Smart growth encourages development that creates healthy, vibrant places and gives people greater opportunity and choice. Each of the four plenaries this year focuses on a key part of the smart growth conversation of how and where we grow. Threaded together, these sessions will touch upon a collective story of identifying trends, addressing barriers and forging solutions that can assist all communities with better addressing their environmental, fiscal, social, and health needs.

Dynamic Plenaries: The kickoff plenary on Thursday evening focuses on Financing Smart Growth. The conversation will start with a survey of federal investments and community assistance paired with Henry Cisneros, former HUD Secretary and current housing developer with CityView, then the conversation will move a facilitated conversation about how to leverage federal investments and polices with localized incentives to spur additional interest and investment from the private sector – both the lending institutions and the developers who will propose smart growth projects.

Next, our attention will move to the rural landscape. Sometimes forgotten in the smart growth conversation, this plenary will demonstrate that issues like economic vitality are relevant no matter the location. Speakers, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. EPA, will discuss federal investments to ensure rural economic relevance as well as perspectives on solving transportation challenges and revitalizing disadvantaged communities.

The third plenary will look at and examine why smart growth is critical to a healthy regional economy and will showcase the multiple job development opportunities that evolve when communities follow this path.

The conference will wrap up with Mitch Silver, President of the American Planning Association. He will draw together the lessons of the previous plenaries and various themes from the breakout session to present a vision for tomorrow focused on positioning local governments to be competitive in a global economy. No matter the size or scope of a jurisdiction, all areas of the nation can, and need to contribute to the global framework so as not be overshadowed by investments placed elsewhere.

Sign up NOW: Register online before the January 14 deadline. The special $95 room rate at the Westin Charlotte Hotel is only available until January 10.

Get Lots of Credit: Nearly all of the over 100 conference sessions will be approved for AICP accreditation. Additionally, the CDC has accredited 19 conference sessions for doctors, nurses and community health educators. Check the website for information about accredited sessions.

See the New Partners for Smart Growth conference web site. Web link: www.NewPartners.org

For more information:
Michele Warren, Local Government Commission
1303 J St., Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95814 USA

phone: 916-448-1198 x 308; email: [email protected]