COC 2012 Banner

  • Date: November 28, 2012 - December 1, 2012
  • Location: Boston Convention & Exposition Center - Boston, MA
  • Category: Annual Conference

Overview

The Congress of Cities and Exposition held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from November 28th through December 1st will bring together local leaders from cities across the United States. Conference participants will find a range of learning and networking opportunities highlighting successful programs from the City of Boston and communities across the country.

The Congress of Cities program will focus on three overarching strategies for cities: Promoting Strong Local Economies, Building Sustainable Communities and Strengthening Neighborhoods and Families. Each of the strategies will be explored through keynote addresses, workshops, peer networking sessions, mobile workshops, leadership training seminars, the City Showcase, and the Exhibit Hall. Before and after the main conference programming NLC will offer the traditional governance activities, state municipal league activities and meetings of NLC committees, councils and constituency groups.  

  • Promote Strong Local Economies by learning how to promote 21st century workforce skills and to spur, support, attract and retain businesses.  
  • Build Sustainable Communities by learning how to develop the partnerships and strategies to go beyond standalone investments in a city's built environment and move toward integrated approaches that facilitate connected, intelligent and sustainable communities.  
  • Strengthen Neighborhoods and Families by fostering supportive families, homes and neighborhoods, to provide critical opportunities for individuals to grow, learn and prosper.

Full Program and Exposition Guide

Dynamic Workshops

A wide ranging selection of workshops are designed to engage participants and share the most promising skills, strategies, and best practices to continue to keep the nation's cities and towns prosperous.

Mobile Workshops

Host city Boston is offering off-site workshops, free of charge to registered delegates, to showcase collaborative solutions to issues facing local government.

Governance Activities

Throughout the conference, NLC member-city officials will participate in the important work of governing the association.  Most of the governance meetings listed are open to the public and you are encouraged to stop in to observe and consider how you might become involved.

Leadership Training Seminars

Educational seminars are crafted so participants obtain current resources, develop strategies, build skills, and engage in small group discussions and exercises with their peers from other communities.

Spouse & Guest Tours

Special tours created each year by the host city offer spouses and guests the chance to explore the city for its educational value.

Exhibit Hall Opportunities

Exhibitors can increase their visibility among attendees by investing in an exhibit hall opportunity. These opportunities, exclusive to exhibitors, will give your company/organization expanded recognition during the two days of the exposition.

Schedule



Wednesday, November 28, 2012

  • 9:00 AM
    L01: Youth Master Planning: Achieving Collective Impact for Children and Youth (Show details)

    Elizabeth Gaines - The Forum for Youth Investment
    Garret L. Nancolas - City of Caldwell
    Ronnie Steine - City of Nashville-Davidson

    Registration Fee: $190
    Competency: Catalyst/Collaborator
     
    When children and youth grow up ready for college, work and life, cities are safer, more engaged, and more attractive to employers and residents. But city officials cannot achieve these objectives alone or through piecemeal community efforts. Local youth master plans represent an increasingly common approach in which municipal officials, school district leaders, community partners and young people work together to align services, supports and opportunities for young people. Learn why more than 50 cities, large and small, are using the Forum for Youth Investments’ Ready by 21 framework to guide the development of comprehensive youth master plans, and how these communities are attaining better outcomes for youth. Through this seminar, participants will articulate clear objectives for local action and build skills related to leading multi-sector partnerships, aligning policies, improving systems, making data-driven decisions, building public will, and engaging residents of all ages.

  • 1:30 pm
    L03: Engaging the public on Sustainability: Effectively communicating the concepts, benefits and opportunities (Show details)

    Mike Crowley - Institute for Sustainable Communities
    Steve Nicholas - Institute for Sustainable Communities

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Communicator/Catalyst
     
    Increasingly cities across the country are pursuing strategies and initiatives that promote sustainability. Such actions have been found to produce economic savings, protect environmental resources, and even contribute to public health and safety. Yet these actions have not been without question or controversy, and establishing community support for these actions can be challenging. While many cities have encountered some form of resistance, some have even experienced direct and at times aggressive push-back from groups opposed to sustainability principles. In this interactive workshop participants will learn about frameworks, tools, and techniques to effectively engage the public on sustainability and climate change issues and solutions, and work with peers to develop effective communications strategies.

