More than 100 local government officials from across North Carolina
joined League leadership and counterparts from across the U.S. on Capitol Hill this week for the National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference. The event, featuring advocacy workshops and topical sessions, connected municipal leaders directly with federal law- and policy-makers -- including
Sen. Richard Burr, Rep. Mark Meadows, Rep. G.K. Butterfield,
Rep. Ted Budd and many others -- for roundtable discussions important to cities and towns of all sizes. This year came with a big push on
infrastructure, public safety, community resilience and, notably, broadband access. "Broadband is not a luxury, it's a necessary utility," League President and Jacksonville Mayor Pro Tem Michael Lazzara
tweeted from the Washington, D.C. conference. "Private-public partners are essential to give access to all."
An opening general session featured NLC President and Little Rock, Ark., Mayor Mark Stodola and a keynote from former Face the Nation moderator and CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Bob Schieffer. Additional speakers included U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Special Assistant to the President for Infrastructure D.J. Gribbin. The League thanks its federal partners for their engagement on local-level issues. Municipal officials in attendance received a wealth of insights to bring home to their communities.
The best in public-private partnerships, innovation, downtown events, adaptive reuse, historic rehabilitation and more won recognition this week at the N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street Awards Ceremony held in Clayton. "These award-winning projects have made a significant difference to their communities, bringing new jobs, new activities, businesses, and new investment to their Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities," said Liz Parham, director of N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center at the Department of Commerce. The group presented 19 awards in categories recognizing organizations, promotion, and design. The Main Street program helps small towns rev up their central business districts with a focus on historic preservation and unique character. A press release details this year's winners.