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. One of the forums is planned for Tuesday, June 24th, in Atlantic.

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. Jim Engle, the director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center says “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. 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 the session in Atlantic on June 24th at the historic Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street). The session will follow this 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. The Iowa Downtown Forums are sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center that also facilitates the Main Street Iowa Program.