Local representatives attend Iowa Downtown Summit

KEOKUK ? Fairfielders Denyce Rusch and Jeff Fitz-Randolph of the Fairfield Cultural Alliance attended ?Renewing the Power of Downtown,? the 26th annual Iowa Downtown Summit Aug. 2-22 in Keokuk.

During the summit, prominent and knowledgeable downtown and commercial development experts from Iowa and across the United States provided educational sessions focused on best practices. Participants received valuable insight, advice and training to help enhance their local efforts of addressing historic commercial district vibrancy and competitiveness, relevant to rural, mid-sized and urban communities.

?This annual statewide conference provides fresh ideas and information about the latest trends and strategies in use today in successful downtowns,? said Debi Durham, Iowa Economic Development Authority director.

Rusch and Fitz-Randolph attended sessions on a variety of topics including: What?s next in Retailing, Social Media Marketing applications, the value of Historic Preservation, strategies for Downtown Recovery after the recession, and Economic Development through Smart Growth.

Featured speakers were Parris Glendening, president of both the Governors? Institute on Community Design and Smart Growth America?s Leadership Institute, Bob Yapp, Hilary Greenberg of Greenberg Development Services and Jane Seaton, the former Main Street Iowa state coordinator.

Educational opportunities included trends impacting present and future viability, business recruitment, branding, historic tax credits, display merchandising, economics of historic preservation, historic preservation programs and services, Community Development Block Grant master façade plans, Main Street Iowa program, design guidelines, technological connectivity and Self Supporting Municipal Improvement Districts.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority?s Iowa Downtown Resource Center coordinates the Main Street Iowa program, provides fee-based services to all Iowa communities and has an extensive resource library on downtown revitalization tools and techniques. For information, visit www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/community, email downtown@iowa.gov or call 515-725-3058.

The Fairfield Cultural Alliance can be contacted through Rusch at 472-3866, email fairfieldculturalalliance@gmail.com or online at www.fairfieldculturalalliance.org.