BIRMINGHAM, AL (August 13, 2026) – The City of Shreveport, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority, has engaged Downtown Strategies, the downtown community development division of Retail Strategies, to create a strategic plan and provide implementation support for Downtown Shreveport.
The engagement will guide priorities for downtown vibrancy, business growth, and quality of place, building a practical roadmap the city and its partners can use to attract investment and support the businesses, residents, and visitors who make downtown Shreveport a hub for commerce, culture, and community life.
“Downtown Shreveport is one of the city’s greatest assets, and this is the right time to build on the momentum we’re seeing,” said Mayor Tom Arceneaux.
The first step in the process was a community-wide survey, issued in early June, giving residents, business owners, and other downtown stakeholders the opportunity to share their input. Building on that feedback, an in-market visioning workshop was held on August 12, bringing stakeholders together to help shape the direction of the plan.
“I went through Retail Strategies’ Retail Academy program in the fall of 2025, and that experience made it clear this was a firm we wanted to keep working with,” said Bill Sabo, Director of Economic Development for the City of Shreveport. “Bringing that same approach and expertise into our downtown was the natural next step.”
“Downtown Shreveport is seeing real investment and momentum right now, and this is the right moment to build a plan around it,” said Lacey Bacchus, Senior Director of Community Partnerships for Retail Strategies. “Downtown Strategies brings a practitioner’s perspective to this work. We deliver strategic guidance that is practical and built to be implemented, not just documents that sit on a shelf.” Downtown Strategies will continue working alongside the city and the Downtown Development Authority throughout the planning and implementation process.
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About Downtown Strategies
Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, exists to provide realistic, implementable strategies to help communities revitalize their downtowns. Led by a team of former downtown revitalization practitioners and real estate experts, our combination of real-world experience and expertise in real estate and retail uniquely qualifies us to assist communities in backfilling vacancies, increasing tourism, and enhancing the sense of place in their downtowns. Serving rural communities in 27 states, Downtown Strategies is the leading national firm in downtown revitalization planning, with an emphasis on real estate and retail.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team, drawing on unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities yield returns in sales taxes, additional jobs, and businesses that enhance the unique qualities of your community.
