Local small-business-owners rarely get the chance to network regionally. The Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns Creative Community Summit will be that chance.

Registration is now open for the free summit -- with lunch included -- to be held all day Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville.

The deadline to register is this Friday, Sept. 21.

Doors open at 8 a.m., and the summit will last until 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Jann Mirkov, executive director of Main Street: Greeneville, at 639-7102.

The summit will offer attendees interactive presentations, educational sessions, networking opportunities and access to resources across the state that will encourage businesses and communities to refocus and improve their marketing strategies, and turn their business or marketplace into a destination.

"Local businesses will have the unique opportunity to network with other regional business leaders and developers," said Mirkov.

"I think the overall exposure and marketing benefits, and the chance to learn the 'tricks of the trade,' are some of the biggest advantages," Mirkov said.

She emphasized the importance of local Greeneville businesses attending the event.

"They will not only learn to treat their business as a destination but the community as a destination as well," she said.

Sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TECD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the summit will focus on innovative solutions, and strategies to generate economic growth in rural communities.

The summit is free of charge, and lunch is included for the first 200 registrants.

Additional lunch tickets may be purchased once the 200 capacity is met.

For more information or to register to attend one of the Creative Community Summits, visit http://www.tennesseemainstreet.org/workshop.html.

Those seeking additional information may contact Mirkov at 639-7102.

"By leveraging the natural assets of our rural communities and helping prepare our rural areas for competing in today's global economy, we will lay the ground work for future economic growth," said TECD commissioner Bill Hagerty in a news release.

The TECD mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the number one location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs.

The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth.

Topics at the summit include:

* "Growing Destination Businesses," with nationally recognized speaker Jon Schallert, and

* "Cultivating Local Heritage Tourism, Arts, Culture and Agriculture to Jump Start a Rural Economy" presented by National Trust Main Street Center Senior Program Officers Kathy LaPlante and Norma Ramirez de Miess.

"[This is] an excellent opportunity for stakeholders, business leaders and community partners to hear from national experts on what is working for similar communities across the country and learn what communities can do in their own backyards to encourage economic development and growth," said Dan Hawk, TECD Rural Development director.