The City of Laredo Economic Development Department, Business Improvement District, and Downtown TIRZ No. 1 will be hosting a downtown summit on Wednesday, April 24, at Laredo College.
The purpose of the initiative aims to continue strengthening partnerships and downtown revitalization efforts, as well as the commitment of City leaders and downtown stakeholders.
The summit will feature a group of industry experts from the International Downtown Association (IDA) Advisory Services who will conduct focus sessions followed by a presentation to share their initial findings. Representatives from the IDA include Executive Director of El Paso Downtown Management District, Joe Gudenrath; Executive Director of Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, Alyssa Mason; and President and CEO of the International Downtown Association, David Downey.
The summit will offer an opportunity to learn from current downtown projects by the City of Laredo as well as the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone board. The keynote address will be delivered by Lorenzo Gomez III, principal partner at Confluence Capital Group.
The objective of the event is to bring together key stakeholders, the private sector, government leaders, and community members to discuss initiatives by the different entities engaged in the inner city and downtown Laredo to explore opportunities for growth and revitalization.
“Under the leadership of Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño, representatives of private industry, the City, non-profits, and other interested parties, we have been working on developing the framework necessary to reinvent Downtown. We truly believe that with these partnerships we are poised to propel Laredo forward. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, Downtown Laredo is well positioned to spread its wings and be the jewel of the Rio Grande,” said District 8 Council Member Alyssa Cigarroa.
The Summit begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues through 3:30 p.m. at the Laredo College Falcon Center on the Fort Macintosh Campus. For sponsorship and ticket information, please contact the Economic Development Department at (956) 791-7384 or mcastillo2@ci.laredo.tx.us or (956) 791- 7386. eestrada3@ci.laredo.tx.us.
Sponsors include the Killam Company, IBC, Fasken Oil and Ranch, and Laredo College.
