News: Green Line outing for visiting county officials

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

HC_alltemplatesbanner_2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2014

Contact: 

Julie Caniglia, Hennepin County public affairs, 612-348-6883

John Siqveland, Ramsey County public communications, 651-746-9250

News release 

Green Line outing for visiting county officials

Leaders from counties in 20 states will embark on a mobile workshop on the METRO Green Line, from 3 to 6 p.m., Thursday, October 16. Their expedition will begin at Central Station in downtown St. Paul, and will include tours of Target Field Station in Minneapolis and Union Depot in St. Paul.

The workshop is part of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC) Leadership Symposium, being held this week in St. Paul. 

Hennepin and Ramsey counties are sponsoring the workshop, along with Metro Transit. Hennepin County Board Chair Mike Opat and Regional Railroad Authority Chair Peter McLaughlin will showcase the county’s catalytic investments in regional transportation and the outcome of groundbreaking public-private partnerships. The effort also highlights county leadership in transportation and infrastructure, both of which are at the center of NACo President Riki Hokama’s presidential initiative.

Hokama, a council member from Maui County, Hawaii, and several other NACo and LUCC leaders will participate in the workshop, including LUCC Chair Roy Charles Brooks, a commissioner from Tarrant County (Fort Worth), Texas and Ramsey County Commissioner and LUCC Vice Chair Jim McDonough.

The caucus, which convenes twice a year, brings together about 65 officials from urban counties in 20 states, along with other government, philanthropic and private sector leaders. They will discuss federal policy priorities and how counties drive national progress through local leadership. Key issues include transportation, economic development, job creation, and public health and safety.  

LUCC is a bipartisan coalition of elected county officials from the nation’s 120 most populous metropolitan counties. The group, representing roughly 130 million people, works to identify challenges, provide leadership to develop national solutions and implement programs that assist metropolitan communities nationwide. 

                                                             – 30 –

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.