THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26
Registration Open
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Convention Lobby
Exhibitor Hall Open
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Banita Ballroom/Exhibitor Hall
Learn about services and products for your downtown and community.
Breakfast
8:30 AM
Location: Convention Center
2023 Texas Downtown Annual Members Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Location: Convention Center
All members are invited to attend this important business meeting of Texas Downtown. Items on the agenda include a review of 2022 annual meeting minutes, financial report, and recognition of outgoing board members. Please make every effort to attend and participate.
Incentives that Work For You (Not Against You)
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Location: Convention A
Picking the best incentives for your community depends entirely on what you want to accomplish. This seminar provides an overview of important things to consider when setting up an incentive program that will work and discuss various funding tools, then provide a case study of how incentives were used in Nacogdoches.
Sponsored by City of Mesquite
Larissa Philpot-Brown
Nacogdoches EDC
Karl A. Stundins
City of Lancaster
Saving Your Stories and Structures: Preservation in the Midst of Economic Development
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Location: Convention B
With strong market demand for new mixed-use in Downtown Arlington, a local developer assembled several old properties near the original town center with every intention of tearing them down. Learn about the innovative and entrepreneurial approach taken by the downtown Arlington organization to step into a role of stewardship, planning and protection for these two historic houses while the development process for this new project evolves. Learn how you can work with developers to explore the preservation and re-use of historic structures, while still supporting the needed new development in the area. In a community that has not done a great job of preserving its historic housing stock, certain approaches are needed to make the case for the community’s support for preservation, even potential re-location. While this whole project is still in the early planning stages, there are lessons to learn about how historic preservation can happen in the context of economic development.
Sponsored by Authentic Texas
Maggie Campbell
Downtown Arlington Management Corporation
Field Session: Imagining and Creating Murals and Statues Walking Tour
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Location: Downtown Nacogdoches
This walking tour of downtown Nacogdoches will highlight the development and creation of public murals and statues. The co-leaders will explain how their respective organizations develop project ideas and creation including the backside organizational support, permissions, and financial support. Join this session to learn more about historic themed public art projects.
Field Sessions leave from the convention lobby.
Sponsored by Destination Bryan
Lynn Myers
Nacogdoches Main Street Advisory Board
Perky Beisel, D.A.
Friends of Historic Nacogdoches, Inc.
Lunch on your own
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Downtown Nacogdoches
Explore all the great food choices Downtown Nacogdoches has to offer.
Breaking Down Regulatory Barriers to Small Business: A Fort Worth Case Study
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: Convention A
All cities want to support entrepreneurship and see small businesses thrive, but too often, regulatory barriers stand in the way of residents’ ability to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. This session will explore the regulatory costs, delays, and complexity that make small business ownership out of reach for so many individuals. Using the recent example of Fort Worth, this session will provide a roadmap for how to identify and rectify regulatory barriers to business in your town.
Sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission
Jennifer McDonald
Cities Work
Michael Crain
City of Fort Worth, Councilman
A Strategic Plan Blueprint That Works
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: Convention B
If your organization has struggled with creating a successful Strategic Plan or Program of Work, or if you have had difficulties executing the one you have, this session is for you. In this session, Alysia uncovers the keys to an effective planning process through board and staff engagement, mission & vision development, and realistic implementation. This session will teach you how to build a blueprint for success to achieve your organization’s goals and create more value for those you serve.
Sponsored by Visit Conroe
Alysia A. Cook, PCED, IOM
Opportunity Strategies LLC
Field Session: Tour of Zion Hill Baptist Church Historic Site
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: Downtown Nacogdoches
We cordially invite you to explore the timeless beauty and rich history of the Zion Hill Baptist Church Historic Site. Nestled within the heart of the Zion Hill Historic District, this remarkable church, constructed in 1914, stands as a testament to Victorian and Gothic architectural styles. During the tour, our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the site, providing historical insights about the church and exclusive details regarding the 20+ year restoration.
Field Sessions leave from the convention lobby.
Sponsored by Destination Bryan
Networking Break
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Location: Banita Ballroom/Exhibitor Hall
Grab a snack, visit with exhibitors, and network with downtown professionals.
Sponsored by the City of Burleson, City of Garland, and Lubbock Economic Development Alliance
When Burnout Hits: Practical Strategies for Burnout Recovery
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Location: Convention A
Downtown revitalization isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes passion, determination, and creativity to nurture economically vibrant destinations. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to find balance in this dynamic profession you’re not alone. Join us for an open dialogue with a robust panel of Downtown Rockstars who have been there and done that.
Sponsored by YOLO TV
Jane Jenkins
Charleston Downtown Alliance
Beverly Abell
City of Mesquite
Kate Singleton
City of Dallas
Sarah "Main Street" O'Brien
Consultant
Banking in Art: Making a smART Investment!
2:30 - 4:00 PM
Location: Convention B
The cultural arts are an important economic driver for many Texas cities. The downtown area is oftentimes the cultural center for communities of all sizes. This session will focus on the economic importance of arts and culture, strategies to fund downtown arts initiatives, and best practices from across Texas. Learn from leading practitioners in the field.
Chance Sparks, AICP, CNU-A
Freese and Nichols
Ann S. Graham
Texans for the Arts
Ann Arnold-Ogden
Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture
Meet Your Board Happy Hour
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Location: Nine Flags Bar inside the Hotel Fredonia
Visit with your 2024 Board of Directors during this casual happy hour.
Sponsored by YOLO TV
Evening Out in Downtown
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Location: Banita Creek Dance Hall
401 W. Main Street
(0.3 mile walk)
Enjoy an evening of line dancing, Texas BBQ, cool drinks, and evening entertainment at this historic Texas dance hall in downtown Nacogdoches.
Sponsored by the City of Nacogdoches