[Vision2020] PR - Chaney NLC Board & Conference Announcement

Tue Nov 15 09:58:47 PST 2011

City of Moscow
206 E Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor
p     |  208-883-7006
e     |   griedner at ci.moscow.id.us<mailto:griedner at ci.moscow.id.us>
w    |  www.ci.moscow.id.us<http://www.ci.moscow.id.us>

PRESS RELEASE
Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney elected to Board of Directors of the National League of Cities; joins other local leaders at annual conference

November 15, 2011 (Moscow, Idaho) - Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, President of the Association of Idaho Cities, was elected to the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities' at the annual Congress of Cities in Phoenix, Arizona, November 8-12. Chaney joined leaders from across the country for the annual conference that explored economic development strategies, benefits of sustainability programs, infrastructure solutions, children and family issues, immigration, education and workforce preparedness, and impacts of international student enrollment in local and global economies.

Expert presenters included Cecilia Muñoz, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House; former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, co-chair of Building America's Future; Majora Carter, eco-entrepreneur and founder of Sustainable South Bronx; and Edward Glaeser, economist, Harvard University professor, and author of the book, Triumph of the City: How our greatest invention makes us richer, smarter, greener, healthier, and happier.

Conference tracks included themes of economic development, green cities, infrastructure, and families, or mix-and-match topics pertinent to their communities. "By focusing on specific issues important to their cities, NLC members received a unique and valuable experience during this year's Congress of Cities," said NLC President James E. Mitchell Jr., Council Member, Charlotte, NC.  "The specific programming provided all participants with a more in-depth focus on city issues, while making relevant connections between all sessions and activities."

As a member of the Steering Committee for NLC's Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee, Chaney successfully sponsored the One Health[i] Resolution, adopted by the NLC at its business meeting on November 12, calling on the federal government to adopt legislation and practices that address human health, animal health, and ecological health in an integrated fashion and support local efforts to advance sustainability goals. As Chair of NLC's University Communities Council, Chaney facilitated panel discussions on the cost of education, student debt, career choices, and economic competitiveness; leveraging university assets to enhance neighborhoods' social, economic, and environmental resiliency; and international students, community integration, and global trade; and co-sponsored a session on youth, education, and families. She attended sessions on food access and healthy, sustainable community food systems; making cities business-friendly; strategies to track, manage and disclose data from sustainability initiatives; and community prosperity, relative to land use and mobility planning, infrastructure, and housing.

Mobile workshops afforded opportunities to tour model city programs throughout Phoenix and its neighboring communities.  Chaney participated in mobile workshops at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, genomics research institute, and health sciences education facility; the sustainably-designed Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix; and the Phoenix Farmers Market that attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year and has assisted more than 120 small growers and micro-businesses.

"This year's NLC Congress of Cities offered an array of topics that are directly applicable to what we are doing and aspire to accomplish in Moscow," Chaney said. "The opportunities for networking through the NLC are unparalleled, and include chances to interact face-to-face with our elected counterparts from around the Nation, experts in specialized fields, and officials from federal agencies. The National League of Cities benefits member cities, directly and indirectly, in a variety of ways, and gives Moscow, the University of Idaho, and the State of Idaho a platform to highlight regional attributes and accomplishments, and to learn from others who have surmounted challenges similar to our own."

In addition to keynote speakers, workshops and peer networking sessions, the Congress of Cities offered leadership training seminars, a vendor exhibit hall, and committee, council and constituency group meetings.  Delegates also learned about innovative programs for cities and towns through the City Showcase.  At the conclusion of the conference, the organization elected its 2012 officers and Board of Directors-including Chaney-and set organizational policies and priorities for the next year.

The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

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Story Contact: Gary J. Riedner, City Supervisor
Phone: 208-883-7006
Email: griedner at ci.moscow.id.us<mailto:griedner at ci.moscow.id.us>

The City of Moscow delivers quality municipal services while ensuring responsible use of resources. We anticipate and meet the needs of our diverse population in order to build public trust and enhance a sense of community.

Jen Pfiffner
Assistant to the City Supervisor
City of Moscow
PO Box 9203 | 206 E Third Street
Moscow, ID 83843
p  | 208.883.7123
f   | 208.883.7018
w | www.ci.moscow.id.us<http://www.ci.moscow.id.us>

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[i] http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/about.php
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