International Downtown Association’s World Congress and Annual Meeting to be Held in New York City, October 6 – 9
New York, NY (PRWEB) October 04, 2013 -- The International Downtown Association (IDA) will bring together nearly 700 downtown and urban district leaders from across the U.S., Canada and 11 additional countries to discuss the evolution of downtown and urban city centers and to share best practices and innovations that have led to thriving towns and cities.
The conference will also highlight groundbreaking new data about the growth of more than 150 downtown districts across the U.S. and feature national and international experts on urban district management.
Note for Reporters: To register for the conference, please contact Jeff or Anat to the right. Remote interviews can arranged.
The IDA’s World Congress and 59th Annual Meeting will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to learn and experience urban district development. The new conference format will feature Master Talks, workshops, and tours across New York City – from Coney Island, Brooklyn, to Jamaica, Queens, to Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. Along the way, conference participants will get behind the scenes tours at New York’s most notable urban developments.
“New York City offers a perfect setting for thought leaders on urban district management to converge and discuss how we can best harness human energies and assets to create thriving downtowns,” said David Downey, CAE, President and CEO of the IDA. The conference will be hosted by the New York City BID Association and the New York Department of Small Business Services.
The conference will feature more than 60 panels and workshops, including:
Bringing the City to Life: The Role of Arts and Culture in City Strategies
Priming the Pump: Pros and Cons of Economic Development Incentives
Legal Challenges: Street Disorder and Civil Liberties
Universities Changing Downtown
Economic Development in the Face of Homelessness
Safe, Clean and Caring: The International Experience
Master Talk and workshop speakers will include Jane Jenkins of Oklahoma City, Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana of Cape Town, South Africa, and numerous other downtown development experts from New York City. A full schedule of speakers and workshops is available here.
For more information about the conference, click here.
“Over the past nearly 60 years the IDA has helped connect urban district managers who have transformed cities into vibrant urban places. This conference is a great opportunity for leaders in their field to continue to share information and exchange ideas about how we can help urban districts thrive,” said Thomas Chatmon, outgoing Chairman, IDA.
Additional conference host partners include the City Parks Alliance, New York University, The New York Times, and Pratt Institute. Conference Pinnacle Partners include the International Council of Shopping Centers, Springboard, Streetplus and Target. A full list of sponsors can be found here.
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About the IDA
Founded in 1954, the International Downtown Association connects diverse practitioners who transform cities into healthy and vibrant urban places. Representing more than 3,000 practitioners across 500 organizations worldwide, from cities and towns both small and large, IDA provides the critical tools and resources to help make every downtown a healthy and dynamic heart of its community. As expectations grow for downtown practitioners to transform their cities into hubs of economic and cultural vibrancy, IDA is the organization professionals turn to for the industry’s best networking, educational, and professional development opportunities.
Jeff Simmons, Anat Gerstein, 917-673-0024, [email protected]
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