ABOUT DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT UNLIMITED

DSU is a private, non-profit membership organization which serves as an advocacy group for Downtown Shreveport. Organized in 1959, DSU has a broad-based 15-member board, contracts for management services with the Downtown Development Authority and has one full-time staff member. DSU’s primary function is to improve the quality of life in the Central Business District by promoting downtown festivals, projects and events, monitoring legislative affairs and encouraging economic development. Funding is derived from membership dues and income from sponsored events.

 

DSU promotes quality of life in downtown Shreveport through the following festivals and events:

The First Annual Brew!
Festival Plaza
October 17, 2009
Beer Tasting 3pm – 6pm
Robert Earl Keen concert to follow.

You may know us separately as Mudbug Madness, The Red River Revel Arts Festival, or Cork, but together we are Brew. Red River Revel, Inc. and Downtown Shreveport Unlimited, along with Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport are proud to present the 1st Annual Brew: A Premier Beer Tasting afternoon and an evening concert with the legendary Robert Earl Keen.

 

Mudbug Madness  –
Memorial Day Weekend
DSU’s signature event is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals, featuring renowned Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Jazz artists, mouth-watering Cajun cuisine, raucous contests, and fun for all ages.  Now a four-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend, Mudbug Madness is nationally recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, drawing as many as 56,000 people in one day
www.mudbugmadness.com

 

Rockets Over the Red –
Saturday after Thanksgiving
The holiday season kicks off with a fabulous fireworks festival featuring great food, live entertainment and the most dazzling fireworks show in the region.

 

Holiday Lighting
DSU staff encourages participation in the Christmas lighting project from private building owners and public entities by facilitating a lighting contest. Winners are selected from the following categories:  Five Stories and Above, Up to Four Stories, and Best Public Building.

 

Christmas Ornament
Each year DSU selects a deserving building to feature as its annual Christmas ornament.  The initiative is designed to promote downtown’s historic architecture and drive customer traffic to downtown merchants.

 

Membership Luncheons
DSU’s Quarterly Membership Luncheons convey information about important   downtown issues and projects and feature a variety of speakers of interest.

 

Festivals and Events
DSU provides financial assistance when possible to quality downtown festivals and events.  Festivals and events receiving ongoing assistance from DSU include:
Let the Good Times Roll, Ledbetter Heights Music and Arts Fair and the Farmer’s Market

 

DSU takes an active role in helping make downtown Shreveport a better place to live, work and play.

 

DSU assists the DDA and DSDC by working on these important city center initiatives:

  • Keeping downtown clean and safe
  • Strengthening the core through preservation and beautification
  • Participating in a comprehensive Redevelopment Strategy for downtown
  • Assisting new festival development and growth
  • Working to promote improvement of downtown parking
  • Improving downtown mobility
  • Advocating casino entertainment district development
  • Supporting downtown retail through the Downtown Merchants’ Council

 

2009 DATES TO REMEMBER
Mudbug Madness: May 21-24
Rockets Over the Red: November 28


MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Individual Member - $50.00
(Retirees, merchants & students)

Business Member - $150.00
(Owner or one designated individual of a company)

Corporate Member - $500.00
(Includes five representatives of a company)

 


Make Checks Payable to: Downtown Shreveport Unlimited

DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT UNLIMITED
Melanie Bacon – Executive Director
401 Edwards Street, Suite 205
P.O. Box 235 (71162)
Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
318/222-7403
318/222-3731 Fax
Email: mbacon@downtownshreveport.com




DSU OFFICERS

Steve Ferris (Ensemble Office Products) –
President
Kim Bailey (Capital One Bank) – 1st Vice President
Sharon Barnes (Eldorado Casino & Hotel) –
2nd Vice President
April Prince McCartney (The Forum) – Secretary/Treasurer
Terri Mathews (Gumbeaux Productions) –
Mudbug Madness Chair

DIRECTORS

Brandy Claiborne (Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau)
Steve Craig (Heard, McElroy & Vestal)
Troy Ebarb (Southern Automotive Service, Inc.)
Gene Elliott (Insty-Prints)
David Foret (Eagle Distributing)
Lisa Janes (GAP Broadcasting)
Mike McSwain (Mike McSwain Architect)
Carrie Ann Taylor (Regions Bank)
David Camp, AEP/SWEPCO
Mark Rowe, Red River Bank