CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Mayor Kim McMillan is joining more than 250 mayors from across the United States, including the Mayors from Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Gallatin, for the 80th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C. The focus of the meeting is to discuss job creation, foreclosures and public safety.

A highlight of the meeting is the release of an economic report with 2012 employment forecasts. The Report produced by IHS Global Insight, forecasts some job growth for all metro areas but a mild to weak increase for many. The Report also predicts that 22% of metro areas hardest hit by housing crisis will take five years to recover.

“The economic recovery is too slow, and it is a direct result of the inaction of this Congress in 2011,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the President of the US Conference of Mayors (USCM), in a speech to the non-partisan group. “If we gave the 112th Congress a mid-term report card, the grade would be clear. Congress would get an ‘F.’”

At the close of 2011, 125 cities and their metro areas had not seen any net job growth.

“Fortunately, Clarksville is faring better than the rest of the nation,” said Mayor McMillan. “While the economic downturn has affected everyone, we have not seen the downward spiral that many areas have experienced.”

The mayors are also meeting with President Obama and other administration officials to push for a bipartisan agenda that confronts the double-digit unemployment plaguing much of main street America, and to challenge Congress to act on job creation, transportation and public safety. On Friday, Mayor McMillan will be joining a panel discussing social media and constituency communications.

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors is a hard-working group that is dedicated to bringing best practice ideas to the table. Not only will I be able to share what we’re doing in Clarksville to bring economic development to the area, I will also have the opportunity to learn what other cities are doing. We can, and should, all share the best and most innovative ideas for growth and for enhancing our individual city’s quality of life.” Mayor McMillan said.




For the latest news in and around Clarksville, refresh ClarksvilleNow.com.
To submit news, e-mail news@clarksvillenow.com.
To get breaking news directly to your mobile phone, text NEWS to 77000. (Standard texting rates may apply.)
Stay in touch! Sign up for the ClarksvilleNow.com Newsletter today!