Downtown Lebanon Celebrates Big Wins and Bigger Ideas at State Conference

Downtown Lebanon Celebrates Big Wins and Bigger Ideas at State Conference

Downtown Lebanon hit the road last month, traveling to St. Charles for the Missouri Main Street Revitalization Conference – and came home with new ideas, statewide recognition, and a renewed sense of momentum.

Hosted by Missouri Main Street Connection, the conference brought together downtown leaders, volunteers, city staff, and property owners from across the state under the Route 66-themed motto, “Get Your Kicks on Main Street.” Lebanon proudly showed up to share its story – and left as one of Missouri’s most talked-about communities.

From Skits to Sandwich Boards

Lebanon was honored as a finalist for the Creative Space Activation Grant, a $10,000 award aimed at helping communities activate vacant downtown spaces. As part of the competition, a team of local volunteers performed a creative five-minute skit at the conference’s ShowMe Bash, showing off the charm, humor, and heart of Lebanon’s downtown vision.

While the top prize went to another community, Lebanon earned runner-up status, and brought home a set of branded sandwich boards to help promote local events and initiatives.

229 Project Takes the Spotlight

One of the major highlights of the trip was a presentation by Danny and April True, who shared the story of the 229 West Commercial project in a session titled “From Vacant to Vibrant: How Innovative Property Owners Can Lead by Example.” Their presentation detailed how they took a once-empty building and turned it into a launchpad for small business success.

The Trues held a competition to find the right tenant for the space and offered a three-year, rent-free opportunity to a local entrepreneur. The winner? Carmen’s Marker Café, which will soon open its doors as a welcoming community café in the heart of downtown.

That innovative approach earned Lebanon the Best New Business Recruitment Initiative Award at the conference’s Evening of Excellence, shining a spotlight on how creative property development can drive entrepreneurship and revitalization.

“It was such an honor to share the 229 story with other Main Street communities from across Missouri,” said April True. “This project started with a vision and a lot of hard work, and it’s been amazing to see how it’s helping fuel new energy and creativity downtown.”

Honoring Local Leaders

The conference also recognized individuals and partnerships that help power Lebanon’s Main Street success:

• Bobby Dozier was named a finalist for the Spirit of Main Street Award, celebrating his dedication and service as a key downtown volunteer.
• The City of Lebanon was recognized as a finalist for the Premier Partner Award, acknowledging its ongoing support and collaboration in downtown revitalization efforts.
• Lebanon was also promoted to the Affiliate Tier in the Missouri Main Street program, a major milestone in its continued growth and commitment to the Main Street approach.

“We are incredibly proud of the work happening in Downtown Lebanon,” said Mayor Jared Carr. “The recognition at this conference is a testament to the vision, collaboration, and hard work of our community leaders, property owners, and volunteers. Downtown is not just our history, it’s our future.”

Bringing It Home

For Sarah Angst, Downtown Lebanon’s Executive Director, the experience was both affirming and energizing.

“There’s nothing like being in a room full of people who are all working toward the same goal: strong, thriving downtowns,” Angst said. “We came back with so many ideas, new connections, and a renewed sense of pride in what’s happening right here in Lebanon.”

As Downtown Lebanon continues to grow and evolve, the takeaways from this statewide event will help guide future projects and partnerships, and remind the community just how far it’s come.

To learn more about the Missouri Main Street Conference, visit www.momainstreetconference.com, and to stay updated on local happenings, follow Downtown Lebanon on social media or visit our homepage.