Downtown Shreveport Unlimited

About DSU

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: Executive Director, Melanie Bacon.  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.

We invite you to Discover Downtown! Become a member of DSU and help make the city center a better place to live, work, and play.

Events

DSU’s principal quality of life event is Mudbug Madness, held each Memorial Day weekend. DSU also partners with the Revel staff to produce BREW each October and is responsible for coordinating holiday decorating of downtown streets and buildings.

Marketing Funds Request

The downtown advocacy group also provides financial assistance when possible to quality downtown festivals and events.

Marketing Funds Request (PDF, 82 KB)

City Center Initiatives

DSU works in concert with DDA and DSDC to help make downtown Shreveport a better place to live, work and play. A few of the important city center initiatives collectively supported by DSU, DDA and DSDC include:

Safety and Cleanliness – Keeping downtown clean and safe
Preservation and Beautification – Strengthening the core through preservation and beautification
Planning – Participating in a comprehensive Redevelopment Strategy for downtown
Development – Assisting new festival development and growth
Parking – Working to promote improvement of downtown parking

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 company representatives)

Membership Application (PDF, 159 KB)

 

 

DSU Staff

Melanie Bacon – Executive Director
Stacie Leng – Bookkeeper
Angie Costakis – IT / Social Media

 

DSU Board of Directors

Steve Craig – President
(Heard, McElroy & Vestal)

Lisa Janes – 1st Vice President
(Town Square Media)

Debbie Ristig – 2nd Vice President
(CenterPoint Energy)

Rob Rubel – Secretary
(Fire Tech Systems)

Terri Mathews – Mudbug Madness Chairman
(Gumbeaux Productions)

Kim Bailey
(Citizens National Bank)

Tina Breedlove
(Allegra Marketing)

John Grindley
(Cohabitat)

Tim Huck
(Phoenix Underground & Sand Bar)

Chris Jay
(Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau)

Pete John
(Raising Cane’s)

Staci Parks
(The Forum/CityLife)

Leslie Peck
(Eldorado Casino & Hotel)

Mark Rowe
(Red River Bank)