Clean Lines, Open Spaces - Mid Century Modern Architecture in Arkansas

MAIN STREET ARKANSAS AWARDS RECOGNIZE LOCAL EFFORTS ACROSS STATE

People and projects in thirteen Arkansas communities were honored January 11 with Main Street Arkansas awards, Main Street Arkansas Director Cary Tyson announced today. Main Street Arkansas is a program area of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

The Main Street Arkansas awards are presented biannually to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals, organizations and communities in helping to revitalize their downtown areas. The Main Street Arkansas Advisory Board selects the winners. The awards were presented at the annual conference of the Arkansas Municipal League in Little Rock.

Those receiving Main Street Arkansas Awards were:
Best Special Event – Main Street Searcy’s “Get Down Downtown”
Best New Exterior Signage – Main Street Batesville and Gilbert and Melody Gomez’s Impulse/Body Fit
Main Street Hero – Shelly Simmons of Main Street Siloam Springs and Dina Mason of Main Street Paragould
Best Façade Renovation over $10,000 – Ellington/Holifield Building, Main Street Paragould
Best Façade Renovation under $10,000 – Stotts Drugstore, Main Street Searcy
Best New Downtown Business – Pour Jon’s Coffee & Tea, Main Street Siloam Springs
Best Upper Floor Development – JKJ Architects and Main Street Rogers, and Iron Mountain Lofts and Main Street Paragould
Best Main Street Merchant – Hoffman’s, Main Street Ozark
Best Adaptive Reuse – Masonic Hall/Russellville City Hall and Main Street Russellville, and Greyhound Bus Station and Main Street Blytheville
Best Interior Design Project – Old National Bank of Commerce Building, Main Street Paragould
Best Downtown Public Improvement Project – Intersection/Lighting and Walnut Street Awning Removal Projects, City of Rogers and Main Street Rogers
Best Web Presence and Use of Social Media –Main Street El Dorado
Best Public/Private Partnership – Citizens for Downtown Batesville, Citizens Bank of Batesville and Main Street Batesville
Bootstrap Award – SoMa (Little Rock)
Outstanding Executive Director – Kerry Jensen, Main Street Rogers
Back from the Brink Award – Landers Theater/Fellowship Bible Church, Main Street Batesville
Heritage Preservation Award – Main Street DumasAward of Merit – Main Street Texarkana Revolving Loan Fund and Main Street West Memphis CDBG Façade Grant Program.

To see more photos from the event, click https://www.facebook.com/#!/MainStreetArkansas.

Main Street Arkansas Update - January 9, 2012

Main Street Arkansas Calendar – January 9 - 13, 2012

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MONDAY AHPP Staff Planning

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY all staff – Municipal League

THURSDAY all staff – Mosaic Templars

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Cary, Greg, Sam, Susan, Mark – Russellville Board Retreat & Training

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IN THIS ISSUE:

It’s the Staff’s Job to Make Committees Effective

Take Back the Alleys

Blytheville Hosts MSA Seminar

Grant Opportunities

How to Become a Non-Profit Rockstar

Festival & Event Conference in MS

5 Grant Opportunities

It’s the Staff’s Job to Make Committees Effective

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18666:committees----love-them-or-hate-them&catid=145:unraveling-development&Itemid=1006

Take Back the Alleys

http://www.lbpost.com/life/brian/12954

Blytheville Hosts MSA Seminar

http://www.couriernews.net/story/1801881.html?response=no

How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar

Trista Harris will discuss her book, "How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career," in which she and co-author Rosetta Thurman provide a do-it-yourself map of how to navigate the nonprofit sector. Harris is executive director of Headwaters Foundation for Justice, a Minneapolis-based community foundation with a mission to act as a catalyst for social, racial, economic and environmental justice. This lecture is sponsored by the Clinton School, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Little Rock and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

When: Wednesday, January 11, 2011

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Lecture, *Book signing to follow.

Where: Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall

*Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms at clintonschool.uasys.edu, or calling 501-683-5239.

“BACK STAGE PASS” FESTIVAL AND EVENT CONFERENCE

WHEN: JANUARY 24-25, 2012
WHERE: HOLLYWOOD CASINO, BAY ST. LOUIS
WHY: VIEW THE AGENDA

EARLY BIRD RATE EXPIRES JAN. 15, 2012!

Want to register for the conference? Email your contact information to Denise Halbach. $75 registration fee (in state) until Jan. 15, 2012. Click here for more information on the conference or to pay online. Questions about registration? Call 601-944-0113.

Reserve your hotel room at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis for special group rate of $79 until Jan. 15th. Call (866) 7-LUCKY-1. Please let them know you are with the Back Stage Pass conference group.

The 2012 Back Stage Pass Festival & Event Coordinators' Conference is presented by the Mississippi Main Street Association, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism.

