Laramie Main Street Alliance to Attend National Rural LISC Conference convening more than 250 rural community development experts to catalyze new opportunities in rural America
Laramie, WY — As the new member to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Laramie Main Street Alliance is pleased to announce it will send staff to the 2019 Rural LISC Seminar, an annual national conference for rural community development professionals. This year’s Seminar will be held in Monticello, New York June 4-7 and will provide a unique forum to learn about new rural economic development opportunities; gain valuable insight on critical issues facing rural America such as the 2020 Census; develop asset building tools and organizational development strategies; and offer a networking environment for sharing knowledge with rural development colleagues from across the country.
Trey Sherwood, Executive Director for Laramie Main Street, shared her enthusiasm in being able to attend this seminar. “We are excited to be exposed to new resources for our businesses, network with other economic development professionals in rural settings, and come back fresh and empowered to roll up our sleeves and make a difference in our community”.
LISC President and CEO Maurice Jones will welcome attendees with a keynote address. Participants will engage in three days of plenary and workshop sessions organized around:
Economic Development – exploring new ways to catalyze economic development through downtown revitalization efforts, innovative wealth and skill-building strategies, and Opportunity Zones.
Capacity Building – discovering how to increase organizational capacity through bridging generational differences in the workplace, asset and property management, and innovative financing tools.
Community Development – learning about the latest rural community development trends and how to best respond to them, including the opioid crisis, transportation barriers, and fighting isolation/striving for inclusion among our LGBTQ community.
“Laramie Main Street exemplifies the very best in bringing innovative programming to their community, and we are delighted that they are attending this year’s Seminar,” said Suzanne Anarde, LISC Vice President and Rural LISC Director.
About Laramie Main Street Alliance
Laramie Main Street Alliance strives to preserve historic Downtown Laramie while enhancing its economic and social vitality. Laramie Main Street Alliance is a part of the State of Wyoming's Wyoming Main Street program under the Wyoming Business Council. Guided by the principles of the National Main Street Program, our organization meets its goals by following the Main Street four point approach which includes design, organization, economic restructuring and promotion. Learn more ar https://laramiemainstreet.org/mainstreet.
About Rural LISC
Launched in 1995, Rural LISC is the rural component of the largest community development support organization in the country, called LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation). For 24 years, Rural LISC has partnered with rural communities, helping to forge innovative solutions that lead to prosperity and opportunity. Rural LISC’s investments in rural America have totaled $1.25 billion in grants, equity and low-cost loan funds. Rural LISC has leveraged this investment resulting in $3.3 billion from public and private sources, to produce 35,000 affordable homes and apartments, create 4 million square feet of commercial and community space, assist 700 businesses, create 12,000 jobs and support 20 early childhood centers. By generating resources and investing in the grassroots efforts of its 89 partner community-based organizations, Rural LISC is committed to making rural communities good places to live, work, do business and raise children. Learn more at www.lisc.org/rural.