Dive into the heart of Downtown El Dorado with Main Street El Dorado, a distinguished nonprofit organization accredited by Main Street America™. Committed to downtown revitalization, economic development, and historic preservation, Main Street El Dorado upholds the fundamental principles of Economic Vitality, Quality Design, Effective Promotion, and Sustainable Organization. Join us in preserving history while creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community.
WHAT IS THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM?
Nationally recognized. Locally powered.
Main Street America™ has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today it is a network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Main Street Program builds on the downtowns total image using the Main Street Approach™.
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Design
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Organization
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Promotion
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Economic Vitality
As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Main Street El Dorado is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center.
WHAT IS THE MAIN STREET APPROACH™?
The Main Street Approach™ is centered around
Transformation Strategies. A Transformation Strategy
articulates a focused, deliberate path to revitalizing
or strengthening a downtown or commercial district’s
economy. Each Transformation Strategy is implemented
through activities in the four broad areas of work
represented by the Four Points: Economic Vitality,
Design, Promotion, and Organization.
HOW IS THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM FUNDED?
Funding comes through our membership drive from local businesses, professionals, property owners, lending institutions, industry, concerned citizens and the City of El Dorado. Some grants are received to further sustain & grow the program. Main Street El Dorado hosts several annual events during the year which is used to showcase the downtown entertainment district as well as to generate revenue for the program, including MusicFest which is our biggest fundraiser. These events are made possible through corporate sponsorships/partnerships.
HOW IS THE MONEY UTILIZED?
MSE is committed to keeping a vibrant downtown where people live, work, and play - all revenue generated is put right back into Downtown. In 2007 alone, Main Street El Dorado completed numerous downtown improvement projects including the purchase and placement of new street lamps, street banners, sidewalk benches, and matching ashtray urns. The restoration of the Garett Building on Elm Street was completed in 2007 and is now home to Harrison Financial and The Olde Towne Store.
HOW LONG DOES THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM LAST?
This is an ongoing program that is essentially the management of change over time. Main Street produces dramatic short-term improvements, particularly in appearance and promotions, while creating a strong organizational foundation that is critical to long-term revitalization success.
BETH BRUMLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Beth Brumley was named Executive Director of Main Street El Dorado in 2017. A dedicated Main Street volunteer, a talented marketing professional, and a devoted proponent of El Dorado, Beth Brumley has found the ideal home for her talents in her new position as executive director of Main Street El Dorado. Bringing together her strong knowledge of the Main Street program and her wealth of professional experience, Brumley has taken the helm at Main Street ready to lead the organization in a new direction.
“With Beth's history of being a great volunteer for Main Street El Dorado and her background in retail and marketing, The Executive Committee felt that she was the perfect fit for the position of executive director for Main Street El Dorado”
-Mayor Paul Choate
Brumley, who served on the Main Street board from 2008 until 2012, began working with Main Street as a volunteer. She served as board president in 2012, chairing MusicFest XXV, which featured MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, and bringing a new perspective to numerous other events.
Steering Main Street El Dorado back to its roots is part of Brumley’s mission in her new position. She plans to focus her energies on three of the Main Street America program’s four-point approach to downtown revitalization: economic vitality, organization, and design, while partnering with
El Dorado Festivals & Events on the fourth point: promotions.
Brumley welcomes interested parties to contact her via her email address:
director@mainstreeteldorado.org, or via phone at (870) 862-4747.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Director: Beth Brumley
Events and Office Coordinator: Krystal Swint
Administrative Assistant: Emilia Gathright
President: Melissa Balentine
Vice-President: Karen Todd
Treasurer: Paul Waschka
Secretary: Victoria Young
Past President: Dawne Kelley
Advisory Committee Chair: Bruce Butterfield
Board of Directors:
Luis Antonio
Melissa Compton
Alexis Jacob-Jones
DeQuanta Moore
Melody Morrow
Keith Smith
Sarah Walls
Mallory Whitehead
Levi Winfrey
Advisory Board Members:
Mayor Paul Choate - Honorary
Chamber Member- TBD Honorary
Faye Brown
Buddy McAdams
Kristy Hayden
Chad Mosby
Greg Withrow
Chris Curry
Rexayn Tribble