By Jim Hunt
For the past 35 years, I have attended the National League of Cities Annual Conference in various cities across the United States, including Boston, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Orlando, and Charlotte, to name a few. San Antonio, Texas, notably hosted the largest conference ever and has been the venue for the National League of Cities several times over the years.
This year’s NLC City Summit took place in Atlanta, Georgia, drawing over 4,200 attendees, making it one of the largest conferences in recent years. Atlanta’s popularity as a location stem from having the world’s busiest airport and one of the largest conference centers in the United
States. Moreover, the city boasts numerous quality hotels offering comfortable, affordable accommodations. As the National League of Cities has grown, not every city can host the conference, especially when hotel locations are not as conveniently situated near the conference center as they are in Atlanta. Additionally, the host city must provide volunteers and secure sponsors for events, such as the Board of Directors’ dinner and other activities throughout the week. Atlanta, with its many large corporations, including the iconic Coca-Cola Company, featured a sponsor list replete with familiar names.
While I attended the conferences as an elected official from Clarksburg for about 25 years, the past 12 years have seen me participate as either a speaker or a representative for clients of my consulting business. This makes for a hectic week filled with dozens of meetings and sessions. A significant draw is the large exhibit hall, where our clients set up booths to showcase innovative products and services to city and town representatives. These exhibits range from computer security services to electric police cars, often offering solutions that save significant amounts of money or provide cutting-edge safety technology.
One of our clients, BRINC Drones, drew considerable attention with their public safety drones designed to assist police and fire departments. Attendees watched demonstrations of drones breaking through windows and entering buildings to apprehend criminals or assess fire situations. Another client, Duke’s Root Control, specializes in underground infrastructure maintenance, offering environmentally friendly solutions for sewer line maintenance and utility mapping. Bearing Advisors featured a new program focused on the health and wellness of local government employees. Additionally, I met with Jason Portt, manager of HdL Companies’ Indirect Cost Recovery program, who assists cities and towns in recovering funds from administering grants.
Although most of my time was spent at the Georgia World Congress Center, I did explore some of Atlanta’s sights and sounds. Our hotel was adjacent to Centennial Park, constructed for the 1996 Olympics and the site of the tragic bombing during the Games. The park is a vast, beautiful space, enhancing the city’s charm. Atlanta is also renowned for its exceptional dining experiences. On my last evening, I joined Huntington, WV Mayor Steve Williams, Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and her communication director, along with Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio, who proposed creating a group for Appalachian community mayors. We dined at The Optimist Restaurant, a must-visit destination in Atlanta.
After a bustling week, I was eager to return to Pittsburgh for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Atlanta is undoubtedly a vibrant city and deserves a spot on anyone’s list of amazing places. Until next week…
