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2011 City Showcase to Celebrate City Achievements
by Lara Malakoff
The National League of Cities (NLC) is currently accepting applications for the 2011 City Showcase, NLC's premier program celebrating city achievements.
Successful, creative programs from cities and towns across the country are encouraged to submit an application to participate.
The City Showcase celebrates cities for their achievements and provides city leaders and staff with the resources and networking opportunities they need to
learn and grow.
Through the City Showcase, NLC recognizes and showcases city programs that form creative collaborations, implement new processes or make efficient use of
resources to improve city functioning and enhance the quality of life for their residents.
The centerpiece of the City Showcase activities will take place during NLC's Congress of Cities and Exposition in Phoenix, November 9-12. Representatives from
selected programs will engage in conversations with attendees about their implementation strategies, successes and lessons learned. They will also have the
opportunity to display their information in the exhibit hall.
Participating cities will be honored by NLC in a conference-wide event and recognized in conference publications. Selected city programs will also be showcased
on NLC's website and highlighted in Nation's Cities Weekly and other venues.
City Showcase programs are selected for their innovative practices and for their contribution to a collection of programs that demonstrates a wide range of
geographical locations, city sizes and topic areas.
Programs that address a variety of topics relevant to cities will be considered, but emphasis will be placed on programs that are aligned with one or more of the
conference's 2011 concurrent conference topics:
- Green Cities
- Economic Development
- Infrastructure
- Your City's Families
At the Congress of Cities and Exposition, participating programs are highlighted as models and educators. Program representatives will display and discuss their
successes with conference attendees, providing them with innovative ideas for planning and problem solving in their own communities.
Both participating programs and conference attendees will benefit from this exchange of innovative ideas.
According to Laura Cisneros, of San Jose, Calif., "it is rewarding to attend a conference where we meet leaders from throughout the United States who we can learn
from, network with and discuss the issues we are all facing today. You leave the conference with new ideas, new insights and new connections to make us more
effective in our role."
Representatives from participating programs will also have the opportunity to talk with one another about their successes, challenges and solutions and form
ongoing connections with their peers from across the country.
The City Showcase is "a great way to connect with other municipalities around issues we face every day and find new and innovative solutions," said 2010
participant Sandra Seader of Longmont, Colo.
Programs selected to participate will be provided with two free registrations to NLC's Congress of Cities and Exposition in Phoenix. Southwest Airlines, the
official airline of the City Showcase, will make it possible for some participating cities to fly to Phoenix to share their successes with conference attendees.
The cost of the exhibit space is covered by NLC. Additional scholarships may be awarded to participating programs for display and other travel expenses.
Applications are available now. The application deadline is July 31. Applicants will be notified during the month of August if they are selected.
If you would like more information regarding the City Showcase, contact Lara Malakoff at malakoff@nlc.org or Will McGahan
at mcgahan@nlc.org. |
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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