Attending Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference’s Events
July 17, 2024 | Logan Breer
Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference offers a variety of events that attendees can participate in ranging from a Deep Dive session to additional ticketed events. Each event offers unique experiences and educational opportunities. Discover the events you can attend in a few short weeks (if you haven’t purchased your ticket, it is not too late!).
Urban Forum
The Urban Main Street Forum returns in 2024 as the “Urban Revitalization: Lessons from St. Louis Main Streets” at our conference on Tuesday, July 30th. This year, members of the three St. Louis Main Streets programs will share their journey through the St. Louis Main Street pilot program and their achievements since completing the pilot program. Dutchtown Main Streets, Laclede’s Landing Main Street, and Delmar Main Street each have unique stories on how they engaged their district stakeholders. Jan Sandweiss, Board President of Laclede’s Landing Main Street shared, “We couldn’t do it without Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC). I never could have imagined all we have accomplished since we first met MMSC.”
Individuals from urban or metropolitan commercial districts are invited to come to this free forum to explore how to organize, utilize the Main Street Approach™, study the market, gather demographic information, and adopt economic transition strategies.
If you did not receive a personal invite in your inbox or mailbox, contact info@momainstreet.org to receive an invite from our staff to register.
Deep Dive – Bringing Down the Barriers on Historic Preservation
For the second year in a row, Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference will feature a Deep Dive session on Tuesday, July 30th. The panelists Dr. Steven Hoffman and Dana Gould will share their firsthand experience with the National Register of Historic Places and historic tax credits. These tools are great assets in the journey to preserve the historic character of a community from preserving its physical assets. As you will learn, it is not just the age of the building that makes a building historic but the connection to local, state, or national significance. Dr. Steven Hoffman, Coordinator of the Historic Preservation Program at Southeast Missouri State University states, “It’s not just about the buildings in our downtown historic districts; it’s what the buildings allow people to feel and connect to, creating an important emotional connection.”
Individuals from across Missouri are invited to attend this Deep Dive session to discover how preserving historic sites not only safeguards our past but also enriches our communities and supports our local economies. Historic preservation brings many benefits to communities of all sizes, and you will learn practical implementation strategies you can use in your community.
This Deep Dive session is $50 for attendees without a “Full Registration.” Attendees with “Full Registrations” are able to attend this educational session as part of the inclusions in their ticket. Register online. Contact our staff if you have any questions at info@momainstreet.org.
Educational Tours
Every year, our team works with property owners and local stakeholders to host educational tours that provide a wealth of information and inspiration to synergize with the theme of that year’s conference. This year, with our focus on historic preservation and housing, we have curated two tours that will take you to places in Kansas City blended with history, creativity, and innovation. Discover these places on either of the educational tours offered on Tuesday, July 30th. The “Revival of Rhythm: The Artistic Pulse of Kansas City” tour gives you the opportunity to see extraordinary projects that transformed historic buildings giving them new life from a historic school to arts center and a stone public works building to a campus of innovation housing Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery. The “Urban Renaissance: Kansas City’s Housing Harmony” tour will surely showcase the inspiring possibilities that you can bring home to your community to address its housing needs. From big to small projects, transforming underutilized properties is possible through Historic Tax Credits and the unique buildings in your district.
Individuals interested in attending these tours should register online as soon as possible. The “Revival of Rhythm: The Artistic Pulse of Kansas City” tour is sold out.
Read more details about each tour in our event details. Contact our staff if you have any questions at info@momainstreet.org.
“Welcome Home” Evening Opening Reception
An annual tradition gets supercharged with fantastic historic preservation activities! The Evening Opening Reception on Tuesday, July 30th will kick off Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference with excitement and comradery through fun networking events where friends old and new will enjoy an evening together over appetizers. This year we have turned up the excitement with two opportunities to learn more about historic preservation while enjoying each other’s company. The “Welcome Home” Gallery will be unveiled during the Evening Opening Reception where semifinalists’ pictures will be displayed to allow attendees to learn about the stories behind the many doors that were submitted by Missourians. Additionally, after the event the Gallery will be featured in the Grand Ballroom Foyer for attendees to vote for their favorite six doors. Attendees will also be able to participate in a historic architecture puzzle. Each will receive half of a historic building from a Missouri Main Street community and must find its match and identify correctly the type of architecture used on the building to be entered into a drawing for prizes.
If you are looking for fun on Tuesday, you should get a ticket for the “Welcome Home” Evening Opening Reception and join our staff and 100+ Main Streeters for an amazing kick off to the 2024 Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference. Register online.
ShowMe Bash & Pitch Party
Going into its third year, the ShowMe Bash & Pitch Party will gather attendees together to award one community the Creative Space Activation Grant and have fun! On Wednesday, July 31st, attendees will enjoy the laidback environment at the historic J. Rieger & Co. while the evening’s festivities begin. Starting with the third annual Creative Space Activation Grant, the three finalists: Main Street Brookfield, My Hometown Carrollton, and Downtown Excelsior Partnership will present their pitches to our judges and their colleagues. One of them will walk away with $10,000! Following the awarding of the Creative Space Activation Grant dinner will commence and allow attendees time to explore the brewery, participate in a self-guided tour showcasing the history of J. Rieger & Co., and slide down a 40-foot slide!
If you are looking for fun on Wednesday, you should get a ticket for the ShowMe Bash & Pitch Party and join our staff and 100+ Main Streeters for fun at the brewery. Register online.
Evening of Excellence
The conference will end with its annual Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony & Dinner that celebrates the remarkable achievements of our Main Streets and their dedication to revitalizing Missouri’s historic commercial districts. On Thursday, August 1st, attendees will participate in honoring the people, projects, and initiatives that are the best representation of the great accomplishments local Main Street programs made in their historic commercial districts and communities across the state.
If you are looking to end the conference on a high note on Thursday, you should get a ticket for the Evening of Excellence Awards Ceremony & Dinner and join our staff and 100+ Main Streeters for a celebratory evening at The Bauer. Register online.
There is so much to do at Missouri’s Premier Downtown Revitalization Conference. If you cannot attend every event to participate in the networking and R&D opportunities, make sure to attend at least one!
