The fourth annual County Land Bank Conference, a gathering of local, regional and national leaders on the topic of urban land use and revitalization, will take place Sept. 11-12 at The Westin Hotel in Columbus.
The conference is sponsored by the nonprofit Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Thriving Communities Institute, which works statewide to revitalize Ohio’s urban centers.
Speakers and panel discussions will cover a range of topics — from land bank strategies, to community engagement, to greening and reforestation projects — with the intention of sharing practices and findings to continue the progress already being made in these areas of our communities.
To register and learn about updates on programming and speakers, visit www.thrivingcommunitiesinstitute.org, or contact Kate Hydock at 216-515-8300 or khydock@wrlandconservancy.org.
The cost for those who register by July 31 is $125 for the full conference and $75 for one day only. After that – and until Aug. 31 – the rates will be $150 and $100. Late registration rates are $175 and $125.
“This conference has grown into a must-attend event for all those who are interested in the future of Ohio cities that were devastated by the foreclosure crisis,” said Jim Rokakis, director of Thriving Communities Institute and a nationally recognized expert on vacant and abandoned properties.
The conference is geared toward a wide range of participants, including representatives of community development groups, housing agencies, local governments and urban planning groups.
Since it was founded in 2011, Thriving Communities has helped form county land banks around the state – there are now twenty-two – and has secured more than $232 million in demolition funds for cities devastated by the foreclosure crisis. In addition, Thriving Communities is doing vacancy surveys on behalf of cities and recently kicked off an urban reforestation program in Cleveland.
