DALLAS—Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings joins United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Tom Cochran, the CEO and Executive Director, USCM leadership and Dallas city leaders at 6:30 a.m. on June 20 at the Continental Avenue Bridge to kick off the 82nd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors with a special breakfast and exercise.
“Dallas is proud to host the U.S. Conference of Mayors,” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said. “Dallas is known for continuously pushing the limits of innovation and transformation, and we are excited to showcase the magic of our city, including our world-class arts district and entertainment venues. We look forward to sharing with other city leaders our modern approach to solving urban issues through successful public-private partnerships.”
During the continental breakfast on the Continental Avenue Bridge, a check will be presented to the Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative (MyFi). The Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative is a public/private partnership led by City of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and community and business leaders—is ready to make long-term improvements in the way Dallas children eat, play and live. MyFi participants from Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center will join visiting mayors in exercise, after the check presentation.
The Continental Avenue Bridge, which connects Riverfront Boulevard and West Dallas as part of the Trinity River Corridor Project, is an example of public/private partnerships that are enhancing the quality of life in Dallas. The city’s newest outdoor recreation area, which opened June 15, was made possible through a generous donation in honor of Mary McDermott Cook and city funds.
With the kick off on the city’s newest attraction, Mayor Rawlings welcomes over 1,500 registrants to Dallas for the four-day conference June 20-23 at the Omni Hotel Dallas. The mayors will discuss such topics as the economic health of the nation’s cities, transportation, education, housing, help for returning Veterans and the minimum wage.
The USCM is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or larger which includes nearly 1,400 total members. This is the first time since 1966 that Dallas has hosted the prestigious conference.According to the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the USCM is expected to have an economic impact of $2.4M, with a direct impact of $1.3M.
“We are pleased that the nation’s mayors are convening in Dallas this year. This city is significant in the national political landscape, and all the new and exciting things happening here serve as an example of the economic resurgence occurring in many cities across the country,” said USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. “Dallas is a world-class city and we look forward to getting down to business and learning from your dynamic leader Mayor Mike Rawlings.”
Through June 23, the visiting mayors and their families will experience the best of Texas hospitality, thanks to a host committee organized by Mayor Rawlings. The events are all privately funded by Dallas corporations and businesses and showcase ultra-modern and sophisticated cultural and entertainment venues, such as the country’s largest contiguous arts district, AT&T Stadium, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
Internationally known and Texas-grown artists Lyle Lovett, Leann Rimes, Asleep at the Wheel, Marcia Ball, Bonnie Raitt and Los Lonely Boys will entertain the mayors, their families and staff during the conference. There will also be a special performance by Kool and the Gang.
The primary roles of the U.S. Conference of Mayors include promoting the development of effective national urban/suburban policy, strengthening federal-city relationships, ensuring that federal policy meets urban needs, providing mayors with leadership and management tools, and creating a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information. The USCM holds a winter meeting each January in Washington, D.C., and its annual meeting in June in various host cities.
For more information about Dallas and the conference, visit www.uscmdallas2014.com or follow the conference on Facebook: USCM Dallas 2014, Twitter: USCMDallas, LinkedIn: USCM Dallas 2014 with hashtag #USCMDALLAS
