El Dorado Main Street

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arts and cutlure center

El Dorado Main Street

about us
The health of a downtown is the very heart of a community's quality of life. El Dorado Main Street is a volunteer based organization which seeks to enhance the positive elements of our downtown in a variety of ways. Through the Four Point Approach, El Dorado Main Street deals with the full spectrum of interrelated issues that affect traditional commercial districts. Since 1998, El Dorado Main Street has assisted the community and business owners in making downtown El Dorado the heartbeat of the community by attracting residents and visitors to the area for shopping, dining, festivals, and entertainment. El Dorado Main Street has also supported and helped finance over $32 million in reinvestments and improvements to the downtown district through IWW loans and facade grants. El Dorado Main Street continues working to preserve its assets through historic preservation and encourage future growth in this great community.Mission Statement The purpose of the El Dorado Main Street Program is to enhance our downtown identity and heritage, to foster a center of activity for both business and recreation and to ensure economic stability for the heart of El Dorado through concentrated efforts of design, promotion, organization and economic revitalization.
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about us

committees

Organization

Promotions

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Design

Business Enhancement and Development

Promo

Promotions

The image of El Dorado Main Streetdetermines its potential for vitality andprosperity. It is the job of the PromotionCommittee to PROMOTE downtown as thecenter of commerce, culture, and communitylife for residents and visitors alike.Volunteers on this committee:• Understand the changing market – bothpotential shoppers and the“competition”;• Identify downtown assets – includingpeople, buildings, heritage, andinstitutions;• Define El Dorado Main Street’s marketniche – its unique “position” in themarketplace;• Create NEW image campaigns, retailpromotions, and special events – tobring people back downtown.This committee markets the downtowndistrict's unique characteristics to shoppers,investors, and visitors. The PromotionCommittee is the driving force behind theFrontier Western Celebration, the downtownimage campaigns, and Art on the Town. This committee relies on volunteers who like to be out in the public andenjoy community events.

Design

Design Committee

The Design Committee plays a key role in shapingthe physical image of El Dorado Main Street as anattractive place for shoppers, investors, businessowners, and visitors.This committee has successfully adopted anambitious physical improvement program by:• Educating others about good design –enhancing the image of each business as wellas that of the district;• Providing good design advice – encouragingquality improvements to private propertiesand public spaces;• Planning El Dorado Main Street’sdevelopment – guiding future growth andshaping regulations; and• Motivating others to make changes – creatingincentives and targeting key projects.Through building improvements, landscaping,historical preservation, and teaching business owners about creative and useful window displays, the Design Committee works to help El Dorado Main Street convey a visual message about what the commercial district is and what it has to offer. This committee has provided the sculptures that are displayed throughout the downtown and alsoprovides grants to business owners to update orimprove the outside of their buildings. Most recently, this committee has taken on the Bike Rack Project in an effort to place bike racks in the downtown for more pedestrian ease.

BED

Downtown

Business

Toolbox

Business Enhancement and Development

The Economic Restructuring Committee identifies new market opportunities for the traditional commercial district, finds new uses for historic commercial buildings, and stimulates investment in available properties. This committee develops a thorough understanding of the district’s economic condition and its best opportunities, focusing on incremental changes that gradually improve El Dorado Main Street’'s economic foundation and eventually make largescale investment possible by:• Learning about the district’s current economic condition and identifying opportunities for market growth;• Strengthening existing businesses and recruiting new ones;• Finding new economic uses for traditional buildings;• Developing financial incentives and capital for building rehabilitations and business development; and• Monitoring the economic performance of the district.Closely collaborating with the other El DoradoMain Street committees, this committee assists instrengthening the existing economic assets of thebusiness district while diversifying its economicbase. They assist business owners with IncentivesWithout Walls (IWW) Loans and other financial opportunities.Interested in doing business in downtown El Dorado? Visit our toolbox to learn how!

Organization

Organization Committee

The Organization Committee plays a key role in keeping the board, committees, staff, and overall program in good shape by attracting people and money to El Dorado Main Street. This committee successfully manages the financial and logistical aspects by: • Raising money - for projects and administration; • Managing staff and volunteers – by recruiting people, supervising them, and rewarding their good work; • Promoting the program – to downtown interests and the public; • Managing finances by developing and practicing good accounting procedures.By relying on volunteers who are thinkers and planners, this committee plans the annual banquet, pledge drive, and oversees volunteer recruitment and recognition. These volunteers have a strong sense of community and recognize the benefits of this organization to our downtown district.

