Main Street undergoes yearly recertification

EL DORADO — Recognizing that Main Street El Dorado has endured a rough time the past several months, Main Street Arkansas officials recently walked the local program through its recertification process.

Mark Miller and Greg Phillips — director and small business consultant, respectively, of Main Street Arkansas — visited the Main Street El Dorado board of directors last week for the annual program assessment and accreditation.

The assessment coincided with the MSE regular monthly meeting on March 9.

“We know it’s been a challenge for you for the last year. Overall, you’re doing a really great job, and we’re glad to have Beth (Brumley) on board,” Phillips said, referring to the new Main Street El Dorado executive director who’s been on the job for a little more than a month.

Main Street El Dorado has come through a trying time that intensified last fall with staff changes (former executive direct Mark Givens took a job with El Dorado Festivals and Events, Inc.) financial difficulties and a re-evaluation of its program priorities.

The group has since resolved those issues and is squarely on the road to regaining its footing.

With that in mind, Phillips and Miller carefully guided the group through the assessment and accreditation process, which is based on 10 standards of performance that are set by the national Main Street program.

“These are the bare minimum things that a Main Street program ought to be doing,” Phillips explained.

State Main Street officials said each benchmark is worth 10 points, and the local program received scores of seven or better in each category, except one.

Information for the evaluation was compiled by Bruce Butterfield, immediate past president of the Main Street El Dorado board, state officials said.

The local program scored a nine with broad-based community support for the commercial district revitalization process, with strong support from the public and private sectors, Phillips reported.

Another component of that benchmark is whether the local Main Street program reflects the makeup of the local community.

He said Main Street El Dorado lost a point in regard to the amount of time — at least 20 percent — the staff is “on the street working with merchants” within the Main Street district.

As part of a refocus (Main Street has said Festivals and Events will be taking the lead in bringing entertainment events to town), the group has discussed ways to help increase foot traffic for downtown retail shops and restaurants.

For instance, Main Street announced that it is bringing back its Cash Mon on May 23, in which a business will be selected to be “mobbed” with customers at a designated time.

The customers must spend a minimum amount, usually $20, during that time.

Main Street last hosted a Cash Mob in 2013.

The group received its lowest score of five with the active board of directors and committees standard.

“Is 100 percent of the board giving? It’s important that everyone make a financial contribution at some point,” Phillips asked.

Holly McDonald, board member and administrative assistant, challenged the score, saying all board members “gave at least $1 last year, whether it was a Coke …”

Added Brumley, “Board members are taking turns buying lunch (for monthly board meetings).”

Phillips also said that a majority of board members do not regularly attend committee meetings.

The Main Street program has four committees, including economic restructuring, organization, desing and promotion — all of which make up the Main Street four-point approach to downtown revitalization.

Phillips noted, however, that the state and national programs are allowing more flexibility and are moving away from the paradigm of “four standing committees.”

“People really don’t have a whole lot of time to sit in committee meetings. They would much rather work on projects when they have the time,” Phillips said. “There’s not really a concern if you’re getting things done.”

State Main Street officials assured board members that many of the issues that were cited during the evaluation “won’t be a problem next year” as the group progresses throughout 2017.

Phillips said the accreditation is good on the national and state levels and qualifies Main Street El Dorado for an award in the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.

“We don’t know how much it’s going to be. The last two years, it’s been $15,000, and we hope it’s going to be at least that again,” Phillips said.

During an economic restructuring report, Beth Brumley, executive director of MSE, told the group that Mina Reas Antique Store opened at 207 E. Main; Hittmeupp, a new food delivery service, opened at 203 W. Main: and The Personal Touch relocated to 209 E. Main.