The Harrison City Council met on Thursday, Aug. 14, to make two appointments and hear an update about Main Street.
Convention, Visitor’s Bureau executive director Matt Bell recommended Raj Patel, owner of the Super 8 Motel, to fill a vacancy on the CVB Board of Directors. The board responded unanimously in favor.
Chanda Tapley, executive director of the Harrison Housing Authority, recommended Nate Wilson to the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. The vote was unanimous.
The city has received the Main Street Designation in conjunction with the work of the Historic Harrison Business Association and the Downtown Strategies Committee, chaired by Mike Nabors.
Mayor Jerry Jackson asked Mike Nabors to give an update on the details of the Downtown Strategies Committee. In May, the committee presented to Main Street Arkansas and officially received the Main Street Designation on Aug 11.
The HHBA approved the Main Street Board of Directors on June 9.
Nine of the 11 directors were able to attend training in Little Rock from Main Street Arkansas and officially received the Main Street Designation.
The officers are Eddie Bartlett, president; Matt Fay, vice president; Tyler Gentry, secretary; and Amanda Woodworth, treasurer. Other board members are Pat Brown, Beth Crenshaw, Rick Dixon, Karla Gray, Erin Ramsey, Nate Wilson, and Donna Braymer.
Nabors shared that the success of receiving this designation belongs to several groups and individuals in the community. The Downtown Strategies Committee followed the advice of Retail Strategies, which worked with the community to develop a three-to-five-year plan to revitalize the downtown area. A grant received by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District (NWAEDD) paid for the work with Retail Strategies, Inc. of Mississippi. Part of their work included hosting a public meeting and a survey to see what citizens wanted in their downtown.
HHBA Chairman Mike Nabors said Harrison was one of the first original Main Street Communities in 1985. However, the city lost the designation after the economic downturn.
A portion of that advice received was to establish a Main Street Board of Directors and work with Main Street Arkansas to receive grants and training for building owners.
Another recommendation to assist the revitalization of downtown was establishing a certified local government and adopting the International Existing Building Code, which the Council had previously approved.
Mayor Jackson thanked the Main Street Board, Mike Nabors with Downtown Strategies, David Wilson, IT Director for the City, and the Chamber of Commerce for all the hard work in bringing businesses to the downtown area. “ProValus will be amazing for downtown and put more feet on the sidewalk."
Jackson added, "In the last 30 days, six new businesses have committed to downtown. Three have leased buildings and three have purchased buildings. That makes only one vacancy on the south, west, and north sides of the square. And hopefully ProValus will be the next purchased building."