Promotions

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events

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Trick or Treat Down the Street
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HOPE VI

Historic Picture
Ellet Opera House
Performance
Drawing of early 1900's
Ellet Opera House
KSN Interview
KSN INterview
Original ticket booth
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Gish Building

Historic Picture
Ellet Opera House
Performance
Drawing of early 1900's
Ellet Opera House
KSN Interview
KSN INterview
Original ticket booth
Ellet upper.jpg
ksn interview outside
View 8.JPG
View 4.JPG
View 2.JPG
View 1.JPG
gish apartment hall.jpg
gish front apartment.jpg
gish communal bathroom.jpg
gish apartment 6.jpg
gish apartment 5.jpg
gish apartment 3.jpg
gish apartment 2.jpg
gish apartment.jpg
gish apartent 4.jpg
gish apartment hall.jpg
garage area.jpg
tin ceiling.jpg
transom windows above drop ceiling.jpg
water coming in.jpg
standing water after rain.jpg
retail space.jpg
pictures 008.jpg
Gish Building

downtown

Sweet 120
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Walter's Flowers and Interiors
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Beyond Napa
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Jacob's Well
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Iron Horse Concert Hall
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volunteers

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xmas group
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events
HOPE VI
downtown
volunteers

the collection

events

Christmas Flier
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First Fridays Held the first Friday of each month, participating downtown businesses will stay open later into the evening and provide promotions, special activities, musicians, artists, and other incentives to spend your evening in downtown El Dorado! Visit our First Fridays website for a current listing of this month's events!Frontier Western CelebrationThis was the 5th year for the Frontier Western Celebration in Downtown El Dorado. This four day festival brings "cowboys" of all ages. Thanks to the many sponsors and supporters, a downtown parking lot is converted into a bull riding arena. Along with two big concerts, barrel racing, bull riding, cowboy mounted shooters, a ranch rodeo, BBQ contest, and heritage events are provided for everyone to enjoy!For more information regarding the Frontier Western Celebrationgo to www.FrontierWesternCelebration.comAlso "Like" us on Facebook!Trick or Treat Down the Street October 31, 2011 4:00-7:00 p.m.An El Dorado tradition for many, many years, Trick or Treat Down the Street provides a fun and safe environment for families to spend Halloween together. El Dorado Main Street is committed to continuing this great event by restructuring and providing a new way to celebrate Halloween in downtown El Dorado this year. El Dorado Main Street strives to continue to bring our El Dorado families into the downtown. Home For the HolidaysHeld each Thursday night for four weeks leading up to Christmas, El Dorado Main Street encourages shoppers to buy local by offering later shopping hours, holiday promotions, special activities, and other incentives to shop for the holidays in downtown El Dorado! Join us for the annual downtown Christmas parade in December 1st to kick off the holiday season.

Click Pictures for better view

Click here for

Christmas Events

Information

events

Christmas

soup-chili.pdf

Parade of Lights

Soup/Chili Contest

Snowball Drop

December 1, 2011 6:00p.m.A downtown tradition, children line the street to see a parade of marching bands, floats, and even reindeer jeeps pass by. Immediately following the parade, Santa will take pictures with the kiddos...and those "young at heart". The beautiful lights downtown and on the depot lawn will be turned on to enjoy through the Christmas season.
December 8, 2011 6:00 Come downtown to determine who makes the best soup or chili in town! For $5 per person, you can taste all of the various entries and will have one vote for your favorite. We encourage clubs, churches, and student groups to enter this one-of-a-kind contest. Each vote for your chili is worth $5. At the end of the night, the total wil be split between the entrant and El Dorado Main Street. This is a great way to fundraise for your favorite organization!Call El Dorado Main Street for more information
December 15, 2011 6:00p.m.Depot LawnWe all have experienced snowballs being thrown, but at the downtown Snowball Drop hundreds of "snowballs" will fall from the sky and each one will have a prize! From free turkeys to downtown discounts, everyone is a winner in this fun event!! Bring the whole family to increase your chances at gathering the most snowballs! Santa will also be making a special appearance and passing out candy canes.

parade registration.pdf

Snowball Drop.pdf

visit us

El Dorado Main Street

P.O. Box 1281

El Dorado, KS 67042

316-321-3088

where we are

Toolbox

map

facade

FAÇADE MATCHING GRANT

The main purpose of the Upper Story and Facade Matching Fund Program is to provide the building owner or occupant monetary aid in facade restoration or decoration. Additional incentives will ultimately include the visual unification, improvement, and additional enhancement of the El Dorado Main Street neighborhood. After review and approval of each project submitted, the recipient will receive a maximum of $2,000 in matching funds. This will be a one-time funding per building façade or business. The recipient will determine the project total, but the fund is awarded on a percentage basis. If the project total is less than $1,500, El Dorado Main Street will pay 50% of the project total. If the project total is between $1,500 and $3,000, El Dorado Main Street will pay a maximum of $750. If the project total is more than $3,000, El Dorado Main Street will pay 25% with a maximum of $2,000 paid. Payment will be made after the project is completed, receipts are submitted and project is inspected by the Physical Improvement Committee.

