Monday, February 9, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - February 9, 2009

MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO

Main Street Arkansas Calendar February 9-13, 2009
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MONDAY Cary & Caroline, NE AR; Susan, out
TUESDAY Cary & Caroline, Paragould
WEDNESDAY Cary & Caroline, Blytheville; Greg, Eureka Springs
THURSDAY Caroline – Russellville; Greg, Eureka Springs; Susan, Blytheville
FRIDAY Greg, Eureka Springs
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Grant Opportunity
On-Line Legal E-Source
Radomski Citizen of the Year
Historic Preservation Eliminated for Senate Stimulus Package
Lecture on Non-Profits at the Clinton Center
City Park Land For Sale, Cheap
Grant Opportunity
Award Opportunity



ElevationWeb Tech Grant Opportunity

ElevationWeb is a socially conscious web development firm. They are extending their grant match through the end of 2009. In 2008, we allocated approximately $200,000 to NGOs who needed assistance with web development and programming. You can learn more about us at www.elevationweb.org. The application for assistance is available at www.elevationweb.org/match08.html or by clicking the black box on our home page
If you do not have an RFP, please complete the application form by clicking here or by visiting the following link: www.elevationweb.org/app09.php

OnLine Legal E-Source – Free Info from UA
http://www.uacted.uark.edu/legalesource/index.html

DeWitt PRIDE’s Radomski Is Citizen of the Year
http://www.dewitt-ee.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/news01.txt


Historic Preservation Funding Eliminated from Senate Stimulus Package

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/07/stimulus.cuts/index.html

Uncharitable

How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential
A leading expert on innovation in the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, Dan Pallotta will discuss his book "Uncharitable," which questions society’s fundamental canons about charity and calls for a dramatic shift in the current way charities are regulated.

Pallotta's insurgent thesis is that society’s nonprofit ethic undermines its ability to eradicate great problems, and, ironically, puts charity at a severe disadvantage to the for-profit sector at every level. There are two rule books; one for charity, and one for everything else, Pallotta argues.
When: Friday, February 13, 2009
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Lunch & Lecture
Where: Clinton School of Public Service
Sturgis Hall
*Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling 501.683.5239.
Watch Clinton School Lectures Online
- You can now view past Clinton School lectures, including Tuesday's appearance from renowned author and journalist Bob Woodward, online at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com

I know you can’t all attend, but encourage you to watch the lecture online once it’s posted. This is applicable to the work we do.

City Park Land For Sale (Column)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/251500
- I think Kane Webb is the closest thing we have to a ‘city’ columnist & try to link to each of his columns about city issues. For anyone who cares about Ray Winder, this is worth a read.

Grant Opportunity
:
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45018
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
1. Develop a program involving cooperative efforts in cultural and natural resource conservation related to projects such as trail development and maintenance, historic, cultural, forest and timber management, minor construction work, archeological conservation, and native plant habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
2. Promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement, and furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults in care and enhancement of public resources.
3. Continue the longstanding efforts of the NPS to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment, minority youth development and training, and participation of young adults in accomplishing conservation-related work.

SESAH seeks nominations for the Best of the South: Preserving Southern Architecture Award.

This annual award honors a project that preserves or restores an historic building, or complex of buildings in an outstanding manner and that demonstrates excellence in research, technique, and documentation. Projects in the twelve-state region of SESAH that were completed in 2007 or 2008 are eligible.

Nominations should consist of no more than two typed pages of description, and be accompanied by hard copy illustrations and any other supporting material. A cover letter should identify the owner of the project, the use of the building(s), and the names of all major participants of the project.

For more information, please contact the Best of the South Award committee chair Julia R. King at julia.r.king@gmail.com. Send three (3) hard copies of the nomination to Virginia Price at
2162 North Brandywine Street, Arlington, VA 22207. The deadline for submissions is
June 30, 2009.