  • 1:30 PM
    L02: Latest Tools for Strengthening Local Democracy: From Model Ordinances to Online Games (Show details)

    Bruce Meyerson - American Bar Association
    Eric Gordon - Engagement Game Lab, Emerson College
    Matt Leighninger - Deliberative Democracy Consortium

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Collaborator/Competent Practitioner
     
    This seminar will explore the frontiers of public engagement and help local officials begin thinking about how to create comprehensive, cross-sector plans to strengthen democracy in their cities. Experts and practitioners on civic and online engagement will walk the participants through a number of new technologies for participation, address the typical legal challenges to public engagement, present a new model ordinance for participation, and describe how cities can adapt these tools to their own needs. Participants will add their own input to an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of public engagement as it is typically practiced today. They will use a series of key questions and potential building blocks presented in NLC’s guide to Planning for Stronger Local Democracy, provided as part of the program, as fodder for their discussion and as a resource to their planning efforts after the conference.

  • 1:30 PM
    L04: Strategizing for Economic Development Finance (Show details)

    Dan Marsh - National Development Council
    Kevin Gremse - National Development Council

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Competent Practitioner
     
    Financing economic development projects often requires collaboration with local government. This session will help you better understand when and why the public sector should get involved for economic development purposes. It will provide basic insight and practical information needed to critically understand how economic development is financed and the tools, strategies, and techniques used to build strong communities. This fast-paced seminar explores economic development activities as part of a community’s overall economic development finance strategy, the financing resources available for job creation projects, and the skills essential for the successful practice of economic and community development. Topics covered include: business credit and real estate finance analysis techniques, negotiating and problem solving skills, deal structuring techniques, and federal, state and local resources.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

  • 9:00 AM
    L10: Social Media Promising Practices (Show details)

    Lauren Hirshon - Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency
    : Communicator

     
    This session will highlight promising practices from, The Rise of Social Government, a report from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government, based on a survey of over 100 cities and 20 in-depth interviews with government administrators about their uses of social media. This research will be brought to life through real-life examples and case studies, engaging discussion, and interactive exercises.  Participants are expected to gain: A deeper understanding of how and why different cities employ particular social media tools; Insight into the new ways social media is being used to improve emergency management, public participation in local issues, and stimulate economic development and; Best practices on how to use, manage, and monitor social media in the most effective ways, and more.

  • 9:00 AM
    L07: Implementing STAR: The Sustainability Framework Built By and For Local Governments (Show details)

    Claudia Hernandez - STAR Communities
    Daniella Hirschfeld - STAR Communities
    Hilari Varnadore - STAR Communities

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Competent Practitioner
     
    For years, there has been no common way of defining and measuring sustainability. This fall, STAR Communities launches the STAR Community Index Version 1.0, the nation’s first framework for evaluating, quantifying, and improving the livability and sustainability of communities. STAR uniquely combines: a common framework for sustainability encompassing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of community; a rating system that drives continuous improvement and fosters competition; and an online performance management system that organizes and analyzes data. During this seminar, city leaders will learn about the STAR framework, hear about cities that have been involved in its development, and see a demonstration of the STAR Online Reporting Tool. Participants will leave with an understanding of how STAR can help develop existing strategic or sustainability plans; strategies to collect and track data required for the tool; and learn how various partners such as universities or local NGOs can get involved.

  • 9:00 AM
    L05: Achieving Fiscal Health and Wellness through Priority Based Budgeting (Show details)

    Chris Fabian - Center for Priority Based Budgeting
    Jon Johnson - Center for Priority Based Budgeting
    Kathie Novak - Center for Priority Based Budgeting

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Cornerstone
     
    Communities today struggle to develop meaningful and fiscally prudent budgets under financial pressures previously unknown. Most organizations believe that the responses they have made to the current financial crisis represent a permanent change in the way they will approach their budgeting processes. This session will explore innovative and proven tools and techniques needed to achieve both short-term relief and long-term sustainability through a unique and creative process called priority-based budgeting. Where traditional responses like across-the-board cuts, tax increases, asset sales, pay freezes, and furloughs have not provided adequate solutions, this session will discuss how local leaders across the country have turned to priority-based budgeting to help align budgets and resources with the goals of their communities. Drawing on case studies of 30 organizations, the seminar will help you focus on your city's core functions, align resources, and present a clearer vision about budget priorities.

