Annual Community Revitalization Conference | JUNE 12-15, 2016 PADOWNTOWN.ORG

The world of community revitalization is changing at both the state and national levels. In November of 2015, the National Main Street Center launched its new “Four Point Refresh” that promises to change the way community revitalization organizations operate. Central to this change is a switch from the old concept of economic restructuring to a new concept of economic vitality, powered by transformative community strategies. These new strategies, founded on local economic assets and an understanding of local market dynamics, are designed to generate substantive community change and to move measurable indicators of community well-being. The implications for both business district and neighborhood revitalization efforts in the Commonwealth are both exciting and challenging. Join other community and economic development practitioners and volunteers in Allentown as we explore the issues related to creating more entrepreneurial and equitable communities.

IN LIGHT OF THIS YEAR’S THEME, WE WELCOME PROPOSALS THAT TOUCH ON A VARIETY OF RELEVANT TOPICS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):• Human Asset Development• Institutional Asset Development• Economic Asset Development• Informational Resource Development• Real Estate Asset Development• Technology Development

IN ADDITION TO PROPOSALS THAT BOLSTER THE 2015 THEME, WE WELCOME SUBMISSIONS THAT TOUCH ON A VARIETY OF OTHER TOPICS. SOME POTENTIAL SESSION IDEAS THAT ARE FREQUENTLY IN HIGH DEMAND:

Whether your backgroundis drawn from experience in business districts, small rural downtowns, residential neighborhoods or somewhere in between, we invite you to present your successes, ideas and knowledge at the 2016 Statewide Community Revitalization Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Allentown, June 12th-15th, hosted by Pennsylvania Downtown Center.

Key DatesCALL FOR PROPOSALS WEBINARDecember 10th, 20152:00 p.m.Register today!

SUBMISSION DEADLINEJanuary 8th, 2016

NOTIFICATION OF PROPOSAL STATUSFebruary 5th, 2016

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEDFebruary 19th, 2016

SESSION HANDOUTS DUE April 29th, 2016

2016 ANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCEJune 12th-15th, 2016Renaissance Hotel | Allentown, PA

• Advocacy• Community Branding• Building a more inclusive and stronger board

• Business recruitment and retention• Clean and safe issues• Community-based real estate development• Creative funding mechanisms• Developing strategic partners• Encouraging facade improvement• Greening • Improving meeting facilitation and

interpersonal skills• Leadership development• New and innovative partnership ideas• Parking management• Partnership strengthening and development• Placemaking• Public and farmers markets• Public art, murals, and arts development• Public relations and marketing Main Street or Elm Street• Retail support

• Small business assistance and development• Smart growth issues• Social media• Sustaining a viable organization• Transportation• Volunteer recruitment and management• Weathering an economic downturn

If you are considering submitting a session proposal, please join us for a friendly webinar discussion regarding the Community Revitalization Conference’s educational sessions.

DECEMBER 10TH, 2015 @ 2:00 P.M.REGISTER TODAY!

CALL FOR PROPOSALS PADOWNTOWN.ORG

REVIEW CRITERIA1) Sessions should be interactive, feature no more than three presenters, and be between 75 to 90 minutes in length.2) Sessions should provide tools, models or strategies that attendees will be able to make applicable to their own unique situations and communities. 3) Overall quality, salience of topic, well-articulated educational goals, clarity of proposal, and presentation skills of the presenter will all be taken into consideration. Proposals that encourage collaboration and interaction among participants are of special interest.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTSPlease submit as a Microsoft Word Document:1) Title of session (limited to 75 characters)2) Target audience (beginner, intermediate, advanced) 3) Session track (Main Street, Elm Street, Community Development, Community Health or Sustainability)4) Session format (panel, roundtable, etc.)5) Learning objectives of the session6) Contact information and brief biography of presenter(s). Please note: It is assumed that all presenters listed on the proposal have been contacted and have agreed to participate. 7) 50-75 word description8) One-page session outline9) Submit proposals electronically to mariawherley@padowntown.org. For questions, call 717.233.4675.

Proposals must contain all of the requested materials and information. Please read all of the instructions before submitting a proposal. All proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee.

Terms & ConditionsBY SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL, IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE SPEAKER AGREES TO ALL TERMSAND CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION.

Submitting Your Proposal

Submissions must be made electronically to mariawherley@padowntown.org by January 8th, 2016.

PDC does not reimburse expenses or pay speaker fees for sessions selected via the proposal process. Please attend the webinar on December 10th at 2:00 p.m. for questions regarding benefits associated with presenting.

The primary contact person will be the individual that submitted the proposal. The contact info submitted with proposal will be used by PDC to communicate with the primary contact person.

Sessions may be recorded, and the recordings may be made available for registered conference attendees.

PDC reserves the right to edit titles and descriptions for accepted proposals.

Audio visual: All session rooms will be set with an LCD projector, screen and laptop. Presenters are required to bring their presentation on a flash drive or disc.

All presenters will receive and be expected to return a signed speaker agreement outlining terms and conditions.

Presenters may not promote a product, service, or anything else representing monetary self-interest. Failure to comply will affect future consideration for PDC events.

The session schedule is determined by balancing topics and target audiences. Individual schedule requests are discouraged and considered only in extreme circumstances.

Office location | 1230 N. Third Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102

Mailing address | P.O. Box 1265 • Harrisburg, PA 17108 | 717.233.4675 (p.) • 717.233.4690 (f.)

www.padowntown.org