quarter of everything dumped at landfills is from construction debris. We don't often think about the environment in relation to the demolition of historic buildings. Historic preservation is the ultimate recycling.

We must also consider the quality of place that our historic built environment creates. Economic development in the 21st century means recruiting the most talented people. In recruiting people, place matters and that place almost always starts downtown where the majority of our historic buildings are located.

It's true that with the rise of construction costs (affected by everything from Katrina to the cost of fuel), rehabilitation costs are rising with everything else. That's why we need additional incentives to rehabilitate our historic buildings. Also, rehabilitating our densely built commercial core keeps our cities from being disconnected, which encourages a community's walkability - an important issue when fuel is growing closer to $4 a gallon and the waistline is growing at a similar pace.

We also need to recognize that the economic value of real estate stems not from within four walls and a roof but rather the context within which the individual property exists. We've seen the value of property in the River Market [District] and Argenta rise exponentially in the last 10 or so years. While there are many reasons for that, I submit that the No. 1 reason is the focus on historic preservation in both areas.

Frances "Missy" McSwain
Director, Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program
Little Rock

Only Asphalt Counts (Paul Dodds Commentary)
By Paul Dodds - 5/26/2008

Printed in May 26 Issue

(Editor's Note: Arkansas Business has not taken a position in favor of parking rather than historic renovation by Central Arkansas Library System or any other entity. The article Paul Dodds references was a news story exploring the use of taxpayer dollars on a construction project whose price tag grew from $5 million to $15.5 million. A single quote from veteran Little Rock appraiser Tom Ferstl was the only reference to parking in the 1,500-word article.)

Arkansas Business published on May 5 an article about the Central Arkansas Library System's Arkansas Studies Center. The article presented this important historic renovation as a vain, ill-conceived waste of taxpayer money. In it, the reporter approvingly quoted an appraiser who looked at the project and asked: "Are we really getting our best bang for the buck? You could've put parking in where the buildings are. That has been one of my pet gripes. The library doesn't have enough parking as it is."

Parking vs. preserving irreplaceable buildings for generations of public use? It is clear where the priorities of Arkansas Business lie. Parking. Rip the heart out of the city and replace it with the only economically sane use of the land. Parking. Destroy buildings that provide a major part of the backdrop of the most successful street in Arkansas. For what? Parking. The only sensible choice!

Isn't it time we stopped repeating this kind of litany as if it were true? How much of our social fabric do we have to shred in our refusal to honor either public spaces or the true economic and social values that historic preservation bring us? This kind of shortsighted miscalculation leads to nothing but ugliness and cheapness. It is not the kind of thinking that has made this country great. It leads us down exactly the wrong path. Parking.

We reject the analysis presented by Arkansas Business and refuse to believe that parking is the only rational choice. Clearly, preserving historic buildings is expensive. We know that. Every time anyone tries to save an older building, he or she opens up a can of worms - some worse than others. Building major public spaces for future generations is also always expensive. But when the malls are shuttered and the sprawl grows tired, this complex will still serve, and serve beautifully. It guards, and will help form, the city's living core.

Archives carry huge dead load weights. This is expensive, far more so than office buildings, however green and lovely. In comparing this historic rehab to the Heifer International building, the article compared apples to oranges without really admitting it. The article also failed to note that construction costs everywhere have increased dramatically since the Heifer building went up. Prices are not those of three years ago and not those of when this building was first planned. While skimming over these facts supported the article's "outraged taxpayer" tone, it did so unfairly. We cherish our free press and agree that public servants should be held to high standards - high, fair standards.

The Central Arkansas Library is an anchor for downtown, a building of which all Arkansans can be proud. Bobby Roberts' tenacious foresight is a gift. In measuring value, let's go past the comparison to asphalt and look again. Let's look at the value of the buildings around CALS and the value of the private investment that now flows through the River Market area, thanks in no small part to Bobby Roberts' vision.

Before Arkansas Business readers cluck and condemn Bobby Roberts as a wasteful fool for spending $233 per square foot to save the heart of Little Rock, ask some of the neighbors. How much per-square-foot value would First Security Building owners lose if their main neighbor were tarmac? How much would the Third Street tower lose? How much would the bars, restaurants and shops up and down Markham lose? How much tax revenue would be lost if a key block of downtown were devoted to nothingness and all the area around lost appeal? Add that up with the sharp pencil and tell us again. How dumb, really, was this public investment in preservation and creation of meaningful shared space?

Perhaps not so dumb after all. Hard to capture, we know, but real. These values are real. The CALS complex creates and supports the market all around it, and we all benefit. It is historic preservation at its most difficult and its most important. Please, Arkansas, reject the kind of leadership to nowhere that Arkansas Business' false "expose" seems to demand. There is another way, and it is far, far better than more blank, dead asphalt.

(Paul Dodds is president of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. E-mail him at paul@dodds.us.)

Main Street Arkansas

Monday, August 25, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - August 25, 2008

Friday, August 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 21, 2008

Monday, July 14, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 14, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - July 7, 2008

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 30, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 23, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 16, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 9, 2008

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - June 2, 2008

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - May 28, 2008

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Friday, August 1, 2008

Monday, July 14, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

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