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ROGERS, ARKANSAS RECEIVES GREAT AMERICAN MAIN STREET
AWARD
Main Street Rogers has been named a 2004 Great American Main Street city for
its successful efforts in revitalizing its downtown area through historic
preservation.
Main Street Rogers (MSR) worked hard to promote economic growth since its
inception in 1984 as a pilot community of Main Street Arkansas (MSA). Today
there have been 95 rehabilitated facades, almost $12 million in downtown
investment and reinvestment, and rental rates have jumped from 40 cents per
square foot to $8-$12 per square foot. The Downtown Recruitment Program has
brought 40 new businesses to the commercial corridor in 2002-2003 and currently
98 percent of the retail space is occupied, additionally, office space is 95
percent occupied. Building owners have renovated upper floors into upscale
residential housing for their owners.
“Main Street Rogers has initiated and supported a wealth of economic
development and preservation activities not only to enhance the downtown’s
vitality and viability to boost revenues but to sustain a sense of place,” said
Richard Moe.
The City of Rogers was formed in 1881. It basked in the glory of the Frisco
Railroad but when the railway-based economy declined the town was left with
decaying turn-of-the-century Italianate buildings and a failing economy. Thanks
to MSR and its partners, the town has held onto its roots by renovating many of
its buildings and recalling the railroad, with the antique Frisco Caboose that
sits in the heart of the Walnut Street Historic District, which is home to 23
buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A recent addition
to the National Register is the 1927 Victory Theater, a movie theater. By 1977,
the theater served as an indoor flea market. The community theater group
approached Main Street Rogers in 1994 to find space downtown; the Victory
Theater was the perfect choice. After a sum of $2 million, including a $30,560
Model Business Grant from MSA, and 10,000 volunteer hours, the curtains went up
in 2000.
Business development is a pillar of Main Street Rogers. Its Preferred Loan
Program offers a total of $4.5 million in loans from nine participating banks
and the Mini-grant Program distributed $13,000 last year. MSR also helped secure
five Main Street Arkansas Model Business Grants for large projects and developed
a debit/gift card program for downtown stores in 2003. Main Street also sponsors
a variety of small business seminars to complement its business consulting
services. The revitalization effort has also had a positive impact on job
recruitment.
Main Street Rogers works in all areas of revitalization, including image
building, business assistance programs, design guidelines, and heritage tourism.
MSR has found a strong ally in the city government, which annually offers
contributions, in-kind office space, and utility donations. The city involves
MSR when projects are being considered in the downtown. Departments such as the
Planning Department and Parks and Recreation provide technical assistance,
manpower, and equipment that are critical for the success. MSR and the Parks and
Recreation Department successfully applied for an ISTEA grant for the Frisco
Park and Trail redevelopment including a bike and pedestrian trail. The park
pavilion is a community destination on summer nights for concerts and a farmers’
market.
The 2004 Great American Main Street Award winners are: Burlington, Iowa,
Encinitas, California, Paso Robles, California, Rogers, Arkansas, Westfield, New
Jersey. Each winning community receives a $2,500 cash prize to further its
revitalization efforts, a bronze plaque commemorating its award, road signs, and
a certificate.
Established in 1980, the National Trust’s National Main Street
Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and
historic commercial districts. Active in over 1,700 downtowns and urban
neighborhoods, the Main Street program has generated more than $16.1 billion in
new investment. Participating communities have created 226,000 net new jobs,
56,300 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 88,700 buildings,
leveraging an average of $39.93 in new investment for every dollar spent on main
street district revitalization effort. The National Trust for Historic
Preservation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the
irreplaceable. The Trust provides leadership, education and advocacy to save
America’s diverse historic places and revitalizes communities. Its Washington,
DC staff, regional offices and 25 historic sites work with the Trust’s members
and thousands of local community groups in every state. For more information,
visit www.nationaltrust.org.