El Dorado Insider Spring 2023 - 19

El Dorado's thriving downtown
is home to more than 40 unique
shops and eateries.
ain Street is the heartbeat of a community and
El Dorado's thriving downtown provides a strong
and steady beat with its quaint southern charm and
history. More than 40 unique shops and eateries
fill the Union Square Historic District, housed in
restored buildings constructed during El Dorado's oil boom
years in the 1920s.
M
Thanks to the foresight of city leaders in 1988, El Dorado
joined Main Street Arkansas, a program for downtown
commercial revitalization, in an attempt to ensure that our
historic downtown would remain vibrant and viable. The
transformation that followed was the result of many years of
hard work and dedication to the project by community leaders
and volunteers. In 2009, the city won national accolades for
their efforts when El Dorado was named a Great American Main
Street Award winner.
The Main Street Arkansas program uses a four-point
approach: organization, design, promotion, and economic
restructuring. A successful program requires widespread
community support, committed and dependable funding, fulltime
management, and strong public-private partnerships - all
of which El Dorado has developed.
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 preservationbased
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.
" Main Street's mission has always been to create economic
development and we continue to build on that concept for
downtown and El Dorado in general, " says Beth Brumley, Main
Street El Dorado Executive Director. " We do a tremendous
amount of work behind the scenes. I think our ability to react,
think outside the box, and support each other has been a huge
part of our program's success through the years. "
El Dorado's thriving downtown is a symbol of our
community's economic health, quality of life, and local history.
The hustle and bustle of business and commerce amidst
successful historic preservation efforts is evidence of Main
Street El Dorado's accomplishments.
The recent addition of an ambient sound system that wafts
music throughout the downtown area has added to the charm of
a stroll around the square. It has helped create a fun and lively
atmosphere during the multitude of promotional events Main
Street sponsors throughout the year to encourage locals and
visitors alike to come downtown. Shamrockin' on the Square,
Grill Wars, MusicFest, Airstreams on the Square, and the
Holiday Lighting are some of the organization's most popular
events.
Main Street also sponsors a Mini Grant program for business
owners within the Main Street footprint, and has awarded over
$30,000 to more than 24 businesses over the last three years.
Looking ahead, Brumley says " we would like to increase the
amount of public art downtown and continue to grow our brand
as a great destination to visit. "
With local retail, a variety of food experiences, a vibrant
nightlife, and downtown living options, everything you need
can be found in downtown El Dorado. Downtown is where our
community gathers to live, work, and have a lot of fun. Many
weekends, the city's numerous nonprofits put on special events
for a little family fun - highlighting that El Dorado is full of
small-town goodness. Come and visit - you'll be glad you did!! p
www.GoElDorado.com 19
http://www.GoElDorado.com
El Dorado Insider Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of El Dorado Insider Spring 2023