Winners will be announced at the 27th SESAH Annual Meeting in Jackson, Mississippi in October.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 26, 2009

MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO


Main Street Arkansas Calendar January 26 – 30, 2009
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Caroline – out
TUESDAY Nancy – Helena
WEDNESDAY Greg, Mark, Susan, Caroline – Searcy
THURSDAY Greg, Mark – Searcy
FRIDAY Cary, Greg, Caroline, Susan – out p.m.
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Arkansas’s Analysis of Future Traffic Congestion & Capacity Needs
Local & Loving It
New Mexico Main Street White Papers on the 4-Points and the Recession
2008 Arkansas Small Business Profile


Arkansas’s Analysis of Future Traffic Congestion & Capacity Needs
http://www.reason.org/ps346/ar.shtml
- we’re ranked 29th in the US http://www.reason.org/ps346/maps/state.shtml

Local & Loving It

http://www.usaweekend.com/08_issues/081228/081228green-local.html
- Thanks to Betsy McGuire for pointing this out to me. This article provides updated reinvestment statistics. They are:
• Of every $100 spent in a chain store, $14 goes back into the local economy. For a locally owned business, $45 goes back (Institute for Local Self Reliance)

New Mexico Main Street’s White Paper’s on Dealing with the 4-Points During A Recession
http://www.edd.state.nm.us/mainStreet/insideTrack/index.html
- these are excellent pieces & well worth your time. Scroll down to the bottom of the page & click the links. They’re in pdf format.

Arkansas’s 2008 Small Business Profile
http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/profiles/08ar.pdf

Friday, January 16, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 19, 2009

DATES TO REMEMBER:

T
HIS WEEK - JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO



Main Street Arkansas Calendar January 19 – 23, 2009
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY office closed, MLK Day
TUESDAY QUARTERLY TRAINING
WEDNESDAY QUARTERLY TRAINING
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
Bill Would Create Tax Credits for Business Improvement Districts
Main Street Harrison Press
National Main Street Trends Survey
TopEventsUSA.com
Grant Opportunity
Small Business Seminars in Arkansas


Bill Would Create Tax Credits for Business Improvement Districts
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=111234
Rep. Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, on Monday filed HB1060 and HB1059, which would establish a state investment tax credit for central business improvement districts.
The texts of the full bills are available here and here

More on that here:
http://tinyurl.com/HB-1059-60

Good Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2009/01/12/news/doc496914ec6a02d352994744.txt

http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2009/01/14/news/doc496e2550a43fd615035815.txt

Announcing the 2009 National Main Streets Trends Survey: Be Heard!

In 2008, the national media talked a lot about what has been happening on “Main Street.” Have you noticed that reporters on the nightly news refer to Main Street as any street that isn’t Wall Street?

Now’s your chance to tell us what has been happening on the real Main Streets—the revitalizing commercial districts that are the heart of civic life and local economies. Please give us 15-20 minutes of your time to complete the online 2009 National Main Street Trends Survey. Make sure your voice is heard as we take the pulse of the Main Street movement.

This year we ask about your successes, how your holiday shopping season went, and how your program uses social media tools. A few questions ask you to estimate the number of businesses in your district (and the % change from last year), the number of rehab projects, the number of business openings and closings, and your operational budget. We use this information to determine the state of Main Street, create national news, and learn about your innovative ideas and triumphs for case study material for our National Main Streets Conference Opening Plenary presentation and other Center materials.

Be sure to fill it out before Wednesday, January 28, 2009.

Go to the survey now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=sKOFr17pr8MlJv72iT1CIQ_3d_3d

TopEventsUSA.com’s Top Arkansas Events
http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-arkansas.html

Only a few events are listed in Main Street or Network towns. Nominate your events here:
http://www.topeventsusa.com/top-events-nominations.html

Grants Target Environmental and Social Justice Programs
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

The mission of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is to promote a sustainable and just social and natural system. The Foundation provides support to grassroots nonprofit organizations nationwide through the following grantmaking programs. The Foundation's Protect the Health and Environment of Communities Threatened by Toxics program supports state and regional organizations that address toxics exposure and contamination. The Advance Environmental Justice program supports organizations that work to counter environmental degradation in low-income communities and communities of color. The Promote a Sustainable Agricultural and Food System program supports rural and urban organizations that focus on issues involving sustainable agriculture and community food security. The Ensure Quality Reproductive Health Care as a Human Right program supports organizations that advocate for public policies to safeguard reproductive freedom. Letters of inquiry may be submitted throughout the year. Visit the website listed above for details on each of the Foundation's grantmaking programs.


Two great seminars at 15 locations...
Starting a Business in Arkansas
If you're thinking of going into business, then this seminar is the place to start.
• Business plan keys for success
• Requirements to start a business
• Common pitfalls to avoid
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 6 - 9 P.M.
Growing Your Business in Tough Economic Times
Looking for ways to recession-proof your existing business? Learn how your small business can survive and thrive.
• Guerilla Marketing
• Cash flow and inventory management
• Customer satisfaction and retention
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 6 - 9 P.M.
For More Information or To Register, Click Here!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 5, 2009

As we begin a new year, I want to start our communication with a sincere “thank you” for all the work you do. Your commitment, particularly the commitment of our volunteers, truly makes a difference in each & every one of your towns. Our work, revitalizing our historic downtowns, provides an improved quality of place. This makes towns better places to live and aids in economic recruitment on both the large & small scale. Again, thank you.

