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| Artesia MainStreet
was initiated as a community grass roots effort in the spring of 1997,
under the assistance and guidelines of New Mexico MainStreet, a division
of the Department of Developement of the State of New Mexico. Our
first MainSteet event was a downtown back-to-school celebration which attracted
1500 to 2000 participants. Subsequent events have included our Homecoming
parade, School's-Out and Back-to-School celebrations, Christmas celebrations,
Fourth of July, Quatro-Cenenario, etc.
Artesia MainStreet was incorporated on November 24, 1997 as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of New Mexico. On September 1, 1998, Artesia MainStreet received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service granting 501(c)(3) status. The initial board consisted of five members. There are now 18 with expansion planned to the full 25 allowed. Because of the importance of a viable, healthy downtown to everyone in a small town, an attempt is being made in board and committee representation to draw in representatives not only from the downtown area but also from across the community spectrum. Artesia MainStreet encompasses the entire population of Artesia and surrounding areas, serving approximately 15,000 people. At present there are over 55 volunteers serving. The organization is operated on a totally volunteer basis and therefore has no payroll expense. Operational costs are kept to a minimum, with the goal being to make each promotional event self-supporting with the sale of food and drink items. Operational funding outside of food and drink sales is supplied by membership dues and general contributions. Initally we utilized architectural services supplied by New Mexico MainStreet. In December 1997, we contracted with the landscape architectural firm of Morrow and Company, Ltd. A downtown area streetscape Master Plan has been completed and approved by the Artesia City Council. Mr. Morrow is now in the process of providing detailed working drawings for Phase I of our Master Plan, our Heritage Plaza Project. The targeted completion date for Phase I drawings and Artesia City Council approval is March 1999 with targeted Phase I construction beginning March-April 1999, with completion in August 1999. Artesia MainStreet, Inc. contracted in November 1998 for a large fountain complex to be placed in the Heritage Walkway. Mr. Shel Neymark, designer of the Rosalie Doolittle Fountain at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden in Albuquerque, NM, will be the fountain artist. |
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