Back Stage Pass is a symposium that focuses on planning for festivals and special events through the sharing of ideas and like experiences with fundraisers and event planners throughout the Southeast. The Festival and Event conference is a new collaboration among the Mississippi Main Street Association, Mississippi Arts Commission and the Mississippi Development Authority. For the first time, the three statewide organizations will be partnering to present one high quality festival and event coordinators’ program. Please join us at the Hollywood Resort, in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, on January 24-25, 2012 for fun, camaraderie and learning, as we explore ways to develop and enhance events that build community character and contribute to the creative economy and community members’ quality of life.

Click here to download Exhibitor information and application. Please email or fax the Exhibitor application to Jeannie Waller, 601.353.3469 (f). All applications must be received by Jan. 15th.

Grants for Arts Projects

Application guidelines for the next round of Grants for Arts Projects are now available on the NEA's website. To view the guidelines, go to www.arts.gov/grants/apply, select the field or discipline most relevant to your project, and choose Grants for Arts Projects from the list of funding opportunities.

Organizations may apply under the following categories:

• Art Works: To support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Within these areas, innovative projects are strongly encouraged. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $100,000. (Two application deadlines: March 8 and August 9, 2012)

• Challenge America Fast-Track: To support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Grants are for $10,000. (Application deadline: May 24, 2012)

Thanks to the National Main Street Center for pointing this one out

Urban Sustainability Directors Network/Local Sustainability Matching Fund

· In partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network is pleased to announce the formation of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund. The Fund has been created with leadership support from four Network members: the Kendeda Fund, the New York Community Trust, the Summit Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.

· The purpose of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is twofold: to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations, including community foundations, and to advance important community-based sustainability initiatives. The Fund will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundation. The Network anticipates that the Fund will support up to ten partnership projects in the first year in two rounds in the spring and fall of 2012.

· The application deadline for the first round is March 5^th, and you may download the Request for Proposals here. Applications must be submitted in MS Word and use the application Cover Sheet. The Network will host a conference call to provide more information on the fund and review the selection criteria. The call will be held on January 24th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, and you may register for the call by clicking here.

· A selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors will make selection decisions on behalf of the matching fund, and awards will be announced on May 5, 2012. For more information on the Local Sustainability Matching Fund, please contact Ann Wallace at ann@fundersnetwork.org or 617-524-9239.

National Endowment for the Arts

NEA Challenge America Fast-Track, FY2013 Grant

http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=136713

The Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations -- those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Age alone (e.g., youth, seniors) does not qualify a group as underserved; at least one of the underserved characteristics noted above also must be present. Grants are available for professional arts programming and for projects that emphasize the potential of the arts in community development. This category encourages and supports the following two outcomes: •Engagement: Engaging the public with diverse and excellent art. •Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts. You will be asked to select the outcome that is most relevant to your project (you also will be able to select a secondary outcome). When making selections, you should identify the outcome(s) that reflect the results expected to be achieved by your project. If you receive a grant, you also will be asked to provide evidence of those results.

ACF Giving Tree Grant

20 of Arkansas Community Foundation’s 27 affiliate offices will be participating in this year’s spring giving tree grant cycle. Since you all serve a broad constituency we, as always, thought we’d enlist your support to help us get the word out about this opportunity. Please feel free to forward this announcement to all those in your networks that meet the eligibility and could benefit from this program. More information on this program can be found by following this link ARCF Giving Tree Grants.

AmeriCorps Grants Available

AmeriCorps programs address disaster services, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, economic opportunity, veterans and military families, and capacity building as defined by a local sponsoring organization. AmeriCorps programs recruit and place members in direct service to their community to fulfill these initiatives. Applications will be accepted for grants in the 2012-2013 Arkansas state AmeriCorps formula funding cycle. Successful applicants will be expected to establish programs and begin recruiting members to serve in programs beginning September 1 or October 1, 2012 for up to a one year period.

State Formula Grants

· Provide funds for AmeriCorps member living allowances (full-time $12,100 per year), post service education awards of $5,550 and program operational costs.

· The program must provide at least 24% cash and/or in-kind non-federal match.

· The program must be able to manage the intricacies of a federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and the compliance and reporting requirements it entails and be a 501c (3) or be associated with a local government, state agency or educational institution.

· A minimum of eight (8) full-time AmeriCorps member slots constitutes a program to be considered for this application. Programs may serve as intermediary organizations, distributing fewer members to collaborating organizations to compose a program.

· Program staff must be able to devote time to recruitment, training and management of AmeriCorps members, including time keeping, records maintenance, supervision of service sites and member training and development.

· Program staff should include strong fiscal oversight.

· Program staff are required to attend quarterly meetings and monthly conference calls, complete quarterly financial and program progress reports, participate in statewide service days and cooperate in site visits from the Arkansas Service Commission. Program Staff will be trained by the Commission in program management.

