Harrison Smith Forum Recognizing Excellence in Downtown Development

Can downtown retail make a comeback in Columbus? City leaders and downtown developers don’t doubt it for a second. Recent efforts are delivering results, including Columbus’ Ground Floor Growth Initiative, a new program gaining steam that’s aimed at helping small, minority- and women-owned businesses find street-level retail space in downtown Columbus. With a panel of downtown leaders and advocates, we’ll unpack the Ground Floor Growth initiative and other new efforts to re-energize downtown as we explore what’s coming next for retail in the heart of Columbus. Join us for lunch, an in-depth panel conversation with top leaders, and the presentation of the 2024 Harrison Smith Award as the Downtown Commission announces the winner of the 2024 “Smithy” for excellence in downtown development.

Featuring Nicholas J. Bankston, Columbus City Council; Amy Taylor, President, Downtown Columbus, Inc.; Jim Merkel, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockbridge, with moderator Jessica Ralston, Anchor, Good Day Columbus, ABC6/FOX28 and an additional panelist to be announced.