The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Downtown Resource Center assists communities around the state in revitalizing their downtowns and commercial districts.

This summer, the Iowa Downtown Resource Center will offer several downtown forums to bring together community leaders interested in engaging in a discussion about their downtowns.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other downtown leaders, learn about the host location and engage in great conversations about the challenges and opportunities that exist in Iowa’s beautiful downtowns.

“The exciting part about these forums, and being able to host them across the state, is that the community and attendees get to be the speakers,” said Jim Engle, the director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center. “These forums will be a chance to learn from each other about what is working in Iowa’s downtowns.”

Downtown Forums will be held in four communities across the state in June and July and will be facilitated by Jim Engle, the director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center.

You can join the IEDA Downtown Resource Center at any of the following sessions:

· June 24 – Rock Island Depot, 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic, IA 50022
· June 25 – Knoxville Public Library, 213 East Montgomery Street, Knoxville, IA 50138
· July 8 – Lake Avenue Lounge, 617 Lake Avenue, Storm Lake, IA 50588
· July 9 – Oelwein Community Center, 25 W. Charles, Oelwein, IA 50662

Each session will follow the below schedule:
· 9:30 -10:45 a.m. – Discussion Group: Improving your Downtown Appearance
· 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Listening Session: What are your Downtown Issues/Challenges?
· 12 – 12:30 p.m. – Tour of host downtown
· 12:30 – 2 p.m. – Lunch on your own, experiencing the host downtown
· 2 – 3:30 p.m. – Discussion Group: Creating a Great Downtown Business Environment

Individuals must register for the Downtown Forum by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IADowntown. Registration is free for this event.

These Iowa Downtown Forums are sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center that also facilitates the Main Street Iowa Program.