2010 Downtown Institute
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The goal of revitalization is to create, improve, and maintain a viable community for living and business activity. Downtown Colorado, Inc.’s Downtown Institute focuses on a comprehensive, community-based management approach to bring Colorado’s downtowns and commercial centers back to vitality. Efficient and effective downtown management, combined with commitment by community stakeholders, will lead to a vibrant and dynamic future. The Downtown Institute is taught by trainers with expertise in the specific disciplines essential for success. Those that attend the entire training series will receive a Downtown Institute certification upon completion, which DCI will take into account when considering future Colorado Main Street program applications and annual National Main Street Designation.
Friday, July 9: Destination Downtown!
Roper Music Hall, 136 N. 5th Street, Grand Junction
Historic downtown cores are the face our communities show to the world. Attend these sessions to identify a few key things you can take home today to promote your downtown venues and businesses as a must see destination for locals and tourists alike.
July 9, 2010 Downtown Institute: Destination Downtown! Agenda:
7:30-8am Registration
8-8:15am Welcome, Mayor Teresa Coons
8:15-8:35am Main Street 101: Promotions
8:35-10am Reinventing Your Downtown, One Business at a Time. Jon Schallert, The Schallert Group. Jon Schallert has been working with small business owners for over 25 years, teaching them how to become Destination Businesses, and in the process, changing the cities and downtowns where they are located. Schallert will show how Business Reinvention is the next step in the evolution of downtown business owners, especially during this recovering economy. Schallert will use real examples of businesses nationwide that are proactively changing themselves, reinventing entire parts of their business, and creating major success stories. Attendees will not only hear inspiring stories but they will also be able to take back the lessons and apply them to their own communities and businesses.
10-11am Content Management Tools: Website Design & Promotions Anyone Can Use. Michael DiLillo, Gigshowcase.com. Learn how to utilize content management tools and software to easily update your own website to promote your downtown events and happenings.
11-11:15am Coffee break. Sponsored by Centro, Inc.
11:15-12:30pm Beyond Facebook and Twitter: What’s Next in Social Media? JamieLicko, Centro, Inc. This session will explore emerging social networking tools that organizations can engage in using. Beyond Facebook and Twitter, the session will explore more visual tools including YouTube and Flickr and will also introduce new location-based marketing and media tools such as FourSquare that are emerging with the growing use of iPhones and mobile phones with GPS. We’ll hit on new considerations for organizations, including creating mobile web sites and creating your own iPhone applications. The session will teach organizations how to use these tools, how to grow and maintain audiences, and how to measure success.
12:30-1:45pm Lunch
1:45-2:35pm Leverage Downtown’s History to Promote Downtown’s Present, Angela Hollingsworth and Marty Priest, Lake City DIRT. Learn how to promote your historic district as an asset to build on rather than as a restriction. This session will look at how Lake City DIRT created a campaign to promote August as Lake City History Month, developed and packaged the Buying History Guide, and partners with historic society and other groups to maximize resources.
2:35-3:35pm Successful Downtown Promotion During Exceptional Circumstances. Heidi Ham, Grand Junction Downtown Partnership. Session will highlight specific examples of successful promotion and information campaigns to internal and external customers during shifting economic times, construction projects and other challenges.
3:35-3:50pm Networking break
3:50-5:00pm Downtown Grand Junction Walking Tour. Heidi Ham, Grand Junction DDA. Take a walking tour of historic downtown Grand Junction!
Print agenda!
