April 27, 2020, Hope, Arkansas —The national small business movement, Independent We Stand, announces the quarterfinalists, including Historic Downtown Hope of Hope, AR in the 2020 “America’s Main Streets” contest. As the lifeblood of our cities and towns, Main Streets play an important role in the long-term success of communities and help build a sense of place. Ensuring the survival and vitality of our Main Streets is important now more than ever before, as many across the country stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Independent We Stand invites the public to take action and play a role in the survival of Main Streets by voting online for their favorite quarterfinalist and moving a deserving Main Street one step closer to the cash grand prize of $25,000.
Hope is a tourist destination that is steeped in history due to the fact that Hope is the birthplace of President Bill Clinton, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former White House Chief of Staff, Mack McLarty. Hope is also known for being the headquarters of Klipsch Speakers and for raising record-setting Watermelons. Since 1912, the Union-Pacific Railroad has been a major part of Hope, and helped bring Hope to life.
In 2018, Historic Downtown Hope received its designation as an Arkansas Downtown Network program as directed by Main Street Arkansas. As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Hope Downtown Network is part of a 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.
Bob Erwin, President of the Hope Downtown Network stated, ”These designations would not have happened without our community stepping up to make a difference in downtown business revitalization & historic preservation.”
Beckie Moore, Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce director stated, “We are blessed to have community-minded people who realize the value of a vibrant downtown. We appreciate everyone who voted for Hope in the first round of this exciting contest, and we encourage you to continue voting for Hope in the semifinal round.”
More than 616,000 total votes were cast for 160 entrants during the nominations phase. The 2020 quarterfinalists in alphabetical order are:
Chattahoochee Main Street, Chattahoochee, Fla.
Downtown Bedford, Bedford, Pa.
Downtown Canton Georgia, Canton, Ga.
Downtown Jeffersonville, Jeffersonville, Ind.
Emporia Main Street, Inc., Emporia, Kan.
Fernandina Beach Main Street, Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Historic Downtown Hope, Hope, Ark.
Historic Downtown Ripon, Ripon, Wis.
Historic Downtown Snohomish Association, Snohomish, Wash.
Jacksonville Main Street, Jacksonville, Ill.
LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation, LaBelle, Fla.
Larned Main Street, Larned, Kan.
Main Street Altus, Altus, Okla.
Main Street Fort Pierce, Inc., Fort Pierce, Fla.
Main Street Hayward, Hayward, Wis.
Main Street Homer, Homer, La.
Minden, Louisiana, Minden, La.
NewTown Macon, Macon, Ga.
Osborne Main Street, Osborne, Kan.
Pittsfield's Historic Courthouse Square, Pittsfield, Ill.
Public Square, Columbia, Ky.
Quincy Main Street, Quincy, Fla.
Springhill Main Street, Springhill, La.
Sweetwater Main Street, Sweetwater, Tenn.
Sykesville Main Street, Sykesville, Md.
Semifinalist voting begins April 27 at MainStreetContest.com and runs through May 24.
The top 10 semifinalists will be announced May 25. The winner of the 2020 “America’s Main Streets” contest will be announced June 2 followed by a “Main Streets Make Us Better” celebration planned to occur on or near the Fourth of July, when the winner will announce how the prize money will be used.
Additional contest prizes include:
STIHL Equipment Certificate for $1,000 worth of STIHL equipment good at any STIHL Dealer in the U.S.
Do it Best Corp. $500 shopping spree
Free One Day Downtown Assessment from Flip This Town
Nationwide Marketing Group $500 shopping spree
PPG Paints $500 shopping spree
Public relations and social media recognition
A special plaque for the winner to proudly display
For more information on Historic Downtown Hope, please like and follow Hope Downtown Network and Hope Chamber on Facebook. You may also call the chamber at 870.777.3640 or email [email protected].
Presenting Sponsor:
STIHL Inc., America’s number-one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment*, is the founding sponsor of Independent We Stand and the presenting sponsor of America’s Main Streets contest. The company follows a unique distribution strategy in the handheld outdoor power equipment industry, choosing never to sell products at big box stores, but instead remain loyal to its 9,000+ authorized local STIHL Dealers nationwide.
Supporting Sponsors:
About Independent We StandIndependent We Stand is a nationwide movement of independent small business owners whose mission is to inspire other small business owners to better understand and celebrate their locally owned status while educating consumers about the importance and strong economic benefits of supporting them. The Independent We Stand movement is sponsored by STIHL Inc. STIHL products are sold through more than 9,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers from coast to coast – not big box stores. Associate sponsors include Nationwide Marketing Group, PPG Paints and Do it Best Corp.
*"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2019 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.