Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Mayor Brett P. Smiley today announced that the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) selected Providence to host their 2027 Annual Meeting. The USCM is a non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, totaling over 1,400 cities in the country. Each year the Conference holds their Annual Meeting in a different member city, convening a diverse, bipartisan group of mayors to discuss critical issues, engage federal leaders and adopt policy resolutions that guide the advocacy work of the organization.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome my colleague mayors and leaders from across the country to Providence to experience all that the Creative Capital has to offer,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “Mayors in every city are tackling some of the nation’s most systemic issues with innovative, local solutions that have a tangible impact on the day to day lives of our communities. The USCM Annual Meeting brings together these mayors to collaborate, share ideas and engage with federal leaders in Congress and the White House about the critical issues impacting our municipalities.”
Since taking office, Mayor Smiley has attended USCM meetings to learn best practices from other cities, advocate on behalf of Providence to federal leaders and explore how Providence can take advantage of federal funding opportunities. Following the USCM Summer Conference in Ohio last year, Mayor Smiley was elected to the USCM’s Advisory Board and appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force. While on the leadership team at USCM, Mayor Smiley has convened USCM staff and fellow mayors to discuss public safety, support for our unhoused community, climate resiliency, addressing the fentanyl crisis and other critical issues impacting Providence.
“We commend Mayor Brett Smiley for his dedicated advocacy of Providence. This year, we had a number of cities competing, but Mayor Smiley’s passionate and resolute leadership ensured the city’s selection. We are looking forward to returning to the capital city for our Annual Meeting in 2027. Providence hosted our 77th Annual Meeting in 2009 to great success, and I am confident that once again, the city will provide an exceptional setting for mayors to collaborate and get things done for the nation’s cities,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
USCM Annual Meetings are held every summer and are open to all mayors from across the nation to attend. The 95th Annual Meeting in Providence is expected to bring in nearly 200 mayors to Rhode Island.
“We are proud to be working with Mayor Smiley and his team to welcome the U.S. Conference of Mayors to Providence,” said Kristen Adamo, president and CEO of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. “As both Vogue and CNN have recently recognized, our city is a thriving, innovative destination and we look forward to hosting leaders from around the nation.”