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TNH, Business & Tourism Development Corp. Host Downtown Revitalization Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2012
MEDIA CONTACTS: Collin Nash & Sid Nathan | (516) 869-7794

TNH, Business & Tourism Development Corp. Host Downtown Revitalization Conference
 
North Hempstead, NY– As growing numbers of communities across Long Island discuss plans to revitalize their downtowns or embark on projects, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board recently joined with the Town’s Business & Tourism Development Corp. to host a conference on breathing life into declining shopping corridors.

The May 11 Downtown Revitalization Conference at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington attracted more than 100 participants, including elected officials and representatives from local business improvement districts and grassroots groups.

“Reviving and redesigning downtowns so they thrive economically is not only a national matter but a local one as well,” said Supervisor Kaiman. “With a number of communities right here in the Town of North Hempstead contemplating revitalization projects, the timing was right for the Town to take the lead in holding a conference like this.”

The half-day long conference kicked off with welcoming remarks by Louise Fishman and Roy J. Smitheimer, the program director and economic development consultant for the Business & Tourism Development Corp. It explored topics from “Strategies for Designing a Downtown and Zoning as a Planning Tool” to “Retail Recruitment Strategy, Place Branding and Funding Your Downtown Efforts”.

“The opportunity to bring people from so many different sectors to share ideas on the next generation of suburban community was an idea whose time has come,” stated State Senator Jack M. Martins, the keynote speaker for the conference. “I applaud the town for taking lead in providing this opportunity.”

Town Councilwoman Lee Seeman said that the focus of the conference in educating attendees on how to get beyond the ubiquitous nail salon and cell phone stores, and back to being thriving centers of commerce, gave her food for thought.

“I am absolutely inspired to delve into and become more involved in this area,” stated Seeman.

The event was in great part made possible by the following sponsors: Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Co., P.C.; National Grid; Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo, Cohn & Terrana, LLP; Sovereign Bank/Santander; and the Long Island Development Corp.


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