Conference Schedule

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Location: Chautauqua Salon B

This session will focus on the cities of Allen and Nacogdoches and their approaches to downtown and community plans. In Allen, a citizen led committee was tasked with developing a downtown plan that reflected the vision of the community. The Nacogdoches downtown planning process was led by the City, but engaged citizens in a variety of ways.

Location: Veramendi Salon E

Fate and Ennis are two fast-growing cities in the North Texas region. Both have faced challenges that have required innovation, citizen engagement, and building relationships with business owners, property owners, and investors.

Location: Chautauqua Salon B

There are a number of different organizations and entities that offer resources for downtown and community development. This panel discussion will feature representatives from three different organizations who will share information about regional collaboration, broadband expansion, and financing building improvements.

Location: Veramendi Salon E

There are several organizations within any given ecosystem that contribute to the economic vitality of a downtown. In the Innovation Corridor, downtowns are supported by several partners including Main Street Programs, the local Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Associations, Economic Development Organizations, and entrepreneurial support groups. Hear from each of these partners as they share programs that can be replicated in your community to achieve common goals for your downtown.

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Aquabrew - 110 E. MLK Drive, Suite 130
Transportation provided

First time attendees and new members of Texas Downtown are invited to this special reception.

Sponsored by the City of San Marcos

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Aquabrew - 110 E. MLK Drive, Suite 130
Transportation provided

Open to all attendees. Join us for light appetizers and networking before heading out to explore Downtown San Marcos.

Sponsored by the City of San Marcos

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Explore all the great food choices Downtown San Marcos has to offer.

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Learn about services and products for your downtown and community.

Location: Veramendi Salon A

Dropoff items for the Anice Read Fund Silent Auction.

Location: Veramendi Salon E

Location: Veramendi Salon E

Every downtown has a unique story that the world needs to hear. The best way to get that story out is to let the people around you do the work so that your downtown tale is passed down from destination to generation across the world for years to come. We’ll share best practices to help create the storytellers, including those in your own town, as well as the tourists who visit, who will spread your story further, faster, and with as much enthusiasm. After all, the best stories are those that we share with each other.

Sponsored by Opportunity Strategies, LLC

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Grab a snack, visit with exhibitors, and network with downtown professionals.

Sponsored by the City of Nacogdoches

Location: Veramendi Salon B

As young professionals and empty nesters migrate to small town city centers and surrounding neighborhoods small to mid-sized towns are experiencing a renaissance. These prospective residents are seeking a human scale environment that can still provide cultural entertainment, a third place to call their own, still be around the hustle and bustle of a city center without the high stress, and to return to their hometown roots. Is it sustainable? We will explore this trend by looking at the value of residents inside of revitalizing downtowns, understand what prospective residents are looking for in housing, explore the risk and the viability of boutique real estate developments, the economic struggles of small downtown businesses, and the role events play in the revival.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Palestine

Location: Spring Lake Salon C

This talk is designed for cities and place-based organizations so that they may foster a culture of impact and doing. Human Centered Design is about moving forward and responding to changing ideals, expectations, needs, and wants. In order to truly thrive, your organization needs both a clear sense of direction while simultaneously finding ways to bring about forward movement and change.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Conroe

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Downtown San Marcos has a vibrant and thriving public art scene. Learn about murals, vacant building activations, banners, signage, wayfinding, and more.

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Explore all the great food choices Downtown San Marcos has to offer.

Location: Veramendi Salon B

As the heart of your community, your downtown should be welcoming and accessible to all. This panel discussion will explore the hows and the whys of expanding DEI efforts in your organization, downtown, and community.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Palestine

Location: Spring Lake Salon C

This entertaining and conversational style session will highlight how much hasn’t changed over the last thirty years. The old adage “the more things change” rings true as we continue to navigate the myriad of challenges amidst the continuum of unprecedented events facing downtown professionals. A snapshot in time, this informative and strikingly relevant discussion will help attendees on their leadership journey regardless of where they are on their path. The downtown veteran leaders with over a century of experience will showcase the most basic yet innovative downtown revitalization techniques and personal stories connected to downtown training materials circa the 1980s. Everything you ever needed to know to lead the change in your community, was basically learned in kindergarten or in this case presented by Anice Read. #TXDT22 attendees will enjoy hearing about the leadership savvy needed to navigate the complexities of downtown management in this conference session.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Conroe

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Downtown San Marcos is home to over 3,000 residents, several of whom live on the second floor of historic buildings. During this field session, attendees will tour examples of successful upper story development projects.

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Grab a snack, visit with exhibitors, and network with downtown professionals.

Sponsored by Freese & Nichols

Location: Veramendi Salon B

Many downtowns have public squares and plazas with historical significance, including layouts and various features. Some features may be on the National Register of Historic Places, while others might be on the local register of emotional connections and community identity. At the same time, people have growing and changing expectations for their public spaces, and their activation is vital to downtown success. This presentation will explore design and engagement approaches used to resolve these conflicts, featuring examples from cities like Victoria, TX and Edmond, OK, San Marcos, TX as well as other cities. We plan to make this interactive, asking the audience what they might've done and then taking them through what actually happened.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Palestine

Location: Spring Lake Salon C

When we think about downtown revitalization and maintaining a unique part of our communities, we tend to forget about what's out of sight: the physical infrastructure on which Downtown relies for its success. It is easy to understand why these elements are so often forgotten until they become urgent, hidden away they often work exactly as you expect, right up until they don't. But this unintended neglect results in a scramble for funding as competing agencies and organizations are faced with insufficient resources to meet every need. It is critical that cities of all sizes understand how to quantify the impact of the expenditures they are considering, and objectively compare them to the other items seeking funding. Wouldn’t it be easier if there was a common language that could be used to compare all needs and determine how to get the best bang for the buck? The good news? There is. Learn how to bring this language to your own community and help your own downtown receive the same level of consideration that the new development that expands is getting.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Conroe

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Over the past few years, San Marcos has invested in downtown streetscapes. See several projects in person during this field session, including pedestrian improvements and amenities, low impact development, and the city's first two-way cycle track.

