Helena National Bank and FHLB Dallas Award Partnership Grant to Main Street Helena
HELENA, AR – November 19, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Helena National Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) are pleased to announce that they have awarded a $4,000 Partnership Grant Program (PGP) award to Main Street Helena. Representatives from the banks joined Main Street Helena officials for a check presentation Tuesday in historic downtown Helena.
Main Street Helena, a local nonprofit that promotes the preservation and economic revitalization of the historic downtown business district in the city of Helena, Arkansas, will use the partnership grant in conjunction with its mini-grants program. Mini-grants are available to owners of businesses within Helena’s Main Street District, said Paula Oliver, executive director of Main Street Helena. The mini-grants program is primarily funded by a downtown revitalization grant that Main Street Helena receives through Main Street Arkansas, but the amount of funds the organization receives varies from year to year, Ms. Oliver said. The funds can be used for exterior improvements to buildings, including awnings, signage, and new paint.
“We will use the AHP funds exclusively with the mini-grants program. It has been amazing the way the mini-grants program has affected the way people perceive downtown Helena,” Ms. Oliver said. “The program has generated a lot of interest from other property owners. A lot of our Main Street property owners are mom and pop operations and they don’t have a big budget for improvements, so this program really helps them.”
Phylis Stiedle, the owner of the Cherry Street Shoppe, a consignment store in downtown Helena, was able to replace the awning of her store using a previous mini-grant from Main Street Helena.
“The awning has really made a difference in the appearance of my store. It really makes my building stand out, and it gives the store the look of an older town, like it used to be when I was growing up here,” said Ms. Stiedle, who is 82 years old. “The awnings aren’t cheap, but getting the help from the min-grant enabled me to purchase a new one. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise. I would have just kept what I had.”
Contact:
Corporate Communications
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
www.fhlb.com
(214) 441-8445
