Destination Downtown
The 2022 Destination Downtown conference will be held on September 14-16, 2022 in downtown North Little Rock. A partnership between Main Street Arkansas, Louisiana Main Street and the Mississippi Main Street Association, Destination Downtown is the South’s premier downtown revitalization conference.
The conference attracts Main Street executive directors, board members, city officials, merchants, property owners and others who gather to share ideas on building sustainable downtown communities. Held annually for more than 20 years, the conference rotates among the three states and local Main Street communities where it is hosted each year.
Destination Downtown is open to anyone with an interest in the economic revitalization of historic downtown commercial districts and is designed so that attendees learn from their colleagues as well as from experts in the field.
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Registration Information
- Early bird rate $130: Deadline August 1, 2022
- Regular rate $150: Deadline September 2, 2022
- Late Registration rate $200: Available until the end of the conference
- Municipal rate $75
REGISTER HERE
Conference Headquarters
Argenta Community Theater (ACT)
405 Main St., North Little Rock, AR
Session locations
Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock, AR
The Innovation Hub, 204 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock, AR
Laman Library - Argenta Branch, 420 Main St., North Little Rock, AR
Conference Hotel
Wyndham Riverfront Hotel
2 Riverfront Place, North Little Rock, AR
The group rate is $109 plus tax and includes breakfast.
Book Your Reservation
Internet Café
The Baker, 501 Main St., North Little Rock, AR
The downstairs of The Baker will be available for conference attendees from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the days of the conference to pop in and relax, work or network. Complimentary snacks, water and sodas will be provided along with fast Wi-Fi service.
Itinerary
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
MAIN STREET 101 WORKSHOP
Argenta Community Theater
Pre-registration required
Mary Helmer Wirth, President/State Coordinator – Main Street Alabama
Noon – 4 p.m.
REGISTRATION AND EXHIBITOR SET-UP
Argenta Community Theater
1 – 3:30 p.m.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE EXCURSION TOUR
Begins at River Rail Trolley Barn
Pre-registration required
2:30 – 4 p.m.
EXPLORE THE INNOVATION HUB
204 E. Fourth St.
Pre-registration required
2:30 – 4 p.m.
DISCOVER ARGENTA WALKING TOUR
Meet at Argenta Community Theater
Pre-registration required
5:30 p.m.
WELCOME TO ARGENTA
Argenta Plaza
8 a.m.
REGISTRATION AND EXHIBITS OPEN
Argenta Community Theater
9 – 9:15 a.m.
WELCOME TO NORTH LITTLE ROCK
Argenta Community Theater
Stacy Hurst, Secretary and State Preservation Officer –
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism
Terry Hartwick, Mayor – North Little Rock
Chris Kent, Executive Director –
Argenta Downtown Council
9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Argenta Community Theater
Mike Lydon, Principal – Street Plans
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS I
From the Tower (Building) to Congress (Street in Portland, Maine)
Cary Tyson, Executive Director – Portland Downtown
Sarah Hansen, Executive Director – Greater Portland Landmarks
Argenta Community Theater
Storytelling on Social and In-Person (Part 1)
Sarah Marsom, Heritage Consultant and 2022 Preservation Action Hero of the Year
Layman Library, Argenta Branch
Love Where You Are – A Hands-On Arts Placemaking Session Using Haiku
Jaqueline Wolven, Executive Director – Main Street Eureka Springs
The Innovation Hub
11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
LUNCH
Explore the dining options of Downtown North Little Rock
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS II
The Power of Place
Jeff Siegler, Founder – Revitalize or Die
Argenta Community Theater
Storytelling on Social and In-Person (Part 2)
Sarah Marsom, Heritage Consultant and 2022 Preservation Action Hero of the Year
Layman Library, Argenta Branch
Alleys as a Metaphor for Public Spaces: From Afterthoughts to Pathways and Places
Randy Wilson, President and Director of Design – Community Design Solutions
The Innovation Hub
3 – 4:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS III
Understanding the Development Process
Joe Borgstrom, Principal – Place + Main
Argenta Community Theater
Outdoor Recreation as an Economic Driver
Katherine Andrews, Director – Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation
Laman Library, Argenta Branch
Effective Design Review for Main Street
Joe Lawniczak, Downtown Design Specialist – Wisconsin Main Street
North Little Rock Welcome Center, 600 Main St., 2nd Floor
DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR LIVE!
Argenta Community Theater
Ben Muldrow, Partner – Arnett Muldrow & Associates; Joe Borgstrom, Principal – Place + Main; Jeff Siegler, Founder – Revitalize or Die
6 p.m.
TASTE OF ARGENTA
410 Main Street
8 a.m.
REGISTRATION AND EXHIBITS OPEN
Argenta Community Theater
8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS IV
The Grumpy Rabbit: A Homemade Recipe for Hometown Success
Panel of Speakers: Ryan Biles, Gina Wiertelak, Natalie Biles, Stacey Breezeel,
Brantley Snipes and Will Staley
Argenta Community Theater
The Path Toward Sustainability
Panel of Speakers: Josh Davenport, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Heather Nelson, Co-Founder and President
Chris Flores, EVC Project Manager – Seal Solar
The Innovation Hub
Who Cares About Bylaws? When Change Needs to Happen!
Donna Harris, Principal – Heritage Consulting
Laman Library, Argenta Branch
10 – 11:15 a.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS V
Main Street: Not Just a Collection of Facades, but an Urban Ecosystem
Stephen Luoni, Director – University of Arkansas Community Design Center
Argenta Community Theater
So the Garden Club Got a Grant
Brantley Snipes, Owner and Landscape Architect –
Brantley Snipes Landscape + Design
The Innovation Hub
Turning Supporters into Donors: Increasing Financial Sustainability
Donna Harris, Principal – Heritage Consulting
Laman Library, Argenta Branch
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
CLOSING PLENARY
The Wit and Wisdom of Ben Muldrow
Ben Muldrow, Partner – Arnett Muldrow & Associates
Argenta Community Theater