St. Louis Fed To Host Neighborhood Business District Revitalization Audioconference on Sept. 13

An Exploring Innovation in Community Development Audioconference

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 | 2-3:15 p.m. CT
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After decades of disinvestment, many neighborhood business districts are beginning to experience new retail activity. How do communities maintain and nurture this growth? To help answer these and related questions, the Community Development department of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis will host a free audioconference on "Neighborhood Business District Revitalization: Making Sure the Dollars Stay at Home" on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, from 2-3:15 p.m. CT (3-4:15 p.m. ET).

Guest speakers will include Mark M. Miller, small business consultant, Main Street Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark.;  Robert K. Holmes Jr., president and CEO, Corporate Services Consultants LLC, Louisville, Ky. and Sarah Newstok, program manager, Livable Memphis, Community Development Council of Greater Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.

The speakers will discuss the challenges and rewards of urban retail development, using art as a tool to revitalize a neighborhood’s business district and the importance of preserving independent retailers in a neighborhood.

Upcoming topics include "Economic Development in Rural Communities" on October 18, 2012, and an "Eighth District Housing Update"on Nov. 29, 2012. All sessions are now open for registration. To register, visit the Exploring Innovation in Community Development Audioconference site.

All that is needed to participate is phone access and a web connection to view the speakers’ presentations. Each 75-minute audioconference will feature 45-60 minutes of speaker presentations, followed by a question-and-answer period.

These programs are part of the St. Louis Fed's new "Exploring Innovation in Community Development" call-in series to connect community development professionals across the Eighth District with industry experts to hear and discuss current developments and initiatives.  The calls will also be of interest to economic development professionals, financial institution representatives, community advocates and policymakers.