The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) is seeking session proposals for the regional 2024 Destination Downtown conference. The conference is hosted by MMSA, Louisiana Main Street, and Main Street Arkansas. The 2024 conference will be held in historic downtown Vicksburg, Mississippi on September 11-13, 2024.
The primary reason people attend Destination Downtown is for its strong educational component and we will have beginner to advanced sessions to meet each learning level. Educational sessions will highlight strategies and models that conference attendees can apply to their own communities. Sessions will include multiple case studies, strategies, and solutions.
We are celebrating "40 Years of Main Street" at Destination Downtown this year. Sessions should strive to empower Main Street leaders to demonstrate how Main Street is successful economic development and to equip attendees with the tools for success in the Main Street Approach.
Topics of special interest for the 2024 Destination Downtown Conference:
Organization
- Leadership Development
- Creating Innovative Partnerships
- Fundraising & Investor Recruitment
- Volunteer Recruitment & Management tools
- Internship management
- Youth or ambassador programs
Design
- Placemaking & Public Art
- Smart Growth Issues
- Transportation & Parking
- Downtown Planning
- Zoning, Ordinances, and Incentives
- Best Practices in Preservation
Promotion/Marketing
- Ai, cybersecurity and other advanced technology
- Successful story-telling strategies
- Public Relations and Marketing
- Crisis communications and Disaster preparedness
- Social Media strategies
- Event planning and volunteer recruitment and management
Economic Vitality
- Transformation Strategies
- Business Recruitment & Retention Strategies
- Historic Real Estate Development
- Urban or Rural Main Street Development Strategies
- Building and Business Inventory
- Public Markets & Farmers' Markets
- Local Retail Development & Support
The deadline to submit a session proposal is Friday, June 28. To submit a session proposal for Destination Downtown 2024, click 'Next.'