This application is for program funds only. Persons interested in serving as AmeriCorps members should contact the Commission office. The Commission encourages persons with disabilities to serve as AmeriCorps members. Concept paper for new applicants is due January 26, 2012. A free Grant Writing workshop will be held February 24, 2012. Applications must be entered in eGrants system to be accepted. Original full application with budget and 16 copies are due no later than 12 p.m. (noon) Friday, April 6, 2012. Application instructions, NOFO, concept paper template and workshop registrations are available on the Arkansas Department of Human Services web site:

http://hs.ar.gov/Pages/procurement.aspx

Contact Beverly Moody at 501-682-7540 or TDD 501-682-1605 or

Beverly.moody at arkansas.gov for further information.

DHS/DCSNS/ASC

P. O. Box 1437, Slot S-230 or 700 South Main St., Slot S-230

Little Rock, AR 72203 Little Rock, AR 72201

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 19, 2011

MSA Awards & Quarterly Training – January 11, 2012 – Little Rock (in conjunction with the Municipal League meeting)

Main Street Arkansas Calendar - December 19 - 23, 2011

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Susan – Rogers

THURSDAY

FRIDAY Office Closed

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Downtown El Dorado Honored

Thousands Attend Holiday Parade in Downtown Hardy

Something’s Cooking in West Memphis

Clinton School Recruiting Field Service Partners

Shoppers Too Lazy to Park Far Away, Turn to Tech

Festival/Event PR Opportunity

Downtown El Dorado Honored

http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2011/12/09/a-distinguished-honor-26.php

Thousands Attend Holiday Parade in Downtown Hardy

http://myspringriver.com/2011/12/14/thousands-attend-hardy-parade/

Something’s Cooking in West Memphis

http://westmemphis.com/somethings-cooking-in-west-memphis

Clinton School Recruiting Field Service Partners

http://clintonschoolblog.com/cblog/?p=4766

Shoppers Too Lazy to Park Far Away, Turn to Tech, Tricks

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204026804577098451316357124.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

Festival & Event PR Opportunity

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.

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
• 3^rd year in existence
• Payment of $20 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

Main Street Arkansas Update - December 12, 2011

MSA Awards & Quarterly Training – January 11, 2012 – Little Rock (in conjunction with the Municipal League meeting)

Greg – out all week

Main Street Arkansas Calendar - December 12 - 16, 2011

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MONDAY Susan – out

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY Sam – Helena

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Our Town NEA Grant

TED Prize – The City 2.0

SoMa Press

Main Street Russellville Press

I Survived an IRS Non-Profit Audit – Tips

Funding Opportunities for AR Small Biz

Our Town 2012 NEA Grant – Due March 1, 2012

http://arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html

TED Prize 2012 – the City 2.0

http://www.tedprize.org/an-idea-takes-the-ted-prize/

The TED Prize grants its winner $100,000 and “one wish to change the world.” How will this prize be accepted on behalf of the City 2.0? Through visionary individuals around the world who are advocating on its behalf.

We are listening to them and giving them the opportunity to collectively craft a wish. A wish capable of igniting a massive collaborative project among the members of the global TED community, and indeed all who care about our planet’s future. (Individuals or organizations who wish to contribute their ideas to a TED Prize wish on behalf of The City 2.0 should write to tedprize@ted.com)

- Our Main Street programs are filled with those visionary individuals. I hope you will enter the contest. CT

SoMa Snowflakes

http://littlerocklove.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/soma-snowflakes/

- More good SoMa press (Loblolly Creamery)

http://www.arktimes.com/EatArkansas/archives/2011/12/09/loblolly-creamery-opens-in-green-corner-store

Main Street Russellville Sponsors “An Evening with Mr. Conductor”

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/dec/11/evening-mr-conductor-planned-main-street--20111211/?sports-prep-football

I Survived an IRS Non-Profit Audit – Tips for Survival

http://www.blueavocado.org/node/718

Funding Opportunities for Arkansas Small Businesses

http://www.asbtdc-asu.com/funding-opportunities-for-arkansas-small-businesses/

SoMa's Cornbread Festival

December E-Newsletter

Christmas Extravaganza in El Dorado EL DORADO - The holiday season for El Dorado has arrived! El Dorado, known for its award-winning festivals and events, is going into the Christmas season with the same zeal and tenacity it has done in the past. This year, Main Street El Dorado kicks off the Christmas season with the long-standing tradition of glowing Christmas lights filling the streets. On Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m. El Dorado will celebrate this year's parade theme "It's a Wonderful Life." The El Dorado parade annually draws thousands of spectators. Festivities do not stop there. El Dorado, the 2009 Great American Main Street Winner, is home to some of the most unique shops, boutiques and cafés in the area. Downtown businesses will remain open during the holiday to serve both locals and tourists. Cafés and restaurants provide a variety of homemade holiday treats, including pecan pies from the Olde Towne Store that were featured in Southern Living. Whether one is doing last minute Christmas shopping for dad at Sports Alley or having a girl's night out to look for name brand boots and heels at Shelly's shoes, the downtown shops offer an array of options. Pedestrian friendly, artsy and sophisticated, El Dorado has plenty of special attractions planned for the family to enjoy. Performances of It's a Wonderful Life will be presented by the South Arkansas Arts Center and The Nutcracker, by the South Arkansas Symphony. Horse and carriage rides will be offered every weekend through the holidays. A life-size snow globe makes a perfect backdrop for photo ops and an ice skating rink appeals to locals and tourists.