If you’re looking for a roommate for the upcoming National Main Streets Conference, please let one of us know.

One administrative note – this is the time when new boards & officers are elected. Staff members - please send me contact information for people who need to be added to this e-blast. If your term has ended & you’d like to unsubscribe, just drop me an email.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO



Main Street Arkansas Calendar January 5-9, 2009
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Greg, Susan, Mark – Rogers; Cary, LR (pm)
TUESDAY Greg, Susan, Mark - Rogers
WEDNESDAY Nancy – Walnut Ridge
THURSDAY Caroline – Harrison
FRIDAY HPAA Awards Banquet
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
*************************************************************************************
Bail Out the Arts
Call for Photos
Eureka Press
Walnut Ridge Press
Harrison Press
*************************************************************************************
Bail Out the Arts!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/28/AR2008122801274.html

Call for photos
During the Conference Opening Plenary, we will again showcase great images of activity in Main Street communities and would love to include your most recent photos. We will select the best quality images for the Opening Plenary slide show, as well as for upcoming issues of Main Street News, our website, and presentations.
Submit your photos here!

Good Eureka Springs Press:
http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1487274.html

Walnut Ridge’s Acceptance to the Downtown Network Among Top Stories of 08 in Lawrence County
http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2008-12-31/news/story3.php

Harrison Hotel Seville Press:
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=110806

Monday, December 15, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 15, 2008

If you’re looking for a roommate for the upcoming National Main Streets Conference, please let one of us know.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO



Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 15-19, 2008
Greg – out all week, annual leave
***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Mark & Susan – Rogers
TUESDAY Mark - Searcy
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
*************************************************************************************
MSA Receives AR Humanities Council Grant
MSA Henry Award Finalist
CDBG
Good Main Street Harrison Press
Heritage Months Grants (due today)
Non-Profits Contribute $8 billion to AR Economy
Specific Volunteer Recruitment Opportunity
Vacant Building Legislation Discussed – with preservation components
EcoFont
Free Book – Century of the City
N. Virginia Battles Sprawl – NPR coverage
*************************************************************************************

MSA Receives Arkansas Humanities Council Grant

Last Wednesday, we received notice of our award of a $14,700 Humanities Council grant. The credit goes to Caroline, who authored and will administer the grant. It’s for a project entitled Main Street in Black and White. Caroline will research and compile three traveling exhibits for the towns of Batesville, Blytheville and Texarkana. The exhibits are displays of reprinted historic photographs of downtown scenes & buildings during their heydays, accompanied by historical narratives. It will be a collaborative project—within the AHPP and lots of work with local history collections and museums and Main Street boards. But the exhibits will reach out to people who are not necessarily museum goers. She hopes to show them in nontraditional public spaces to lure people to their historic downtowns

MSA Finalist for Henry Award
We received notice Friday that we are a finalist for the 2009 Tourism Henry Awards in the Arkansas Heritage category. We are honored. It’s stiff competition. Also nominated is the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Quapaw Bathhouse in Hot Springs & the Hotel Seville in Harrison.
Other nominees who are constituents include:
* Collins Theater, Downtown Paragould (Bootstrap Award)
* Christmas Carriage Tours, West Memphis (Community Tourism Development)
* Eureka Springs Mayor’s Tourism Taskforce (Community Tourism Development)
* Cathy & Earnest Cunningham, Helena (Special Achievement)
* RHDI & Beth Wiedower (Special Achievement)

CDBG
I attended one of the recent Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s grant workshops. AEDC reminded us that CDBG grants close March 31, 2009 and that downtown revitalization is tagged as one of their ‘innovative’ categories for non-entitlement cities. Up to $50,000 is available. Details here:
http://www.arkansasedc.com/business-development/grants/general-assistance-and-innovative-projects.aspx?id=1224

as a reminder, you can download a white paper on how CDBG can be used in downtown revitalization at:
www.mainstreet.org/MediaLibrary/HUD_Historic_Pres_and_CDBG_Use.pdf

They advised that they won’t score, but will review early applications.