  • 9:00 AM
    L09: Supporting Growth-Oriented Small Businesses as a Community Economic Development Strategy (Show details)

    Christine Hamilton- Pennell - Growing Local Economies, Inc.

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Catalyst
     
    Studies show that the majority of sustained job growth and long-term economic impact in a community is generated by the expansion of existing businesses. Growth-oriented small businesses bring wealth into a community by selling their products and services to external markets. How can your city help your growth-oriented companies succeed? Entrepreneurial economic development strategies such as “economic gardening” emphasize the importance of providing “market intelligence” services—high-level technical assistance and market research—to enable these companies find and reach external markets. Learn why growth-oriented small companies are important to your community economic development strategy, how to identify and reach these companies, and how to leverage assets to provide services. Participants will examine best practices and policies in other locations, explore market intelligence strategies through a hands-on case study approach, and create a practical plan to move your community forward. This session is designed for both elected officials and practitioners.

  • 9:00 AM
    L06: Creating Housing Opportunities for Working Families (Show details)

    Jeff Lubell - National Housing Conference and Center for Housing Policy

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Cornerstone/Collaborator
     
    The purchase of a modest American home remains out of reach for millions of families, including senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, and the nation’s teachers, police officers, public works employees, retail clerks, service workers and small entrepreneurs. But, local government decisions on land use and zoning can increase access to rental housing and ownership opportunities that are affordable and sustainable overtime. This seminar will focus on how your city can preserve and upgrade its existing housing stock and create more affordable housing choices for the individuals and families in your community. The seminar will explore partnerships across city departments and across sectors and will explore options for ensuring an effective mix of rental and ownership options in the community. Topics to be covered include expanding development opportunities, reducing government red tape, capitalizing on market activities, generating capital, preserving and recycling resources, and helping residents succeed.

  • 9:00 AM
    L08: Open Data - Innovating Through Creative Public-Private Partnerships (Show details)

    Jeff Friedman - City of Philadelphia
    Mark Headd - Code for America

    Registration Fee: $125
    Competency: Catalyst
     
    Municipal data is a largely untapped resource with tremendous potential value to cities and their residents. Learn how leading cities are partnering with entrepreneurs, civic hackers, and foundations to change the way they deliver information to the public and build new, innovative apps and services. Team up with coders to create an app during this session. Leave with the tools and resources to begin implementing open data strategies at home.

  • 12:00 pm
    Leadership Luncheon

Hotel/Travel

Boston Convention & Exposition Center
Boston, MA
(617)954-2800

The site of the 2012 Congress of  Cities
 

Hotels

Plan ahead! Book your preferred hotel before they fill up.
Download hotel and venue map. |  Download restaurant guide
 
 
Courtyard Boston Downton Tremont
275 Tremont Street
P: (617) 426-1400
F: (617) 482-6730
Rate: $129.00

Omni Parker House
60 School Street
P: (617) 227-8600
F: (617) 742-5729
Rate: $249.00

Renaissance Boston Waterfront
606 Congress Street
P: (617) 338-4111
F: (617) 338-4138
Rate: $240.00

Seaport One Seaport Lane
P: (617) 385-4000
F: (617) 385-4001
Rate: $215.00

Westin Boston Waterfront (HQ)
425 Summer Street
P: (617) 532-4600
F: (617) 532-4630
Rate: $265.00

Sheraton Boston
39 Dalton Street
P: (617) 236-2000
F: (617) 236-1702
Rate: $245.00

Boston Marriott Copley Place
101 Huntington Avenue
P: (617) 236-5800
F: (617) 236-5885
Rate: $225.00

Book your room

Presenters

  1. Institute for Sustainable Communities
  2. Center for Priority Based Budgeting
  3. City of Philadelphia
  4. The Forum for Youth Investment
  5. Engagement Game Lab, Emerson College
  6. National Development Council
  7. Growing Local Economies, Inc.
  8. Code for America
  9. STAR Communities
  10. STAR Communities
  11. Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania
  12. Center for Priority Based Budgeting
  13. Deliberative Democracy Consortium
  14. National Housing Conference and Center for Housing Policy
  15. National Development Council
  16. Meyerson, Bruce
    American Bar Association
  17. City of Caldwell
  18. Institute for Sustainable Communities
  19. Center for Priority Based Budgeting
  20. City of Nashville-Davidson
  21. STAR Communities