On September 24 - 26, 2006, the Community Leadership Council and leaders from across our community traveled to Madison, Wisconsin for the Intercity Visit and Leadership Conference.
Download Conference Sessions
Click here to hear sessions recorded by News Talk 1360 AM WCHL during the trip.
Purpose
The purpose of our Intercity Visit and Leadership Conference was to convene leaders of the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community to learn from the experiences of another successful community and to build relationships among participants that will help us successfully address our community’s challenges and opportunities.
Why Madison
The Community Leadership Council selected Madison for this year’s trip because of their national reputation as a forward thinking community with many of the same attributes as our community including a progressive citizenry, a major research university with a medical center, a university research park, a thriving downtown, a strong arts community, leadership in environmental protection, growing downtown housing, and strong workforce housing initiatives.
Who went
The Madison Intercity Visit and Leadership Conference was led by honorary co-chairs Mayor Mark Chilton (Carrboro), Mayor Kevin Foy (Chapel Hill), Chairman Barry Jacobs (Orange County Board of Commissioners) and Chancellor James Moeser (UNC Chapel Hill). The trip drew 102 diverse leaders from across our community including local business owners and managers, elected officials, university leaders, non-profit executives and volunteers, municipal and county staff, and community members. All members of our community were welcome and encouraged to participate.
What we learned
The Madison Trip offered the opportunity to learn about how their community leaders are balancing environmental protection, social objectives and economic development opportunities. Specifically, we learned about:
- The development and operation of their current research park and how they are planning their new park that is currently concept planning stages;
- How Madison is maintaining and enhancing its downtown and how they have integrated a new performing arts facility;
- How they are addressing workforce housing and their process for adopting their inclusionary zoning ordinance and how its working; and
- Their town/university relationships and their creative approaches to increasing cooperation.
Key facts
When: We departed the morning of Sunday, September 24 and returned the evening of Tuesday, September 26.
Where: We stayed in the Madison Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison
What: Interesting panel discussions on town/gown relations, their research park, downtown, the arts, workforce housing and the environment. The trip will also include tours of the community, downtown, their performing arts center and the research park.
Who: 102 community leaders from the greater Chapel Hill and Carrboro area.
How Much: Conference registration fees were $1,095 for a double occupancy room and $1,295 for a single occupancy room. Scholarship funds were made available. Registration fees included airfare, ground transportation, meals, receptions and conference materials. Registrations by July 14 received preferred pricing.