iww

Incentives Without Walls (IWW) Loans

“"To create or stimulate private investment in designated Kansas Main Street downtown areas.” The expected outcome of this program is to create employment opportunities; save existing jobs; provide services and products; develop or strengthen new or existing businesses; acquire, rehabilitate, or preserve properties; and create a stronger tax base." All applications will be competitive in nature and will require a minimum cash match of 3:1 private to IWW funds. (There must be $3.00 of private investment for every $1.00 of State Investment in the project). *Non-cash, or in-kind match is not allowable. Additional consideration will be given to applicants providing more than the minimum match requirements. The Kansas Main Street IWW fund provides local Min Street organizations an opportunity to apply for between $1,000 and $20,000 per round for appropriate projects. The local program will identify and prioritize for action local projects insuring that those projects dentified will be viable and have long-term impact on the downtown district. In addition, the local program will be responsible for submitting the application, providing oversight to assure that projects are started and completed in a timely manner, keeping appropriate records for each project, and for submitting required reporting documentation. The local program will also be responsible for disbursing the funds to those local businesses and/or projects that are selected to receive funds on the 3:1 (public to private) ratio, and to perform due diligence in the collection of loan installment payments. Five percent of the total award may be retained, at the local program’s discretion, for administrative costs. These administrative costs must be identified on the budget page and must be disclosed to the third party recipient before the application is submitted.

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Start-Up Kansas

The intent is to provide funding to small businesses in rural and distressed communities in the form of grants or unsecured loans matching the terms of the other financing provided by a Net Work Kansas partner working on behalf of the entrepreneur. These grants and loans have allowed businesses to leverage additional public and private funds. This offer is only available to partners of Network Kansas who offer some financial assistance to existing and new business. The terms, in a simple format, are as follows: A business would determine the cost of the project starting or growing a business. After discovering the total cost the business owner and partner would attempt to obtain any funding options possible. If there were still a margin of expense the business owner would then work with the Network Kansas partner in attempts to utilize their available funding. The partner would provide 40% of the remaining expenses and the StartUp Kansas would have the opportunity to provide 60% of remaining expenses, up to $45,000. Example as follows Start Up business cost: $100,000 Bank Loan - $40,000 Small Bus Loan - $5,000 Private Investment - $20,000 Remaining Balance $35,000 El Dorado Main Street Provide 40% of $35,000; $14,000. If business applied for and was approved eligible IWW loan would be $15,000. StartUp Kansas’ contribution would then be $21,000. El Dorado Main Street has no liabilities associated with StartUp Kansas. All terms and conditions of StartUp Kansas would mirror El Dorado Main Street’'s Agreement. If it were a smaller project, and the IWW loan did not fulfill the 40% agreement, if the business owner was eligible for a Façade Grant that amount of funding would also be submitted to gain a total contribution of El Dorado Main Street

prevproj

Previous Projects

District 142 before and after

Circle Gallery

Circle Gallery and Frame Shop before and after

El Dorado Main Street is about more than promotions and awnings. It is about historic preservation and economic revitalization.

If your business is within the Main Street District, you own property in the Main Street District, or are interested in owning property or a business in the Main Street District, you are eligible to participate in one of three financial incentives that El Dorado Main Street has to offer.

Currently, El Dorado Main Street is the only organization to offer these three incentives!

current projects

Current Projects

Proposed Arena The early stages of any planning process requires a lot of research and data collecting. As we move through this process, it is the intention of El Dorado Main Street along with the partners involved to allow for transparency and provide an avenue for dissimenation of information. Please visit this area of the website to receive the most current information.

Arena Information.pdf

Case Study Lyons.pdf

Current Projects01

Article 1

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HOPE VI Main Street Project

Two years ago, El Dorado Main Street became aware of a grant that could help increase upper-story housing in downtown buildings. Through a partnership between El Dorado Main Street, the City of El Dorado, and the project building owners; application was made in August of 2011. On September 23, 2011, HUD announced that El Dorado was the recipient of the $500,000 award.

HUD Award Announcement

Project Pictures

Article 2

Downtown Arena

Arena Information.pdf

Article 3

Bike Rack Project

The El Dorado Main Street Design Committee is working towards adding bike racks to downtown El Dorado. Through public voting and much input from volunteers, this project is nearing completion. Be watching for the first two bike racks to be added soon.

Article 1
Article 2
Article 3

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