by Latricia Good

Local leaders face immense challenges in meeting their cities? increasingly changing infrastructure needs. Whether small, medium or large, cities nationwide are dealing with many of the same challenges relating to infrastructure investments.

At NLC?s Congress of Cities and Exposition in Reno, Nev., Dec. 5-9, city leaders will have an opportunity to convene to learn from each other and from national experts about successful and unsuccessful solutions for dealing with infrastructure challenges.

When it comes to the fundamental facilities and systems serving municipalities, most city leaders would agree that the success of their cities is largely due to the strength of their infrastructure. But, with shrinking federal budgets, leaders within state and local governments have begun to look for innovative solutions to improve and successfully manage their infrastructure needs.

Through the conference workshop series, ?How to Create a Strong Local Infrastructure,? NLC will offer the tools and insight needed to support city officials in their efforts to build a strong physical and social infrastructure. NLC hopes that delegates who attend workshops in this series will walk away with a strategic yet practical plan for improving their cities? infrastructure, equipped with the appropriate resources and knowledge to make smart decisions surrounding infrastructure investments.

The workshops will emphasize that improving quality of life through infrastructure investments will happen only with a strong partnership among various community stakeholders. They will also focus on a wide array of infrastructure issues such as challenges local governments face in paying for infrastructure investments, infrastructure tools officials can use to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children, and strategies for implementing municipal broadband.

The following list is a sample of the workshops being planned for the series.

? Financing/Paying for Infrastructure

? Beyond Roads and Sewers: Infrastructure to Strengthen Family and Community

? New Ideas to Address Stormwater Issues

? Strategies for Implementing Municipal Broadband

? Cities Working with Green Buildings

? Understanding Effective Mass Transit Systems and Options for Funding

Details: For more information on the Congress of Cities, visit www.nlc.org.