9/16/2009

Chattanooga, Tennessee – The Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association (TAPA) is hosting the organization’s statewide conference September 23 – 25 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.  Over 100 City Planners from across the state will be attending.

Planning Green:  Rooted in Sustainability is the conference theme and speakers will focus on smart growth, the next federal transportation bill, local food economies, preserving natural resources and retrofitting suburban commercial corridors.

Keynote addresses during the conference will include two nationally renowned speakers.  John Norquist is President and CEO of the Congress for New Urbanism and former Mayor of Milwaukee.  Mr. Norquist will speak about the growth challenges facing this country.  The presentation will begin Thursday, September 24 at 11:45 a.m. in the Chattanooga Marriott Ballroom.

Dr. Catherine L. Ross is the second keynote speaker.  Dr. Ross is the Director of Georgia Tech’s Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD).  Ross is also the college's first endowed faculty member – the Harry West Chair for Quality Growth and Regional Development.  Dr. Ross will discuss how to achieve a sustainable, equitable, superior quality of life through sound planning, policy, and design.  Her presentation will be Friday, September 25 at 8:00 a.m., also in the Marriott Ballroom.

Both lectures are open to the public and tickets may be purchased online at http://www.tapachatt09.org/.   The price per seat is $20 for each lecture and includes a meal.  Seating is limited and on a first-come first-serve basis.  For those interested in attending the entire conference, registration forms are also available online at http://www.tapachatt09.org/.

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