The Beginning of Main Street Arkansas

In 1984, Arkansas joined the National Main Street Network, a national organization focused on preserving downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. The next year, five communities were named as Main Street Arkansas’ first members.

More Than 40 Years, Over 40 Communities

Since 1985, Main Street Arkansas has added over 40 communities to its program, including designated Main Streets, Downtown Network members and three associate programs. Main Street Arkansas is dedicated to helping communities preserve and support their historic downtowns.

Main Street Dumas Historic Building Damage

When saving historic properties, timing can be critical. It can literally mean the difference between saving them or losing them forever. A restaurant in Dumas’ Commercial Historic District is an example of this. Dumas has been part of Main Street Arkansas since 1999 and is one of only 17 Designated Main Street Programs in the state. Its commercial historic district features some historic architecture dating back to 1905 and includes eight noteworthy historic buildings. In 2007, the commercial historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In January 2025, the storefront of El Parian, the only restaurant in Dumas’ historic downtown, suddenly collapsed. Main Street Dumas Director Jennifer Fisher knew this was a race against the clock, and she immediately reached out to Main Street Arkansas for assistance. The next morning, Mark Miller, Main Street Arkansas’ Small Business Consultant and Grants Administrator with over 30 years of preservation experience, arrived in Dumas to assess the damage. Fisher and Miller quickly realized that this affected more than one damaged storefront; the structural safety of the adjoining buildings was also in jeopardy. To keep everyone safe, the building was declared a safety hazard and closed.  

No one wanted to lose the town’s only downtown restaurant or its surrounding businesses. The historic building had been divided up and was owned by four different families, several of whom were relying on the rental income from the buildings as part of their retirement. 
 

Main Street Arkansas staff worked closely with Director Fisher, downtown business owners and Dumas city officials. Together, they worked to find a solution.  

When initial architectural quotes came back, they were too high. The group decided instead to start thinking outside the box. Miller suggested finding a contractor who could work with a structural engineer’s guidance, cutting the cost significantly. A contractor with extensive experience dealing with historic buildings was found and hired. The contractor worked under the guidance of a structural engineer who had assessed the building. Using this creative approach to historic preservation allowed the project to be completed at about half of the original quoted cost. 

Main Street Arkansas, the city of Dumas and the business owners displayed an impressive commitment to preservation and community. They saved part of the historic district and preserved an important piece of the town’s history.

The Impact of Main Street Arkansas: By the Numbers

Main Street Arkansas staff continue to build strong relationships with residents and leaders of communities across the state. The project with Main Street Dumas is only one example of how Main Street Arkansas continues to help preserve historic downtowns.

A recent report outlined the cumulative impact Main Street Arkansas cities have seen since the program began and the numbers are impressive:

• 3,683 the number of façade renovations, building rehabilitations and new construction projects
• $822,442,941 total investment for the 3,683 projects
• 1,416 public improvement projects
• 1,701 net gain in number of businesses
• 1,448 business expansions and relocations into downtowns
• 10,123 new jobs created by these businesses
• 781,007 volunteer hours spent on downtown revitalization projects

To learn more about Main Street Arkansas, click here.