Good Main Street Harrison Press:
http://www.harrisondailytimes.com/articles/2008/12/08/news/doc493d5f8f094a8287415499.txt

http://harrisondaily.com/articles/2008/12/02/news/doc4935734ea6e2a681443025.txt

Heritage Month Grants
Applications for DAH Heritage Month grants are due today, December 15!
http://www.arkansasheritage.com/heritage_month/grants.asp

Nonprofits in Arkansas contributed $8 billion to economy, report says
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/246260/print/

Download the report at:
http://ualr.edu/iog/nonprofitcenter/uploads/2008/12/webARNonProfit_FullReport.pdf

from the Division of Volunteerism:
Specific Volunteer Recruitment Opportunity:
I have been invited to do a show on Channel 4's early show in January. Tracy Douglass will be interviewing me regarding volunteer opportunities because a survey has shown that volunteering is on the top 10 New Year's Resolution list. If you would like me to mention your program and volunteer opportunities please email me at sherry.middleton@arkansas.gov and give me the following:

* Name of your program
* Specific volunteer opportunities you have available - not just the title but a very brief summary of the work the volunteer does

She need your input by this week. Thanks!

VACANT BUILDINGS LEGISLATION DISCUSSED – WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROVISIONS

The problem of vacant buildings in urban areas reached a boiling point earlier this year, but increased Congressional interest did not result in new legislation in the 110th Congress. The 111th Congress will have an opportunity, early on, to reconsider the issue.

Congressman Tim Ryan’s (D-OH) is now in the process of drafting vacant buildings legislation that would support historic preservation efforts in cities nationwide, though program funds would also be used for demolition of vacant properties. The draft clearly states that demolition of properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places or any property designated under state or local law unless designation is waived by historic preservation officials after public review.

His office is seeking input from the grassroots on “The Renaissance Communities Act of 2009.” The Act sets up a demonstration program focused on areas with at least 10% population loss since 1980. Adaptive reuse of “architectural, historically or culturally significant properties is an eligible expense.

The draft legislation does not proscribe how much funding would be authorized for this program.

A PDF version of the draft legislation is available here:

http://www.preservationaction.org/RC%20Act%20Draft%2010%2027%2008.pdf

Comments on the program draft should be directed to Steve Cerny in Congressman Ryan’s office: Steve.Cerny@mail.house.gov

In our on going Sustainability efforts:
Eco Font
The prints we make for our 'daily use' not only use paper, but also ink. Lots of ink! According to SPRANQ creative communications (Utrecht, The Netherlands) this is partly unnecessary. Based on a hunch of Colin Willems, SPRANQ therefore developed a new font: the Ecofont.

"After the Dutch holey cheese, there now is a Dutch font with holes as well."
Most appealing ideas are simple: how much of a letter can be removed while maintaining readability? After extensive testing with all kinds of shapes, the best results were achieved using small circles. After lots of late hours (and coffee) this resulted in a font that uses up to 20% less ink. Free to download, free to use.
Once you have downloaded Ecofont you can install the font into your local fonts folder. The Ecofont is based on an Open Source font and is free to use. If you no longer want to use the Ecofont, you can remove it from your fonts folder without any problems. Please note: The font is called Spranq_eco_sans_regular.ttf.

"Century of the City" Is Published – Cost-Free Copies Available
This new book, just published by the Rockefeller Foundation, is available on request. Written by Citistates Associates Neal Peirce, Curtis Johnson and Farley Peters, it's based on a landmark "Global Urban Summit" which the Rockefeller Foundation sponsored.

Planetizen -- the premier website on planning issues -- has just recognized the book as one of the 10 best planning books for 2009.

Copies of the book are available, cost-free, to interested readers: email rockefeller@forbesamg.com and include "Century of the City" in the Subject line of the email form. There is no charge for the books; however, the Rockefeller Foundation can offer only two copies per request.

