Oklahoma Main Street Featured Community

Newkirk

Certification Date: 1992

Program Results (Cumulative)
Public/Private Reinvestment: $9,366,568
Building Rehabilitations: 79 ($3,104,540)
Net Gain in New Businesses/Expansions: 54
Net Gain in New Jobs: 98
Volunteer Hours: 38,547

Program Manager: Karen Dye
E-mail Address: newkirkms@hotmail.com
Phone: (580) 362-2377
Website: www.oknewkirk.com/mainstreet

Board Members:

Board Members, Nathan Mayer - President, Sue Roy - Vice President, Delores Prelesnick - Secretary, Janice Shinn - Treasurer, Roy Chaney, Caryl Morgan, Robert Morgan, Carl Barnes, Susan Smith, Debbie Falkenberg

What's great about our community is…

When asked, "What's great about our community?" Newkirk Main Street president, Nathan Mayer, responded, "What's not great about our community?"  Main Street board secretary, Delores Prelesnick stated that "The community of Newkirk is like a family."

Merchant Quotes

"Since becoming a charter Main Street member in 1992, I have watched property values in downtown Newkirk rise significantly and long, vacant buildings fill with new businesses - all of this is vital to my business.  During this time, I purchased three of those vacant buildings; and with Main Street's design assistance and grants, rehabilitated them.  All three currently house successful businesses. In the process, I was awarded Newkirk Main Street's prestigious Laurie White award for one the buildings.  In 2002 my firm, Albright Abstract & Title Guaranty received the Oklahoma Main Street Business of the Year award.  Annually, the economic restructuring committee sponsors business retention seminars which all of my employees attend.  Pioneer Technology teaches these seminars, and I feel that these are very valuable to my staff.  In short, as goes the success of Newkirk so goes the success of my business.  Main Street has made a significant difference not only in Newkirk, but in my business as well."

- Vernon C. Merrifield, president of Albright Abstract & Title Guaranty

"Where do I start and where do I stop? Our business has greatly profited from the promotion committee events, and we have received help from the design committee more than once.  The Newkirk main Street office is the first place we call if we need help or assistance in our day-to-day operations.  The Newkirk business district has greatly profited from the Main Street Program and the residential community enjoys the improved lifestyle that Main Street has brought to our town.  It is a full-circle program that benefits everyone."

- LaFaun Locke, Locke Auto Parts

Recent Projects

One of the most exciting recent projects of Newkirk Main Street was the Senior Dinner held this winter.  Titled "Come Home to Newkirk," the purpose was to encourage the graduating seniors to move back to Newkirk once they have completed either college or tech school.  Several young adults in the community that have done that very thing were invited to the dinner also.  These young adults spoke about why they came back and what is so special about this community.  In addition to teachers and a minister, there were two young people who were entrepreneurs and  owned their own businesses. 

The other successful event this year was our "What's Going on Uptown in Downtown Newkirk?" - an upper floor tour that showcased one upper floor residential, an artist studio, a quilting retreat, and an office.  People were overwhelmed with the possibilities in these upper floor spaces and how beautiful these areas can be.

According to Main Street manager, Karen Dye, since becoming a Main Street community in 1992, the community has gone from downtrodden and apathetic to a vibrant community where the citizens know their heritage and have pride in their downtown.  Although there is still a great deal of opportunity for improvement here, great strides have been made, and the community attitude has changed to one of "we can do this" in whatever they set out to do.  Just this past year citizens built at state of the art, one million dollar library without passing a bond issue or raising taxes.  How phenomenal is that for a small rural community of 2,100 people!

As a result of this "can do" attitude, Newkirk was one of six communities in Oklahoma selected for the Smithsonian Exhibit "Journey Stories."   Newkirk, located in God's Country in north central Oklahoma, can do anything they set their minds to.