SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Downtown Shreveport seeks new leadership to support growth. Liz Swaine left the executive director position at the Downtown Development Authority, and business owners have been thinking about who should take over.

Pop N Pizza has been in downtown Shreveport for two years. Co-owner Brittani Shabazz says she has seen the city trying to grow from the ghost town it used to be.

“We often see tourists come in and basically they’re looking for things to do, places to hang out, something new and unique for them. So definitely, the people coming in need new ideas,” said Shabazz.

Terri Pugh, owner of Setting the Standard Barbering Academy, says that a vision and culture for downtown need to be established.

“The culture needs to be based on small business because it will be the meat and potatoes of our economy. You know and I think that with those thriving, it’ll draw in larger corporations to come in, “said Pugh.

Shabazz, on the other hand, feels all businesses must be included in the conversations about strengthening downtown.

13 local residents applied for the Executive Director position, and the Shabazz feels the right candidate is there.

“I think from that list they have – they have a winner. Somebody that’s going to think about everybody. And not just put, you know, big business, you know, at the forefront or small business at the forefront. We need us all to come together.”

To come together with a vision for the city, Pugh compared Shreveport to other cities. She says Dallas has an Arts District, and New Orleans has Bourbon Street. She believed Shreveport has the potential to thrive as well.

“The 400 block maybe this, the 500 block may be eateries, and you know, with a sprinkle of dress shops, just how that looks and how you want to develop, and the energy that you want to create for downtown is important.”