Partners for Livable Communities Partners for Livable Communities is a non-profit leadership organization working to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity. Since its founding in 1977, Partners has helped communities set a common vision for the future, discover and use new resources for community and economic development and build public/private coalitions to further their goals. Partners promotes livable communities through technical assistance, leadership training, workshops, charettes, research and publications. More than 1,200 individuals and groups from local, state, national, international, public and private and media organizations make up Partners' resource network and share innovative ideas on livability and community improvement. For more information please visit http://www.livable.com. HOST: City of Charlotte Charlotte is the 19th largest city in the country and is thriving with a strong quality of life, a diverse, vibrant economy, and a very favorable climate. It has always been one of the "New South's" growing urban areas, evolving over the years from a regional textile center in North Carolina's piedmont to become the nation's second largest banking and financial center. As the home of the New South, Charlotte is a blend of new and traditional, conservative and innovative. It's a dynamic city that combines world class amenities with Southern hospitality. It has demonstrated that it can build off the strengths of the past to grow, evolve, and adapt to be a positive place for business as well as to raise a family. Charlotte has capitalized on its assets of being a transportation hub at the center of the largest consolidated rail system in the U.S., with two major interstates and an international airport with 538 daily departures and 23 million passengers. Because of these assets and Charlotte's strong business climate, quality of life amenities, and booming center city, the City has risen to the top five in the number of Fortune 500 headquarters, with seven Fortune 500 companies selecting Charlotte for their headquarters operations. For more information please visit http://www.charmeck.org.     For more information please contact Irene Garnett, Conference Coordinator and COO, Partners for Livable Communities 202.887.5990 x 109 or igarnett@livable.com Partners for Livable Communities | 1429 21st Street NW | Washington DC 20036 | Ph:202.887.5990 | Fax: 202.446.4845