Featured Speakers
Jon Schallert, The Schallert Group, is an internationally recognized speaker and small business expert who teaches businesses and communities how to turn themselves into Consumer Destinations. Jon speaks to thousands annually on his proprietary 14-step Destination Business process. Jon’s Destination Business strategy has been used extensively by cities, towns, downtowns, shopping centers, retail chains, franchises, and independent small business owners. For 10 years Jon worked for Hallmark Cards, where his unique marketing strategies were publicized throughout the company as the Schallert Method. In 1996 Jon founded The Schallert Group, which today offers a variety of services to small business and communities, including four annual Destination Business Bootcamps, a two-and-a-half day program where clients learn how to reinvent their businesses and marketplaces as destinations, and Destination Success Network, a one-on-one consulting program. Schallert’s insight is also frequent seen in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Jamie Licko is the founder and president of Centro, Inc., a consulting firm focused on the future of our city centers. Centro provides services to strengthen cities and neighborhoods, from research and strategy development to on-the-ground implementation. Jamie previously served as president of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District, a downtown management organization, and later as an associate for a national downtown and community development consulting firm. She has assisted clients in more than 35 cities in 13 states across North America, working to empower people and organizations to create great sustainable places. Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Journalism from the University of Iowa and is presently completing her Masters of Public Administration at the University of Colorado. She currently serves on the International Downtown Association Board of Directors.
Heidi Hoffman Ham is the Executive Director of the Grand Junction Downtown Partnership, the entity responsible for coordinating DDA, BID, and TIF financing, events, and activities for the district. With a staff of three dedicated pros plus a phenomenal event contractor and armed with a background in small local government/community development and a masters degree in public administration, she creates a buzz by making Downtown GJ the place for farmers' markets, public art, parades, and outdoor dining in the Grand Valley.
Grand Junction Accommodations
Main Street Suites Downtown, 225 Main Street, Grand Junction, 970-242-2525. $99/single to quad occupancy. Complimentary breakfast buffet, internet, exercise room, pool and spa. You must mention you are with Downtown Colorado, Inc. to receive this special rate.
Will you be in early on Thursday night? Check out the Downtown Grand Junction Farmers' Market!
Registration & Travel Scholarships
In order to help our members to locate resources to better your communities, DCI has worked with the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development to develop a scholarship program to meet the needs of smaller communities throughout the state.
Registration Scholarships
Registration scholarships are made possible by funding from the Department of Local Affairs. These scholarships are available to local government employees of communities with populations of 10,000 or less. To apply, you must first email Christy Culp at Christy.culp@co.state.us to confirm your eligibility. Second you must register and pay for the Downtown Institute. DOLA provides $100 registration scholarships on a reimbursable basis. Deadline to apply for registration scholarships for the July 9 Downtown Institute is Wednesday, June 30.
Travel Scholarships
Travel scholarships are made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. These scholarships are available to local governments with a population of less than 50,000 and a median household income of less than $47,203, according to the 2000 U.S. Census data. (This can be verified at www.census.gov.) The $100 travel scholarships are available on a reimbursable basis and can be put toward travel costs, including mileage and hotel stays. Complete the travel scholarship application form and submit it to Heather Garbo at DCI by email at events@downtowncoloradoinc.org or by fax at 303.282.0658. Once we receive your application and confirm your eligibility, you must register for the Downtown Institute to complete your scholarship application. Download the travel scholarship application now! Deadline to apply for travel scholarships for the July 9 Downtown Institute is Friday, July 2.
Upcoming Downtown Institutes
NOVEMBER 5: Downtown Economic Restructuring, Monte Vista
Independent businesses are the key to maintaining a strong local economy. These sessions will assist local governments to develop a plan for growing potential business, supporting existing business, and proviiding incentives to attract new business.
DOWNTOWN INSTITUTE FEES
DCI MEMBER
Early Bird $100/per day seminar (30 days prior to event)
Regular Price $125/per day seminar
Certification Track $300/four day seminars (Certification Track is registration for all 4 sessions by January 30)
NON-MEMBER
Early Bird $150/per day seminar (30 days prior to event)
Regular Price $175/per day seminar
Certification Track $450/four day seminars (Certification Track is registration for all 4 sessions by January 30)
The Downtown Institute is taught by trainers with expertise in the specific disciplines essential for success.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Conference attendees include municipal officials, city managers, planners and community developers; architectural, planning and economic development consulting firms; investment bankers; attorneys; and representatives from Colorado Main Street Program communities, urban renewal authorities, downtown development authorities and business improvement districts. Small towns and large towns alike can benefit.
Note: Those that attend the entire one-year Downtown Institute training series (four sessions) will receive certification upon completion, which DCI will take into account when considering future Colorado Main Street program applications and annual National Main Street Designation.