"Come Back for Christmas" Contest Winner Announced EUREKA SPRINGS - The Eureka Springs Downtown Network (ESDN) is proud to announce that the Hollis Family from Hominy, Okla., is the winner of the 3rd annual "Come Back for Christmas" contest. After a brief phone call to the Hollis household, Keith Hollis called back to confirm that they would be able to take advantage of the prize. Stunned that they had won, they were thrilled at the prospect of coming back to Eureka Springs during the holiday festivities. "We developed a twist on the contest this year," shares Jacqueline Wolven, ESDN Executive executive Directordirector. "We did the entire contest through the use of QR codes and digital marketing. The Hollis family scanned the QR code and was one of the thousand that entered the contest. We are thrilled that they used new technology to enter and are getting the opportunity to come back to Eureka Springs during the holidays." The "Come Back for Christmas" contest consists of a prize package valued at over $1000. It includes: 2 night stay at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, gift certificates to Devito's of Eureka Springs, Mud Street café and Local Flavor, tickets to the Tour of Homes, reservations to Santa's Brunch at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, entries into the Santas on Spring Fun Run, family portrait with Santa in Basin Spring Park, Eureka Springs Shopping Discount Card, and the Official Parade Guests in the Eureka Springs Downtown Network Parade Car during the Annual Christmas Parade. The Come Back for Christmas contest consists of a prize package valued at over $1000. The prize includes: 2 night stay at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, Gift Certificates to Devito's of Eureka Springs, Mud Street Cafe, Local Flavor, tickets to the Tour of Homes, reservations to Santa's Brunch at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, entries into the Santa's on Spring Fun Run, family portrait with Santa in Basin Spring Park, Eureka Springs Shopping Discount Card, and the Official Parade Guests in the Eureka Springs Downtown Network Parade Car during the Annual Christmas Parade. The Eureka Springs Downtown Network, in partnership with Main Street Arkansas and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, strives to support preservation, business education, promotional programming, economic development and beautification in downtown Eureka Springs with the understanding that a vibrant downtown is in the best interest of the whole community. FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://eurekaspringsdowntown.com Russellville Semifinalist for Great American Main Street Award RUSSELLVILE - Russellville Main Street has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2012 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). The award is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Norma Miess of the National Trust said the competition was very close this year and Downtown Russellville should be commended for reaching this point. Main Street Russellville must now submit additional information for the GAMSA jury, composed of representatives from the commercial district revitalization field, to consider as they review all 10 semifinalist applications and choose the five winners for the 2012 Great American Main Street Award. It will be presented at the National Main Street conference in Baltimore, Md., April 1-4, 2012. Main Street Russellville's Executive Director Betsy McGuire said: "It is an incredible honor for our local Main Street Program and for our city as well, to receive word of our selection as a semifinalist for a Great American Main Street Award. This is one of the most sought-after honors among Main Street professionals. Every time I mention it I keep getting chill bumps...literally!" She added: "As we look forward to celebrating our organization's 20th anniversary in 2012 and as we move forward with the development of the Downtown Master Plan, this recognition would be the ultimate icing on the cake! But we are facing some incredibly stiff competition from nine other amazing communities located throughout the United States, and some seem to have the most enviable of resources to work with. We have approximately 30 days to mount this challenge with the help of our board of directors, our dedicated volunteers, and our supportive community, and as we have done over these 20 years of our program's downtown revitalization efforts, we will be tenacious in our efforts!" Each year, the National Trust Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Main Street Advisory Board to Meet on December 5 LITTLE ROCK - The Main Street Arkansas Advisory Board will meet Monday, Dec. 5, to review award nominations and discuss Main Street activities during FFY11. The board consists of nine members charged with providing advice and guidance to the Main Street Arkansas staff regarding downtown revitalization. Current members include Renee Doty, Melinda Faubel, Frances "Missy" McSwain, Mark Goodman, Antoinette (Toni) Johnson, HPAA; Vanessa McKuin, HPAA; Drew Pack, Federal Reserve; Tim Wooldridge, HPAA; and ex-officio Kathy Holt who is the Governor's Liaison to the Department of Arkansas Heritage.