Representatives from Main Street Texarkana presented Bill Scurlock of Pecan Point Brewing and Gastropub a check for $2,000 from the new STAR Grant Fund. The Strategic Texas Arts Rehabilitation Grant is similar to other matching grant programs for Arkansas-side Main Street Texarkana properties funded by the state of Arkansas.
"Main Street Texarkana administers this program and we got started with the first $2,000 dollars from an anonymous donor," said Ina McDowell, Main Street Texarkana executive director. "We now have $600 in STAR Grant money available thanks to a generous donation from the Oaklawn Rotary Club."
The STAR Grant fund is intended to assist Main Street property owners in efforts to rehabilitate, repair or restore historical properties on the Texas side of the city.
Main Street Texarkana has received accreditation as a Main Street America program from the National Main Street Center. This recognition is intended to identify local Main Street programs and their efforts to preserve their historic downtowns and through preserving and enhancing those downtowns, and strengthening the economic, social and cultural fabric of their communities. To win this recognition, Main Street Texarkana was evaluated and recommended by the state level organizations for Texas and Arkansas.