Leaders Gather in Houston to Discuss Sustainable Infrastructure for Economic Growth

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Jul 12, 2011, 12:24 ET

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National League of Cities (NLC) announces "Building Cities, Building Futures," a national tour centering on sustainable infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, will be held in Houston July 14. Sponsored by Siemens, the tour will bring together local Houston area business, community and governmental leaders to discuss how to effectively plan and prioritize funding and the options available to promote resiliency and create jobs.

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Event sessions will include discussions that correspond directly to the infrastructure needs of the Houston community with a focus on the need for effective regional collaboration. The tour will also include discussions on water and transportation infrastructure along with how to use infrastructure investment for economic development.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and Deputy Secretary of Transportation, John D. Porcari will headline the tour by holding discussions on the infrastructure needs of the nation and how to encourage private investment and development.

"We must get serious about addressing our infrastructure needs if the United States is to remain economically competitive with the rest of the world," said Governor Rendell. "It's not just about more infrastructure investments – it's about smarter investments. It's about greater accountability and transparency so that the right projects are completed the right way, achieve specific outcomes and deliver the greatest economic returns. It's also about embracing and rewarding innovation that so often starts in many of our states and cities."

Some of the speakers include:

Houston area business, community and government leaders
Daniel Duncan, Vice President and General Manager, Oil and Gas Division Siemens Energy, Inc., Houston, Texas
The Honorable James G. Rodriguez, Councilmember, City of Houston, Texas
Laura Spanjian, Director, Green Houston (Office of Sustainability), City of Houston, Texas
Daniel W. Krueger, P.E., Director, Public Works and Engineering, City of Houston, Texas
John Sedlak, Executive Vice President and Director of Strategic Partnering, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas

What: "Building Cities, Building Futures" national infrastructure tour
Where: Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana Ave., Houston
When: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 8:00 a.m.
RSVP: Contact Gregory Minchak ([email protected]) to RSVP or for additional information

About the National League of Cities
The National League of Cities is the nation's oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.

About the NLC Center for Research and Innovation
The Center for Research & Innovation strives to strengthen communities, transform and improve cities, and assist city leaders, by knowing and learning about cities; identifying and sharing promising city practices; fostering effective solutions and innovation; and challenging cities and city leaders to lead. The center's program areas – finance, economic development, government & civic engagement, housing & community development, immigrant integration, infrastructure and sustainability – provide an organizing framework through which city leaders can evaluate activities, plan comprehensively for the future, set goals and measure progress.

About Siemens
Siemens is a global leader in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C., Siemens in the USA employs more than 60,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

www.nlc.org

SOURCE National League of Cities