Main Street programs seek assistance

EL DORADO — With Main Street programs and small businesses across the country reeling from the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, local programs have joined forces with their state and national parent organizations in a push for federal assistance.

Main Street El Dorado is partnering with cities through Main Street Arkansas and Main Street America to ask for support for the Main Street Community Recovery and Revitalization Program, a $100 million competitive grant proposal to provide relief for local Main Street programs and small businesses within commercial and historic districts.

Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street El Dorado, said the nonprofit group is feeling the economic squeeze brought on by covid-19.

Brumley said the group hasn’t generated any revenue since a show in February featuring the Harlem Globetrotters.

The group’s annual operating budget relies heavily on fundraisers, such as the Globetrotters’ show, held throughout the year but the group has been forced to cancel events.

Brumley also said many events are designed to increase foot traffic for shops and restaurants in the Union Square District.

The group regularly partners with the Downtown Business Association on ideas for such events.

With activities having slowed over the past few months, Brumley said Main Street is exploring options to fund its program.

“There’s been no income since February from the Harlem Globetrotters. It depends on how the rest of year goes. MusicFest is usually a big fundraiser for us but with covid, we don’t know what the state of MusicFest is for this year,” Brumley said.

MusicFest 2020 is scheduled for Oct. 3, with Snoop Dogg tapped to headline, but Brumley said organizers don’t yet know if the festival will be canceled.

Main Street launched MusicFest in the late 1980s and the event subsequently became it’s biggest annual fundraiser. Since 2017, it’s partnered with the Murphy Arts District to present the festival.

The Murphy group books the headliners and handles the ticketed shows, while Main Street focuses on the “festival” component — activities, attractions, vendors and live music on side stages in the Union Square District.

Brumley said the group hoped to make money from Bugs, Bands and Bikes, which Main Street was reviving this year after a seven-year hiatus. The festival celebrates crawfish season, music, motorcycles and motorcycle culture.

The festival ran for 15 years before Main Street decided in 2013 rethink the event, due to waning participation.

Bugs, Bands and Bikes had grown into a two-day festival and in 2014, the event was rebranded as the Southern Folk Festival to align with the goal of El Dorado Festivals and Events, which gave birth to the Murphy Arts District, to promote and highlight southern culture.

The first day of the Southern Folk Festival was rained out and though it was a moderate success, Main Street decided to pull the plug after one year.

Main Street is participating in an outreach effort to drum up support for the Main Street Community Recovery and Revitalization Program.

The grant, if approved by Congress, would be administered by Main Street America, via the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and funneled through state coordinating programs to help Main Street communities survive covid-19.

State coordinating programs in Arkansas are Main Street Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

A $2.2 trillion economic stimulus Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act offered some assistance in the form of loans for Main Street communities and businesses and Main Street America is working with local and state programs to make sure they are included in the next federal stimulus package.

Brumley said federal lawmakers are scheduled to recess this month so time is of the essence to let federal elected officials know how Main Street communities and businesses have been impacted by covid-19.

The $100 million Main Street Community Recovery and Revitalization program would provide targeted grants to help small businesses within Main Street districts sustain and adapt to covid-related safeguards and guidelines that are required for businesses to operate

Additionally, the grant would guide urban neighborhoods and rural downtowns through economic recovery, national Main Street officials have said.

Main Street is doing its part by asking local community and civic leaders to join the “Speak Up for Main Street!” campaign.

Brumley said the group contacted downtown merchants, elected city and Union County officials, the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce and state Rep. Matthew Shepherd (R), who also serves as Speaker of the House.

Officials have been asked to complete a form in support of the recovery effort by visiting mainstreetamerica.salsalabs.org/speakupformainstreet/index.html.

“There are questions they can answer and they can add their own comments. I also sent it to my board (of directors) and we’re asking everybody that we can think of,” Brumley said.

Those who complete the form are encouraged to submit it as a letter to their representatives in the U.S. House and Senate to consider for passage in the next economic stimulus bill.