National League of Cities Announces Tour on Sustainable Infrastructure
The National League of Cities (NLC) announced “Building Cities, Building Futures,” a national tour centering on sustainable infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth. Sponsored by Siemens, the tour will bring together local business, community and governmental leaders to discuss how to effectively plan and prioritize funding and the options available to promote resiliency and create jobs.
The tour will start in Houston on July 14, and then visit Los Angeles; Charlotte, N.C.; and Chicago over the next few months.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell and Deputy Secretary of Transportation, John D. Porcari, will headline the tour by holding discussions on the infrastructure needs of the nation and how to encourage private investment and development.
“We must get serious about addressing our infrastructure needs if the United States is to remain economically competitive with the rest of the world,” Rendell said. “It’s not just about more infrastructure investments--it’s about smarter investments. It’s about greater accountability and transparency so that the right projects are completed the right way, achieve specific outcomes and deliver the greatest economic returns. It’s also about embracing and rewarding innovation that so often starts in many of our states and cities.”
“The nation needs to invest in critical infrastructure to meet the needs of today’s challenging economy,” said James E. Mitchell Jr., president, National League of Cities and Councilmember, Charlotte, N.C. “On the local level, communities need to address their own infrastructure dilemmas if they are to compete in the global market. The tour is a significant opportunity for local communities and their stakeholders to establish dialogue and develop solutions surrounding local infrastructure issues.”
The sessions will include discussions that correspond directly to the infrastructure needs of the local community. The tour will also focus on the need for effective regional collaboration to solve pressing infrastructure needs.
“We have seen, firsthand, how focusing on sustainability in your infrastructure will pay off over the long run. Not only will the environmental impacts be lessened, we’ve seen sustainable solutions be the driver of new development and, most importantly, new jobs,” said Daryl Dulaney, president and CEO of Siemens Industry Inc. “We believe this is important insight for today’s cities, and we’re proud to bring these perspectives together.”
Source: National League of Cities