The 2024 Montana Downtown & Main Street Conference was held in Bozeman and Livingston from October 23-25, 2024 and brought together a committed network of community leaders, urban planners, and business owners! Through discussions, panels, and keynotes, participants explored ways to strengthen the future of Montana’s downtowns, emphasizing economic resilience, safety, and community connection.
The AC Hotel welcomed folks coming in from across the state with a tasty taco bar and our incredible board volunteers helped everyone get checked in smoothly and distributed the best swag bags – thanks to our downtown businesses for supporting!
The conference began with a high-energy session led by Karen Lum, who encouraged participants to envision actionable ideas for enhancing their communities. Attendees shared aspirations, from integrating reusable resources at local events to reimagining public engagement methods. Lum inspired everyone to "break large ideas into small tasks," fueling creative thinking.
A panel on urban and rural public safety explored diverse strategies to enhance walkability and pedestrian safety in Montana’s downtowns. Rebecca Gleason of the Western Transportation Institute highlighted initiatives in traffic calming and street redesign, including West Yellowstone’s use of pedestrian-centered designs. Nick Ross from Bozeman advocated for a "streets for people" mindset, noting that accessible, inviting streets boost local business and social cohesion.
Attendees then hit the streets of downtown Bozeman with Extreme History Project leading two unique walking tours: “Rediscovering Bozeman Creek” & “Bozeman’s Historic Main Street”.
It was then time to make our way to The Rialto where conference-goers grazed on a beautiful charcuterie board prepared by gute Laune, sipped on some libations, and mingled!
Keynote speaker Matt Wagner, of Main Street America, offered insights on the evolution of "third spaces"—social hubs beyond work and home. Wagner underscored the growing demand for these spaces as social venues, suggesting unique concepts like transforming cafes into multi-use venues that shift from coffee to cocktails. Wagner also pointed to shared spaces like libraries, noting the potential for them to foster “micro-communities” that align with shared interests.
A quaint drive and a beautiful sunrise brought us to Day Two in Livingston. Livingston City Manager Grant Gager opened the day with a warm welcome at the historic Depot Center, highlighting the city's evolution in infrastructure and vibrant local businesses. Gager emphasized the city's commitment to “preserve and enhance Livingston’s unique character,” drawing on partnerships and thoughtful urban planning. In a subsequent session on master planning, community leaders like Gavin Clark from Park County Community Foundation and city planner Jennifer Severson discussed approaches for gathering diverse resident feedback to guide a vision for responsible growth, which included transforming vacant spaces into housing and reimagining Main Street as a pedestrian-friendly area.
Breakout sessions continued with lively discussions on the arts’ role in attracting foot traffic downtown, and on harnessing digital tools to connect with visitors. Facilitators like Storrs Bishop of Danforth Museum encouraged towns to “think small, whimsical, and temporary” when planning art installations, while Natalie Van Dusen of Treeline Coffee highlighted SMS marketing as an effective digital tool for boosting engagement.
Closing the day, keynote speaker Mark Fenton drew on his public health and urban design expertise to advocate for “activity-supporting” downtowns. Fenton emphasized the benefits of walkability for local economies, public health, and environmental sustainability, encouraging attendees to “build a place that people want to live in, and you’ll be a travel destination by proxy.” With practical suggestions, like extending trails as transit paths and engaging youth in planning, Fenton inspired a shared vision for revitalizing Montana’s downtowns as accessible, health-oriented community hubs.
Attendees returned back to Bozeman for the final day in the historic Baxter Hotel. Paul Green, Director of Montana Department of Commerce, gave a rousing introduction and insightful ideas: “The one thing you can’t teach is passion and it’s the one thing you need in economic development!”
Then a pivot to securing grants and funding for downtown revitalization. Carolyn Jones from the Montana Facility Finance Authority shared insights on energy efficiency grants, while David Fine discussed tax increment financing (TIF) and how it transforms underutilized spaces – and even got a few laughs with top-notch dad jokes! Notable successes, like Bozeman’s North Black Pocket Park, showed how public and private investment can turn neglected areas into community hubs.
The conference concluded with awards recognizing significant achievements, leaving attendees motivated to apply the week’s lessons in their communities. As downtown champions shared stories and practical advice, the conference set a vibrant path forward for the future of Montana’s downtowns.
A heartfelt thank you to the Downtown Bozeman Partnership, Livingston Business Improvement District, volunteers, and all the sponsors who made the Montana Downtown & Main Street Conference 2024 possible. Your hard work and vision brought together an inspiring community of leaders, sparking new ideas and collaborations that will shape the future of Montana’s downtowns. We are grateful for your commitment to strengthening our communities and creating a vibrant, connected Montana.
And a HUGE shout out to the big boss ladies that started planning this over a year ago – Ellie Staley, Downtown Bozeman's Executive Director, & Kris King with Downtown Livingston's Business Improvement District!
We invited all the conference goers to submit their "Biggest Small Win". From being fully-staffed, to mural installments, to wayfinding sign installation - communities across Montana have something to celebrate!
Congratulants to Sanbell for their work with the North Black Pocket Park and eventual transformation to "I-Ho Pomeroy Peace Park".
Jennifer was awarded as our "Conference All Star" for her enthusiasm and commitment to learning as much as possible! Thanks for making these 3 days so fun!
Attendees were invited to drop a business card in for a chance to win some awesome downtown Bozeman & Livingston swag! Congratulations to Jamie :)
Downtown Redevelopment Services