Northern Virginia Battles Sprawl
If you missed December 10th “All Things Considered” segment on the efforts to remake Tysons Corner, in suburban Washington, D.C., from a pedestrians’ nightmare into a “walkable urban” area, you might spend a few minutes with it today. Walking in Tysons Corner is not for the fainthearted. But how do you rebuild a place designed for drivers and parkers into a one for joggers and baby strollers? Not easily, as the segment makes clear.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98011494

Monday, December 8, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 8, 2008

If you’re looking for a roommate for the upcoming National Main Streets Conference, please let one of us know.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO



Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 8-12, 2008

***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Caroline – Harrison;
TUESDAY Susan – out p.m.
WEDNESDAY Cary – LR (AR Community Development Society Meeting); Mark – Dumas; Nancy, annual
THURSDAY Nancy, annual; Cary & Caroline – Federal Reserve Seminar on Community Development
FRIDAY Nancy & Greg, annual
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walnut Ridge’s Harthorn Named Woman of Year for Downtown Network Efforts
Helena Downtown Master Plan
$28 Million Hotel Planned for Argenta
UAFS May Locate Dorm Downtown
3 Grant Opportunities
National Scenic Byways Accepting Nominations for Possible Road Designation
Give Your City A Unique Look – Square Traffic Lights
The One Page Business Plan
6 Things Every Board Member Should Know About the New 990
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walnut Ridge Woman of the Year, Harthorn, Named for Role in Downtown Network Efforts

Cathy Harthorn, one of the leaders of the Downtown Walnut Ridge organization selected as Lawrence County Woman of the Year for her efforts in joining the Arkansas Downtown Network.
http://www.thetd.com/freepages/2008-11-26/news/story4.php

Download the Downtown Helena/West Helena Master Plan (pdf document)
http://www.deltabridgeproject.com/pdfs/HWH%20Downtown%20Master%20Plan%20-%20Oct%202008%20(for%20Web).pdf

$28 Million Hotel Planned For Argenta
http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=110558.54928.122699

UAFS May Locate Dorm Downtown

http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=109992

Grants Promote Environmental Consensus in Rural America
Laura Jane Musser Fund: Environmental Initiative Program
The Laura Jane Musser Fund's Environmental Initiative encourages rural communities throughout the United States to use a consensus-based approach to environmental decision-making. Under this initiative, grants are provided through two distinct programs. The Environmental Stewardship Program supports projects that manage resources of ecological, economic, or aesthetic value, and that include a broad range of community members and stakeholders involved in both the planning and implementation of the project. The Environmental Dispute Resolution Program supports projects that engage in a collaborative process in order to build consensus instead of confrontation, so parties may resolve a conflict and move forward without resorting to litigation. The application deadline for both programs is February 18, 2009. Visit the website listed above for application guidelines.

Interpreting America's Historic Places: Planning Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=43486

Interpreting America's Historic Places: Implementation Grants
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=43487

National Scenic Byways Accepting Nominations
The Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways program is accepting nominations for roads for possible designation as a National Scenic Byway or an All-American Road. Deadline: December 17.
http://www.bywaysonline.org/nominations/

Give Your City a Unique Look – Square Traffic Lights
http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/luxofor/

The One-Page Business Plan

http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/omag_200709_idea
(yes, I just linked to Oprah.com I’m surprised too)

Six Things Every Board Member Should Know About the New 990
http://www.blueavocado.org/node/269

Monday, December 1, 2008

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 1, 2008

If you’re looking for a roommate for the upcoming National Main Streets Conference, please let one of us know.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

DECEMBER 31, 2008: LETTER OF AGREEMENT DUE (Main Street Towns)
JANUARY 20-21: QUARTERLY TRAINING, LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 1-4 : NATIONAL MAIN STREETS CONFERENCE, CHICAGO, IL
MARCH 15-17: GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM, FORT SMITH
MAY 14-16 : ARKANSAS PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, EUREKA SPRINGS
SEPTEMBER 14-16: DESTINATION DOWNTOWN, EL DORADO



Main Street Arkansas Calendar December 1-5, 2008

***************************************************************************************************************
MONDAY Greg – out a.m., Mark, out a.m.
TUESDAY Cary, Caroline, Mark – AEDC grant training, Lonoke; Greg, out; Nancy, out a.m.
WEDNESDAY Caroline & Greg, Benton; Mark & Susan – Blytheville
THURSDAY Cary – LR/training; Susan - DeWitt
FRIDAY Caroline – Ozark (with Rhea, Preserve America Agent); Cary & Greg – out
***************************************************************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:
*************************************************************************************
Fire in Downtown Batesville
Excellent MSWM Press (Branding Highlighted)
Eureka Press
What Happens When A Big Box Retailer Moves?
7 Grant Opportunities
Arkansas Ranked 48th in New Economy Index
*************************************************************************************

Fire in Downtown Batesville:
http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/49910
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=76449&catid=2

