Celebrating the downtown experience with the Greater Downtown Council 27th annual dinner meeting

• Kristi Stokes

Kristi Stokes is the president of the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth. Contact her at 727-8549 or by e-mail at kstokes@downtownduluth.com.

Talk about it

As we kick off a new year, it’s exciting to reflect and celebrate Downtown Duluth’s successes of 2011. We also look forward to the opportunities ahead in 2012, and what better way for the Greater Downtown Council to share those milestones and initiatives than with our 27th annual dinner meeting later this month.

Downtown Duluth stakeholders, residents and professionals from across the community are invited to join us on Jan. 18 at the DECC Harborside Ballroom for this important celebration.

Highlighting the event will be the keynote address by U.S. Sen. Al Franken. Before running for the Senate, Franken spent 37 years as a comedy writer, author, and radio talk show host. In 2008, Franken was elected as one of Minnesota’s U.S. Senators and was sworn in July of 2009 following a statewide recount. He currently sits on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee; the Judiciary Committee; the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Whether at our nation’s capital or Duluth’s City Hall, we all share a similar passion for the community we call home and recognize the importance of a city’s central urban core.

During the past year we implemented a contest that will see three new retailers opening their doors in 2012. Plus, employers continued seeking out Downtown Duluth as their relocation destination. Experts from across the country praised Duluth’s accomplishments since its 2005 charrette. And parking remained at the forefront as the GDC worked with the City of Duluth to develop a new parking management structure. New life was breathed into such historic buildings as the old City Hall, and special events continued to attract people to celebrate the Downtown experience.

As we look ahead in this new year, we see continued positive momentum for our Downtown. The Greater Downtown Council is proud to play a role in promoting and supporting the development and revitalization of our central urban core. We will be focusing on building stronger partnerships with higher education in our community and we’ll be unveiling some new programs and events in 2012.

Hear more about plans to keep Duluth’s Downtown in the spotlight by joining us at the GDC Annual Dinner Meeting on January 18th. Be greater, be hip, be fun and be there! Reservations are required; go to www.downtownduluth.com or call 727-8549 for more ticket information. Tickets are $45.

Kristi Stokes is the president of the Greater Downtown Council in Duluth. Contact her at 727-8549 or by e-mail at kstokes@downtownduluth.com.

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