Main Street Texarkana advances in contest

Winner of $25,000 grand prize would use it for downtown development

Online voting has advanced a local organization to the quarterfinal round of a contest with a $25,000 grand prize.

Main Street Texarkana is one of 25 quarterfinalists in the America’s Main Streets contest, which rewards public enthusiasm with cash for downtown development, according to a city of Texarkana, Texas, news release.

Results were based only on the number of votes cast at the contest’s website. More than 300 organizations participated in the first round, together garnering more than 117,000 votes.

Community members led by city Communications Manager Lisa Thompson, a member of the Texarkana Arts and Historic Committee, nominated Main Street Texarkana to be included in the contest.

“The Arts and Historic Committee has been working hard for the past five years to collectively market downtown Texarkana, and this contest is yet another way that we can come together and show the rest of the nation how powerful our twin city can be.

“We hope supporters for both Texarkana, Ark., and Texas can come together and vote for Texarkana, USA to be twice as nice. We need everyone to vote, vote, vote!” Thompson stated.

Anyone may vote once a day at MainStreetContest.com. The field will narrow to 10 semifinalists on May 28, and a winner will claim the grand prize June 4.

The contest is sponsored by Independent We Stand, “a nationwide movement of independent small business owners,” the release stated.

Main Street Texarkana advocates for economic development through the historic preservation of downtown.