BIRMINGHAM, AL (November 2, 2026) – The Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) has been awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring Downtown Strategies’ downtown planning service to two communities in the region, McMinnville and Livingston. Through the grant, both communities will work with Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, to develop a strategic plan for their downtown districts.
This marks the second consecutive year the UCDD has received USDA funding to provide downtown planning services to communities in the Upper Cumberland region.
The planning process will kick off with downtown visioning workshops in each community in November 2026. These workshops will give residents, business owners, property owners and local leaders the opportunity to share their ideas and priorities for the future of their downtowns. That input, combined with market research and on-the-ground analysis from the Downtown Strategies team, will shape a plan tailored to each community.
“Receiving USDA funding for the second year in a row is a real win for the Upper Cumberland,” said Mark Farley, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District. “I’ve seen firsthand what this work can do for a community. Downtown Strategies brings a level of expertise and practical guidance that gives our towns a clear path forward, and I’m excited for McMinnville and Livingston to experience that same impact.”
“Our partnership with Mark and the UCDD goes back years, and it’s one we truly value,” said Lacy Beasley, President of Retail Strategies. “Mark has been a tireless advocate for the communities in this district, and we’re proud to continue supporting the UCDD and the towns it serves. McMinnville and Livingston each have a strong foundation to build on, and we look forward to helping them shape the future of their downtowns.”
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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.
