DeRidder, La. - The recommendations for creating a thriving Main Street community in downtown DeRidder were unveiled by the Main Street Resource Team Thursday evening at the Beauregard Parish Library during a briefing before more than 50 interested community members and citizens. The resource team discussed a four-point approach to rebuilding this Main Street community, which was reinstated into the program in May. Design, organization, promotion, and economic restructuring were the four major points the team addressed . Ray Scriber, Louisiana Main Street Director, described the Main Street program as an organization of volunteers who want to better the local downtown area, while partnering with state and national levels of the organization. After a series of interviews during the team's four-day visit and study of DeRidder, the group discovered many positive factors already in place. Scriber briefed the crowd on the organization aspects, saying "You already have a great group of volunteers in place." His major recommendations included continuous board training, transitioning to a non-profit organization, and a full-time management team of downtown. He commented that the management team would serve in a similar capacity as a mall management group - cleaning up empty buildings, handling the maintenance, and maintaining a positive image. Arkansas Main Street Director Cary Tyson presented the promotion recommendations. He advised the group that developing a "brand" for DeRidder's Main Street would be a major part of image development. He suggested using the city's history or unique aspects as part of the branding process. The brand will define the district, while telling the story of downtown. Tyson suggested focusing on events downtown and developing new events in the district. A new Main Street event is already scheduled for this Fall, according to Matt Young, Main Street Program Manager for the City of DeRidder. Young said that "La Cuisine de Beauregard, 2008 Main-to-Main Event" will be held November 8 in the downtown district. Local chefs will be featured, serving an array of ethnic cuisine - including Italian, Lebanese, Oriental, Mexican, Soul Food, German, Swedish, and Cajun. Josh Bloom, with the Community Land Use and Economics Group in Washington, D.C. discussed the economic restructuring topic - highlighting building values and clustering of businesses. The clustering of similar businesses is a successful technique often used in Main Street areas. Examples given were dining/entertainment, dance/arts, furniture/home furnishings, and specialty apparel. Interior Design Coordinator Leon Steele focused on the visual and physical appearances of buildings and businesses, the design of the buildings, and the signs used to attract customers. Steele showed several pictorial images of current buildings with good window displays, streetscapes, and signs. He compared those to businesses that needed major improvements, as well. Steele also created computer generated pictures of what businesses could look like, given some refurbishment and upkeep. He told the crowd, "I want you to go ahead and start forming a corp design committee. They do not have to have a design background." He also encouraged those interested to form a database of volunteers to address the design issues now and years into the future. Young was encouraged by the suggestions and feedback from the resource team. He said, "I think all of the recommendations are feasible. People have been waiting long enough for this - their enthusiasm is indicative of the success we can expect." The Main Street organization reinstated DeRidder in May, making the city one of only 26 communities in the state as part of this elite group. The benefits of being a Main Street designee include funding through facade grants, expertise and support readily available from Main Street, and additional funding for promotions. Other area cities which have experienced great success as Main Street communities include Natchitoches, Abbeville, and New Iberia. DeRidder and Donaldsonville were the only cities in Louisiana chosen this year as new participants.