Searcy, Main Street Director Amy Burton

Friday marks the close of Amy Burton's first week of directing the Main Street Searcy program.

Burton's appointment by the Main Street Searcy Committee followed the city's acceptance three weeks ago into the Main Street Arkansas program.

Part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street is a civic development cooperative began in 1980 with the goal of revitalizing main street and downtown areas while preserving the singular architectural and cultural heritage of each town.

On Tuesday and Wednesday Burton visited the Little Rock office of the Main Street Arkansas program looking into grants for the rehabilitation of downtown Searcy buildings.

The Main Street Arkansas program is a resource, Burton said, that Searcy can turn to at every stage of downtown's revitalization process. Main Street Arkansas consultants can advise on topics ranging from exterior renovations to organizing an attractive window display.

Burton, who graduated from Searcy High School in 1992, is glad to be returning home, she said. She has lived in Blytheville for the last six years, where she worked in marketing and development at Arkansas Northeastern College.

Burton's new office, in the downtown Regions Bank building, overlooks the square to which she has dedicated herself. It is a familiar sight for her.

"I remember as a kid going to Young's Fashions to shop and Headlee's drug store for lunch. And of course I remember going to the movies at the Rialto," said Burton.

Burton has not announced a first step that she will take as director.

"It's hard to name one special first step," she said. "So many things play off each other."

She expects that the main street program will encourage festivals and restaurants to move into downtown. A rehabilitated downtown, with more retail and opportunities for leisure, will encourage people to stay in Searcy for longer visits when they come for medical care or college functions, said Burton.

While Burton expects and hopes that a rehabilitated downtown will attract investors and companies from outside Searcy, the program is committed to maintaining the uniqueness of place that one notices when walking around Searcy's courthouse square.

"Part of the Main Street program is to preserve history. Searcy is rich in history. We want to remind people and radiate that through our downtown businesses."

From 1980 through 2003, 1,700 cities have participated in Main Street programs across the country, said Krishnia Rainey of the national Main Street office in Washington on Feb. 3.

In these cities, 60,577 new businesses have moved into main street areas providing a total of 244,545 new jobs. Main Street programs have also rehabilitated 96, 283 buildings.

Acceptance into the program requires an extensive application and a commitment of $65,000 a year for three years. The money will come from pledges made by local businesses and banks, Wal-Mart, and board members of the Main Street Searcy Committee, said Committee Chairman Ed Shaffer at the ceremony for the city's acceptance by Main Street Arkansas on Feb. 4.

The city will also pay $5,000 a year for three years, said Mayor Belinda LaForce on Feb. 4.