The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) is seeking session proposals for the regional 2024 Destination Downtown conference.

Destination Downtown will be hosted by Mississippi Main Street, Louisiana Main Street, and Main Street Arkansas.

The 2024 conference will be held in downtown Vicksburg, September 11-13.

The primary reason people attend Destination Downtown is for its strong educational component and there will be beginner to advanced sessions to meet each learning level, MMSA officials said.

Educational sessions will highlight strategies and models that conference attendees can apply to their communities. Sessions will include multiple case studies, strategies and solutions.

The event celebrates “40 Years of Main Street,” at Destination Downtown this year.

Sessions will 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, MMSA officials added.

Topics of special interest for the 2024 Destination Downtown Conference:

Organization

– Leadership Development

– Creating Innovative Partnerships

– Fundraising & Investor Recruitment

– Volunteer Recruitment & Management tools

– Creative Internship programs

– 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

Those who are interested in speaking should submit their proposals here. The deadline for submitting a session proposal is Friday, June 28.