Excellent MSWM Press:
http://arkansasbusiness.com/printable.asp?aid=110023
- this is a direct result of the branding visit recently conducted. I’ll be sending a DVD of the branding presentation & product to Main Street & Network towns soon as I think this is something most of you should consider.
-
Eureka Springs Press:
http://www.romantictraveling.com/EurekaSprings.htm

For Sale: 20,000 Square Feet Box – What Happens When A Big Box Retailer Moves or Goes Out of Business
http://www.slate.com/id/2204599/
Be sure and read the slide show essay. I particularly enjoyed the Spam Museum
http://bigboxreuse.com/

The 1772 Foundation will be accepting new letters of inquiry after January 1. The Foundation funds a wide range of historic preservation projects and educational activities. For more information visit the website http://www.1772foundation.org.

Once again we are seeking rural nonprofit institutions or local governments to produce Your Town workshops in 2009. We can award four new contracts next year. Communities that are working on specific design issues, updating comprehensive plans, trying to revitalize their downtowns, or trying to manage growth should consider applying. The proposal format is straightforward, and proposals are due on December 12th. To download the RFP, go to our website, www.yourtowndesign.org and click on the RFP notice in the left-hand column.
National Endowment for the Arts 2009 Grant Deadlines / Guidelines will be available at www.arts.gov in early January.

Access to Artistic Excellence: To encourage and support artistic excellence, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide access to the arts for all Americans. An organization may request a grant amount from $5,000 to $150,000. (Deadlines: early March and Au¬gust, 2009).

Challenge America: Reaching • Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants: To support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Grants are for $10,000. (Dead¬line: late May, 2009).

Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth: To advance arts education for children and youth in school-based or community-based settings. An organization may request a grant amount from $5,000 to $150,000. (Deadline: early June, 2009).

Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb to Support Garden Programs


Deadline: February 17, 2009

Launched in 2003, Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb has awarded grants totaling more than $300,000 to over a hundred community groups, schools, churches, and other organizations for their garden programs.

This year, the program will award grants to twenty organizations in the United States and Canada. Each grantee will receive up to $1,500 in Fiskars garden tools and up to $800 in gardening-related materials (i.e. green goods). Four grants will also be awarded to groups in Australia. Each of those recipients will receive up to $1,000 in Fiskars Tools and up to $1,000 in gardening-related materials.

Gardens and/or gardening projects geared toward community involvement, neighborhood beautification, sustainable agriculture, and/or horticultural education are eligible. Community garden groups as well as schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs,
and treatment facilities are all encouraged to apply. Only group applications will be considered; single individuals are not eligible for a Project Orange Thumb grant.

For complete program information and application, visit the project's Web site.

Grants Address Systemic Problems
Support for Surdna Foundation
The Surdna Foundation is interested in fostering entrepreneurial programs throughout the U.S. that offer viable solutions to difficult systemic problems. The Foundation primarily provides grants to nonprofit organizations through the following program areas. The Effective Citizenry program encourages young people to take direct action to solve problems in their schools, neighborhoods, and the larger society. The goals of the Environment program are to stabilize climate change, improve transportation systems, and safeguard U.S. domestic oceans. The Arts program supports the artistic advancement of teens and seeks to strengthen the quality of art education. The purpose of the Nonprofit Sector Support program is to enhance the ability of the nonprofit sector to advance a just and democratic civil society. The Community Revitalization program works in select U.S. cities to support efforts to create environmentally sustainable, mixed-income communities. Letters of inquiry in most program areas are accepted throughout the year. Visit the website listed above for details on the Foundation's grant programs and the letter of inquiry process.

Funds for Company Communities in the U.S. and Canada
State Farm Companies Grants Program

The State Farm Companies Grants Program is committed to meeting the needs of company communities in the U.S. and Canada. Grants are provided in the following three distinct priority areas. The Safe Neighbors category focuses on driving safety, home protection, disaster preparedness, and personal financial security. The emphasis of the Strong Neighborhoods category is on affordable housing, homeownership issues, and sustainable communities. The K-12 Public Schools category targets teacher quality, service-learning programs, and educational reform. Requests may be submitted throughout the year. Application guidelines and local contact information are available on the State Farm website listed above.

Arkansas Ranked 48th in The New Economy Index
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=356735
States at the top of the list tend to have a high concentration of workers in “knowledge jobs” that require at least a two-year college degree, are at the forefront of the information technology and Internet revolutions and have institutions and residents that embrace the digital economy, the report said. The groups used 29 indicators to rank each state on how well its economy is structured to compete regionally, as well as globally.