News Taffy

Efforts by community leaders and volunteers were rewarded Tuesday when Downtown Jonesboro was officially recognized as a Main Street Arkansas community.

Main Street Arkansas is a program of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program that seeks to revitalize historic downtown commercial cores throughout Arkansas. Greg Phillips, director of Main Street Arkansas, presented the Downtown Jonesboro Association with a framed certificate recognizing its Main Street Arkansas status.

On Oct. 1, the Downtown Jonesboro Association graduated from the Arkansas Downtown Network program to full-fledged Main Street Arkansas status. The Downtown Jonesboro Association has been part of the Arkansas Downtown Network since 2008, working to acquire needed materials to become an official member of the Main Street Arkansas program.

"As the new president of this incredible board, I could not be more excited about this prestigious recognition. Having outstanding and innovative downtown merchants, support of the mayor and numerous talented volunteers on our board and committees make my job pretty easy. We look forward to utilizing the many resources and opportunities provided by Main Street Arkansas to make Downtown Jonesboro not only bigger and better, but the premiere downtown in the state of Arkansas," said Jared Woodard, president of the DJA Board of Directors.

Requirements met by the Downtown Jonesboro Association to receive membership in the Main Street Arkansas community include acquisition of at least one full time director, 501c3 status from the IRS, an organizational budget, a board of directors, a minimum of 100 documented volunteer hours along with other forms of proof to sustain the non-profit organization.

The Main Street approach to downtown revitalization focuses on four areas - design, economic restructuring, organization and promotion. Membership benefits of Main Street status available to community leaders, business owners and residents include assistance in the forms of networking, technical services, training and information. Grant opportunities for local businesses and exclusive workshop networking experiences are among some of the most valuable advantages of this program.

Other projects the Downtown Jonesboro Association has been involved with this year include downtown beautification and improvement projects such as the addition of flower gardens and dog stations along Church, Main and Union Streets. Milestone events the Downtown Jonesboro Association has implemented for the community since the hire of its new director, Hailey Knight, include the monthly event, Alive After Five, which consists of a farmers market, art stroll, movie projection and live music, and Yoga on the Plaza, a six-week exercise program recently held in Downtown Jonesboro that provided free exercise classes led by Nirvana and Sotox instructors.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin was also on hand for the press conference.

"This is a great accomplishment and I look forward to seeing all the ways our downtown will benefit from being a part of Main Street Arkansas," Perrin said.

Established in 2010, the Downtown Jonesboro Association is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide community outreach and to promote downtown Jonesboro as the place to eat, shop and live. The organization is made up of a board of directors, four committees, staff personnel and many local volunteers.

"When a small group of individuals had the passion and drive to work for downtown Jonesboro's next phase of growth formed three and a half years ago, we made it part of our mission to 'achieve Main Street status and help promote downtown Jonesboro,'" said Shelli Wood, former president of the DJA Board of Directors.