Monday September 12, 2016
-to-
Wednesday September 14, 2016
Dixie Center for the Arts
212 North Vienna Street
Ruston, LA 71270
Driving Directions
Comfort Inn
1951 North Service Road East
Ruston, LA 71270
318-242-0070
Hotel Website
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Fairfield Inn & Suites
1707 Roberta Avenue
Ruston, LA 71270
318-251-9800
Hotel Website
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Hampton Inn
1315 North Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
318-251-3090
Hotel Website
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Sleep Inn & Suites
106 South Service Road East
Ruston, LA 71270
318-232-1100
Hotel Website
S C E N E S F R O M
D O W N T O W N R U S T O N
Presbyterian Church of Ruston
Historic Fire Station
North Trenton Street
North Trenton Street
West Park Avenue
West Park Avenue
E C O N O M I C
V I T A L I T Y
T E A M S
Destination Downtown 2016 is a regional conference developed and hosted by Louisiana Main Street in partnership with Main Street Arkansas and Mississippi Main Street Association.
The conference attracts more than 200 professionals in preservation-based historic commercial district revitalization, including new and experienced downtown and neighborhood Main Street directors, board members, architects, planners, economic development professionals, public officials, volunteers, and consultants. Attendees hail from communities of all sizes from small rural towns to urban neighborhoods in large cities.
The 2016 conference will be held in beautiful Ruston, Louisiana. Ruston is known for its thriving college-town atmosphere, an 18 block historic downtown district and the incredibly sweet peaches grown in the parish. The area is home to Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University and boasts a variety of specialty shops and delicious restaurants.
The theme of this year's conference is Economic Vitality Teams. Many conference sessions will focus on how preservationists and economic developers can work together to make our historic commercial districts remain economically competitive.
M O N D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 2
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Registration
Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
2:00 - 4:30 PM
Tours Depart from Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
Tour A - Downtown Walking Tour
Tour B - Lincoln Parish Museums Tour
Tour C - Park and Peaches Tour
Click Here to Download Tour Descriptions
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Welcome to Ruston Reception
Norton Building, 207 West Mississippi Avenue
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T U E S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 3
8:00 AM
Registration
Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
9:00 - 10:15 AM
Opening Plenary
Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions (see below)
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Lunch (on your own)
1:15 - 2:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions (see below)
2:45 - 4:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions (see below)
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Artists' Showcase
Davison Athletic Complex, South End Zone of Joe Aillet Stadium, Louisiana Tech University, 1450 Stadium Boulevard
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W E D N E S D A Y, S E P T E M B E R 1 4
8:00 AM
Registration
Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
8:30 - 9:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions (see below)
10:00 - 11:15 AM
Concurrent Sessions (see below)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Closing Plenary
Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna Street
Click Here to Download Session Descriptions
Developing an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Market-Driven Main Street Programs: A How-To
Attracting New Businesses
Strengthening Your Business Retention Program
Watering the Roots of the Small Business Ecosystem: Financial Resource for Growing Small Businesses
Navigating the Economic Landscape: Exploring Resources Available to Help Your Small Business Infrastructure Grow and Flourish
Planning and Implementing the Seeds of Economic Revitalization
From Main Street to Market - Mastering the Art of Main Street Microbusiness Development
Cultivating Economic Gardens
Ruston Re-Imagined
How to Overcome Negative PR and Band Your Downtown Together
30 Low Cost/No Cost Family Programming Ideas
Hope Inspires Action: Leading Positive Community Change
Main Street Principle # 4 - Building Partnerships for Economic Development
Solutions for Stubborn Vacancies
Louisiana Main Street City of Ruston
Main Street Arkansas Mississippi Main Street Association
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Louisiana Tech
University