Location: Veramendi Salon B

If you plan events, then this session is for you! Attendees will learn about developing a local emergency action plan, what each ICS form means, what types of insurance to consider, and developing an effective chain of command.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Palestine

Location: Spring Lake Salon C

Public art can transform your downtown. In this session, city staff from Georgetown and San Marcos will provide an overview of efforts to engage the arts community, develop strategic plans, identifying funding sources, and celebrating successes.

Breakout room sponsored by the City of Conroe

Location: Spring Lake Salons B & C

Show your support for the Anice Read Fund and bid on some amazing auction items!

All proceeds from the silent auction benefit downtown projects and programs across Texas. Since 1999, the Fund has awarded over $180,000 in grants to Texas downtowns, allowing communities to leverage over $7 million in funding from other sources.

Location: Veramendi Salon E

Join us in recognizing the BEST of Texas downtowns.
*Not included with registration. Separate ticket required. Business wear.

Sponsored by MyCurlyAdventures

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Learn about services and products for your downtown and community.

Location: Veramendi Salon E

All members are invited to attend this important business meeting of Texas Downtown. During the annual meeting, members will elect new board members, review the 2023 Legislative Priorities, and celebrate Anice Read Fund grant recipients.

Location: Veramendi Salon B

During this session, speaker Derek Avery will talk about the balance of revitalizing a central business district without alienating legacy residents, history, or displacement. Derek's goal is to revitalize communities in transition through a holistic approach to community development, supporting revitalization without gentrification.

Breakout room sponsored by Destination Bryan

Location: Veramendi Salon C

Planning, visioning, and strategizing play an important role in redeveloping or enhancing a downtown. But then? Implementation can be the more difficult and daunting part. This session is a celebration of the creative thinking, collaboration and tenacity that is needed to bring a vision for downtown to reality. Using Mineral Wells, Texas as an example, the presenters will provide details related to the partnerships, financing, flexibility and imagination used to transform downtown into a vibrant destination - project by project.

Breakout room sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Downtown San Marcos is home to over 3,000 residents, several of whom live on the second floor of historic buildings. During this field session, tour examples of successful upper story development projects.

Location: Veramendi Pre-Function E

Grab a snack, visit with exhibitors, and network with downtown professionals.

Sponsored by the City of Tyler

Location: Veramendi Salon B

We know that certain visitors and locals are drawn to heritage and cultural attractions, but what about in smaller downtowns and rural areas? Do they have assets that can appeal to this sort of person? Using the 8 Rural Culture Elements from the Kansas Sampler Foundation as a framework - architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people - we'll share lots of ideas for using social media and online content to help promote your heritage/cultural offerings to exactly the sort of person who will appreciate them. You'll also learn ways to save yourself time by re-purposing one piece of this content into another, plus get a detailed handout summary of the ideas.

Breakout room sponsored by Destination Bryan

Location: Veramendi Salon C

Is your organization's board functioning at a less-than-ideal level? Do you have board members who skip board meetings, arrive late, leave early, or fail to honor other commitments? Alysia will share 3 specific tools to get your board operating at a high level of both commitment and engagement. She will also share best practices from high-performance downtown teams. Come learn how to strengthen your board which will strengthen your entire organization.

Breakout room sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Downtown San Marcos has a vibrant and thriving public art scene. Learn about murals, vacant building activations, banners, signage, wayfinding, and more.

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Explore all the great food choices Downtown San Marcos has to offer.

Location1: Price Center - 222 W. San Antonio Street

Location 2: Splash Coworking - 326 N. LBJ Drive

Location 3: LBJ Museum of San Marcos 2nd Floor - 131 N. Guadalupe Street
Transportation provided

Each location will have three speakers to share ideas from their city, business, or organization. Visit one location per hour.

Location1: Price Center - 222 W. San Antonio Street

Location 2: Splash Coworking - 326 N. LBJ Drive

Location 3: LBJ Museum of San Marcos 2nd Floor - 131 N. Guadalupe Street
Transportation provided

Each location will have three speakers to share ideas from their city, business, or organization. Visit one location per hour.

Location1: Price Center - 222 W. San Antonio Street

Location 2: Splash Coworking - 326 N. LBJ Drive

Location 3: LBJ Museum of San Marcos 2nd Floor - 131 N. Guadalupe Street
Transportation provided

Each location will have three speakers to share ideas from their city, business, or organization. Visit one location per hour.

Location: Downtown San Marcos
Transportation provided

Join us for an evening of fun, networking, and competition at Downtown San Marcos' Putt Pub. *Not included with registration. Separate ticket required.

Sponsored by Robert A. Smith Real Estate

Location: Veramendi Salons A, B, C, & D

Upper story redevelopment is a top priority for many downtowns. Whether second (or third or fourth) stories are used for housing, offices, or meeting space, In this workshop, we will explore upper story of development from a few perspectives.

Claudia Guerra, City of San Antonio
Doug Moss, Public Sketch
Ellis Mumford-Russell, Post Oak Preservation Solutions