The City2City Greater Springfield Planning Committee met on April 20, 2011 to discuss possible destinations for the next annual City2City visit. Among the cities being considered are Camden and Jersey City in New Jersey, New Haven, Connecticut and Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

According to Richard Walker of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and a member of the City2City planning group, each of these cities has experienced a turnaround. Once a destination is determined, City2City participants will travel next fall as part of this ongoing initiative for Springfield leaders to learn about the successful strategies being employed in another city and region.

Planners are also working on inviting a representative of Winston-Salem and Greensboro, visited by C2C Greater Springfield representatives in December, to Western Massachusetts to share their perspective on how each city achieved “Resurgent City” status by the Federal Reserve. The goal is to invite the Mayor of Winston-Salem and a representative of Action Greensboro for a meeting with Springfield area business and community leaders. More details on this will be forthcoming.

The larger group of participants in last year’s trip to North Carolina, along with any others interested in joining the City2City initiative, will be welcomed to a social gathering and update meeting in the renovated Paramount Theater in June. Our host will be City2City participant Herbie Flores. Date and time are to be announced and will be posted here on the City2City blog.