WEST MEMPHIS, AR – A downtown area once on life support is now receiving a shot in the arm, thanks to $50,000 in federal grant money. The money will be used to help revitalize store fronts in Downtown West Memphis, Arkansas. It will also help small business owners come up with the ideal business plan to attract and keep business west of the Mississippi River.
It’s called the “Main Street Program.” The money will be used to offer workshops, designer, and business consulting for business owners like Kelly Duncan. “Hopefully they can bring some business back this way.” “You got to understand, this is the Delta, one of the poorest regions in Arkansas,” says former business owner Orival McClure. With this program organizers say the lessons learned can help make business profitable and not such a high risk in West Memphis. “I want to be able to improve my business and keep it going. With the economy the way it is I’m looking for ways to improve and keep costs low, so we can keep our prices low and keep customers coming in,” says Duncan.
Local organizers of the “Main Street Program” say this has been a success in other Mid-South cities such as Paragould and Conway, Arkansas.
