Eugene shows off city and sustainability to U.S. mayors in Innovation Project conference
EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Some of the most influential eyes in the nation will zoom in on Eugene this weekend as mayors from across the United States are in town to talk about innovation.
Around sixteen mayors from all over the U.S. are meeting in Eugene for the next two days as part of the Mayors Innovation Project.
The conference, which meets twice a year, focuses on the individual things cities have done to improve various elements like transportation, city planning, business growth, civic participation and more.
For the first time now, the Mayors Innovation Project is meeting in Eugene, giving the city a chance to a showcase its unique innovations.
One of the key focuses of the conference will be sustainability. Eugene will show off LTD’s EmX bus rapid transit project, showcase how downtown has begun to redevelop with a look at the new LCC building and tour the Bike Friday bicycle business.
“That's the true benefit of one of these kind of peer network groups like the Mayors Innovation Project. We have plenty to showcase here and a lot more to learn from other cities, so each city has its own unique solutions and lots of things that we can learn from,” says Babe O’Sullivan, the Sustainability Liaison for the City of Eugene.
The conference will also feature presentation by other mayors and nationally-recognized experts on transit, urban density growth and enhancing community participation.
Thursday night, the mayors are also planning on meeting at Falling Sky Brewing in Eugene to showcase the new brew-pub / restaurant. NewsSource 16 profiled Falling Sky Brewing in January 2012 when the business was getting ready to open: http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Eugene-brew-supply-store-readies-new-brewpub/ilbHTqi_6k64-gIAPKT61Q.cspx.
For more information on the Mayors Innovation Project, click the following link: http://www.mayorsinnovation.org/.
