APRIL 22-24, 2025
You’ve heard of middle America. Big Towns is a conversation for mid-sized America: Places too big to be small towns and too small to be big cities.
Big Towns is a two-day summit, celebrating mid-sized cities and what they do to thrive.
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April 22-24, 2025
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Big Towns 2025
2024
Agenda
Keynote Conversation
David Begnaud
CBS News
David Begnaud is the lead national correspondent for “CBS Mornings” based in New York. His coverage of Hurricane Maria earned him the prestigious George Polk Award for public service in 2018, which was the first time given to a journalist since 1978. His career began in local news at KLFY-TV as an unpaid “teen reporter” while in high school in Lafayette, La.
Mayor Paul TenHaken
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Paul TenHaken was elected 32nd Mayor of South Dakota’s largest city, Sioux Falls, in May 2018. In April, 2022, Paul was re-elected to serve a second term as mayor by securing a record-breaking 73% of the vote.
Paul established a reputation as a leader in the marketing technology sector after founding digital marketing agency Click Rain in 2008. After growing the company for a decade, Paul exited the business in 2018 to transition into the full-time role of mayor.
Tracks, Topics and Speakers
Big Town Success / Presented by Next City
How Lexington, Kentucky tackles big challenges through collaboration
Deonna Anderson
Next City
Dan Wu
Vice Mayor, Lexington
Lisa Adkins
Blue Grass Community Foundation
Christian Motley
Results for America
Richard Young
CivicLex
Growth & Economy
Economic development, innovation, sustainability, housing and planning
Chuck Marohn
Strong Towns
Monte Anderson
Neighborhood Evolution
Coral Jean Troxell
National Zoning Atlas
Dell Gines
International Economic Development Council
Mary Ellen Wiederwohl
Accelerator for America
Deonna Anderson
Next City
Allison Forbes
Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness
Health & Healthcare
Healthcare, public health, social determinants of health
Carlton Ulmer
Build A Brain
Jessica Diedling
Ochsner Health
Erica Spears
Louisiana Public Health Institute
Stephanie Manson
Our Lady of Lourdes Health
Stephanie Montgomery
Build A Brain
Civics & Media
Local journalism, civic engagement and democracy
Josh Benton
Nieman Lab
Margaret Coker
The Current
Richard Young
CivicLex
Community & Culture
Arts, culture and community development
José Cotto
Small Center for Collaborative Design
Caitlin Strokosch
National Performance Network
Nancy Whitworth
Former Director of Economic Development
Greenville, South Carolina
Do I live in a Big Town?
- Are you surprised when you don’t see someone you know at the airport?
- Is it hard to find somewhere local to eat on Mondays?
- Is your hometown left off the Weather Channel map?
- Is the nearest stop on the Taylor Swift Eras tour more than two hours away?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you probably live in a Big Town.
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How to Get Here
By Car
Lafayette is located on Interstate 10 at the terminus of Interstate 49.
By Air
Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT) services flights to Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Charlotte. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) is roughly 60 miles away. Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans (MSY) is 120 miles away.
Where to Stay
Big Towns is hosted at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Downtown Lafayette.
Room blocks are available at the following hotels on a first-come, first-served basis:
About Lafayette
Lafayette is the hub of Acadiana, a region of South Louisiana known for Cajun and Creole culture and some of the best food, music and hospitality in the country. We’re Louisiana’s fourth largest city, with a population of roughly 120,000 and a metro community of around half a million.
Festival International de Louisiane
April 24-28, 2024
After soaking up Big Towns, feel free to stick around for Festival International.
It's a global event that attracts 300,000 people to Downtown Lafayette. It’s a world class festival, celebrating Lafayette’s connections to the Francophone world and beyond. Oh, and it’s free. Learn more about Lafayette’s best party.
Our Partners
Event Hosts
Supporting Sponsors
Community Sponsors
Community Partners
CGI
First Horizon
One Acadiana
CSRS
Vinformatix
AIA South Louisiana
Brach Myers - State Representative
APA Louisiana