Main Street Arkansas towns record nearly $69M invested in downtown projects

LITTLE ROCK — Main Street Arkansas cities recorded $68.7 million in investments in downtown projects in 2017.

Main Street Arkansas is a program area of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. El Dorado is one of the 19 cities currently involved in the program.

“Investments in the historic commercial cores of our Main Street Arkansas towns show a renewed commitment to historic preservation around the state and the investments shown in 2017 show downtowns are major centers of economic development,” Department of Arkansas Heritage Director Stacy Hurst said.

Main Street Arkansas cities in 2017 noted 215 façade renovations, building rehabilitations and new downtown construction projects. The cities documented a net gain of 54 businesses and 37 business expansions and relocations into downtown areas, creating a net gain of 522 jobs. In addition, there were 35 public improvement projects generated in Main Street Arkansas cities, reflecting $1.5 million invested in the historic commercial areas. Main Street cities also recorded 20,856 volunteer hours invested in downtown.

Main Street Arkansas provides technical assistance and design services to help create economic development in the state’s downtown areas. The Main Street approach to downtown revitalization focuses on four areas: design, economic restructuring, organization and promotion. To learn more about Main Street Arkansas, visit arkansaspreservation.com/ main-street.