The annual National Main Streets Conference is quickly approaching. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding this year’s conference May 22-25, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa. If you cannot make it to the big show in person, you can still be a "Virtual Attendee" on its website - which will soon feature live streams, tweets, and blogs.

Main Street programs exist across the U.S., which engage in “preservation-based economic development,” as well as small business growth and other issues that impact main streets and downtowns. The annual conference will include training, an expo, plenty of networking opportunities, and "mobil workshops that focus on revitalization in Des Moines and surrounding Main Street Iowa communities," according to online conference information. 

“In Des Moines we will focus on recruitment, retention, strengthening and supporting your local businesses; showcase how being green and open to all will help with these efforts; and, of course, learning about the Main Street Four Point Approach from the basics to the new, cutting-edge ideas that are being put in to practice in our Main Streets across the country.”

Two Michigan communities, Boyne City and Old Town Lansing, are in the running for “Great American Main Street Awards (GAMSA)" along with eight other semi-finalists. Winners will be announced at the conference. Read a previous 21c3 blog by Arnold Weinfeld about the honor.

You can read my previous blog about how the Michigan Main Street Program reports progress in Michigan. Or if you are in the mood for something light and delightfully cheeky, check out this viral video that Main Street Iowa made in commemoration of their 25th anniversary. 

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

Michigan State University professors, students, volunteers from AmeriCorps, and Lansing residents are rolling up their sleeves and doing some urban farming on South Hayford Street, which is located in one of Lansing’s “food deserts.” MSU academic specialist/visiting assistant professor Laura DeLind and professor emeritus of teacher education Linda Anderson started the urban farm in order to teach residents how to grow produce and increase the neighborhood’s access to healthy food, as reported by MSU.

Anderson explains that a “food desert” is “primarily in a neighborhood where people have limited incomes, there’s no easy access to places to buy healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables, unless you have transportation and many low income families don’t have easy transportation. Therefore their sources of food are often fast food restaurants, liquor stores, corner grocery stores--not a lot of fresh produce,” as reported by MLIVE.

DeLind and Anderson talked about Urbandale Farm with 760 WJR’s Kirk Heinze on his radio show "Greening of the Great Lakes." The interview will air this Friday, June 11 at 7 pm and it is already posted online. 

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

The League of American Bicyclists thinks Lansing, Marquette and Portage are rolling along towards becoming three of the country's most bicycle-friendly communities. The three cities have been designated as "Bicycle Friendly Communities," and each city received Bronze-level awards from the Spring 2010 Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) program - the League of American Bicyclists' way of  "honoring municipalities that actively support bicycling and provide safe bike accommodations for recreation and transportation," according to Walk and Bike Lansing! and The City of Lansing's press announcement.

In February, I wrote on article for www.letssavemichigan.com - a site supported by the Michigan Municipal League - that reports how Lansing successfully adopted a non-motorized transportation ordinance and drafted a plan, how they are "completing streets," and how grassroots support and action helped spur these initiatives.

Click on the League of American Bicyclists' Map of "Bicycle Friendly Communities" to find examples of walker-friendly, bicycle-friendly communities and businesses across the country. Other communities in Michigan have gotten props from the League of American Bicyclists for being bike-able. Ann Arbor, greater Grand Rapids, and Traverse City received the designation and award in the past. Midland received an Honorable Mention this spring.