2023 Conference
A Vision for Success
California Main Street’s 2023 conference, "A Vision For Success," was held in person at the SpringHill Suites in downtown Oceanside February 22-23, with a special pre-conference workshop on February 21 presented by the National Park Service. This was our first in-person conference for California Main Street since 2018.
Seventy-eight Main Street professionals from 20+ communities across the state gathered in downtown Oceanside for educational sessions, networking, and professional development. It was an opportunity for all those involved in California commercial district revitalization to learn best practices, key trends, and economic development strategies to support small businesses and communities in a post-pandemic economy. Our Conference Program featured:
3 days of content, conversation, and opportunities to connect
16 information-rich sessions
30+ expert speakers
Pre-conference workshop on disaster preparedness
Sunset Happy Hour & Historic Walking Tour
78 passionate professionals from across the state and the nation
Oceanside was an exciting and beautiful destination for our first in-person statewide conference in five years. MainStreet Oceanside rolled out the red carpet as our conference host, and their board and community partners gave attendees a comprehensive look at what makes their Main Street program outstanding.
Catch some of the highlights in this montage video created by MainStreet Oceanside.
Themes, Sessions & Speakers
The past few years have been times of great change and challenges for downtown and commercial corridor leaders. The 2023 CAMS Conference's educational sessions focused on some of the most pressing issues in Main Street revitalization in 2023 and beyond, including:
Main Street 101 and the New Community Standards for Accreditation
Housing and Real Estate Development
Fostering Local Tourism, Entrepreneurship Ecosystems, and the Arts
Farmers' Markets Best Practices
Special Assessment Districts
Advocacy & Legislative Updates
Conference Schedule At-A-Glance
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Tuesday, February 21: Pre-Conference Activities
Explore the Neighborhood
Historic Walking Tour of OceansidePre-Conference Workshop
Get Your Downtown Ready. Presented by National Park Service -
Wednesday, February 22: Conference Day 1
Educational Sessions
Main Street 101 / Update on New Main Street Community Accreditation StandardsFarmers Markets: Doing Well by Doing Good
All about California Cultural Districts
Entrepreneurship Pipelines & B2B Mentorship
Leadership & Succession Planning
Working with Travel and Visitors Bureaus
Closing Keynote: It's Nothing without Your People: Finding and Keeping Great Talent
Networking Event
Sunset Happy Hour at the Oceanside Museum of Art -
Thursday, February 23: Conference Day 2
Educational Sessions
The Role of Advocacy in Advancing a Successful Main Street ProgramHousing and Homelessness Strategies
New California Policies & Guidelines for Businesses
Keynote and Q&A: Diversity & Inclusion on Main Street
Real Estate Solutions for your Main Street
Online Tools for your District
Location
Conference sessions took place at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oceanside, conveniently located in downtown Oceanside at 110 N. Myers Street, one block from the ocean and famous pier. A special group rate for attendees was made available at this hotel.
Pricing
CAMS Members:
One (1) complimentary registration per membership.
Additional registrations: $250 early bird, $299 regular online and on-site.
Non-Members: $300 early bird, $350 regular online and on-site.
Single-Day Passes: $99
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Supporters
Main Street America, National Park Service, California Office of Historic Preservation, Square, Civitas Advisors, Small Business Majority, City of Oceanside, Visit Oceanside, Main Street Oceanside with support from Yiftee, Earth Planter, Switchfoot Creative, Oceanside Museum of Art, That Boy Good, Oceanside Historical Society, Coomber Craft Wines and Black Plague Brewing.