Inside Firestone
Firestone Makes Key Connections at ICSC Global Retail Convention
In a major Firestone economic development effort, Town officials meet with a number of developers at the RECon 2012 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 20 to 23. The International Council of Shopping Center’s (ICSC) RECon convention is attended by industry professionals worldwide, and provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities. Firestone Mayor Chad Auer, Town Manager Wesley LaVanchy, Town Planner Bruce Nickerson, and Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator Kristi Ritter represented the Town with a booth at the convention.
Auer said they were able to meet with many new development interests, including sit-down restaurants, retail shopping centers and hotels. Additionally, many new economic and business development contacts were made ranging from individual retails to developers of major shopping centers.
“Looking to the future, I believe Firestone will be home to a number of new commercial developments,” he said. “Firestone is in a strong position to land these retails developments.”
ICSC estimates that approximately 50 percent of the retail real estate industry’s shopping center leases are signed or conceived during the RECon convention, with more than 35,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors in attendance.
LaVanchy said, “It was a unique opportunity to interface with retailers, developers and brokers as they negotiate the next wave of commercial development for communities across the nation. We pursued strategic meetings and established key contacts in an effort to advance a variety of commercial property in Firestone.”
Firestone’s booth located in the Cities of the World Pavilion captured great traffic from developers and retailers, as well as interest from other communities on the Town’s position and goals for future development. In addition to the opportunities to visit with numerous developers, the convention featured more than 20 educational sessions on topics affecting the shopping center industry.
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