Who Should Attend  |  Knowledge Building  |  Leadership Training  |  Engagement Opportunities

Exhibit Hall  |  Advancing NLC   |  Explore Seattle  |  Hotels

The Congress of Cities and Exposition brings together local leaders from across the country. Participants will find a range of learning and networking opportunities highlighting successful programs from the City of Seattle and communities across the country.  Whether you have years of experience or are new to the field, this conference will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to lead your community towards a more promising future.  In the past, conference participants have included:

• Local Elected Officials
• Municipal Staff
• Non-profit Leaders
• State and Federal  Stakeholders
• Public Policy Students

Whether you are brand new to public office or local government, or you have lengthy experience, you will undoubtedly come away with new knowledge and ideas to take back home.  Our dynamic and engaging workshop sessions were designed with the input of leaders like you and will cover topics that are most important to local leaders across the country.  Economic development, public safety, civic engagement, infrastructure, and many more topics will be front and center.  Through a variety of workshop formats you will engage with your colleagues from communities both large and small.

Full listing of Congress of Cities Workshops

Skills-based learning opportunities are available for those who participate in the pre-conference leadership training seminars. These half and full day seminars are crafted to bolster your individual leadership skills in specific areas. Designed for local officials, and facilitated by carefully selected trainers, your participation will ensure you take away applicable techniques and strategies to lead change and innovation in your city.

Are you looking to participate more in the National League of Cities? Would you like to to network and share ideas with colleagues? The Congress of Cities and Exposition has you covered! Our member councils and constituency groups offer a venue for city leaders to work together to develop and promote work plans that best help their diverse communities. 

In addition to hallway conversations, our Conference Connection Lounge will give you the venue to meet with colleagues and discuss the important issues.  This area is open throughout the conference and will offer you a comfortable location to share your ideas with fellow participants.

Finally, after a long day of learning sometimes you need the opportunity to unwind.  New this year, evening networking events will help connect you with the leaders who are most qualified to help you right now. These informal happy hours will give participants the opportunity to decompress while evaluating what they learned throughout the day.

The exposition hall brings attendees the latest products, services and ideas - direct from manufacturers, consultants, and specialists - and provides opportunities for idea sharing during the conference. Activities are planned in the exposition hall during the conference to give you the opportunity to meet and talk with exhibitors

A select number of exhibitors will be participating in Vendor Theaters. These 15 minute presentations will give you insight into some of the most interesting solutions to meet your cities needs.

The exposition hall also incorporates the NLC Pavilion, featuring NLC's Strategic Partnership Programs, a set of programs that offer products and services to cities.  Additionally, the City Showcase will allow you to talk to leaders of some of the most innovative municipal programs and initiatives that Seattle and the State of Washington have to offer.

Take advantage of the opportunity to meet Clarence Anthony, the Executive Director of the National League of Cities.  At a special general session Mr. Anthony will unveil a new strategic plan that will reignite the organization for future growth.

Additionally, each year at the Congress of Cities and Exposition, the Annual Business Meeting provides an opportunity for delegates from direct member cities to participate in important organizational business.  At this meeting the NLC Officers and Board of Directors are elected and the federal advocacy agenda is set.

You can help set this agenda by participating in one of our policy and advocacy committee meetings.  You can learn about and debate NLC's policy positions on a number of topics ranging from community and economic development to transportation infrastructure services.

Participate in the mobile workshops, which are like mini field trips through different neighborhoods and feature Seattle or surrounding cities.  These experiences are free to any fully registered conference delegate (but reservations are required as space fills up!).  Learn more about the Mobile Workshops and reserve your spot.

While delegates are in sessions all day... the conference guests go out to play!  Choose from six exciting tour options Wednesday through Friday and experience what Seattle and its surroundings are all about.  Tours are offered at a small fee.  Register early to guarantee your spot.  Register to participate in a spouse guest tours.

At the end of the conference join us for a closing gala at one of Seattle's most famous venues, with music, dancing, and spectacular food from world renowned chefs as you take in the breathtaking beauty of the Experience Music Project (EMP) in the heart of Seattle Center.  The EMP is one of the hippest music and entertainment venues in the United States and some of the country's hottest musical acts have performed here.

For your convenience we have arranged for reduced rates at six hotels, all within walking distance of Washington State Convention Center.  In order to take advantage of these reduced rates you must reserve your room when you register for the conference.  Not ready to book your accommodations yet?  You can return to our registration site and enter your conference identification number to reserve at a later time but don't delay too long as hotels are starting to fill.

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