Local businesses spotlight of awards breakfast at upcoming Community Development Summit

As the beginning of the gala season approaches, the City of San Antonio's Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (NCR) Program is putting a spin on things with a Breakfast Gala as part of the 2009 Community Development Summit: Creating Great Places: From House to Market. The event is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The awards gala recognizes local businesses that have participated and excelled in the program for the past year.

The basis of the NCR Program is to work with grass roots organizations to promote the revitalization of neighborhood commercial districts by attracting consumers, private sector investment and employment opportunities to targeted commercial corridors. Additionally, the NCR Program aids in bringing emphasis to neighborhoods and businesses that are unique to San Antonio.

This year's participating neighborhood districts whose businesses will be selected from and recognized include: East Side at Commerce district, and the Avenida Guadalupe West Side district. In addition, two new partnerships will be recognized at the Gala: St. Mary's University Neighborhood and the Tobin Hill Corridor.

The 2009 Community Development Summit will kick off Wednesday, September 16 with panel sessions, trainings and workshops. For more information, or to register for the Breakfast Gala or the Summit, visit www.sanantonio.gov/summit.


About NCR Program
The City of San Antonio Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Program works with grass roots organizations to promote the revitalization of neighborhood commercial districts by attracting consumers, private sector investment and employment opportunities to targeted commercial corridors.

Revitalization and reinvestment in San Antonio’s inner-city has repeatedly been identified as a priority by the City Council. The NCR Program is one component of an overall revitalization effort grounded in the CRAG and Housing Master Plan initiatives.
NCR puts neighborhood stakeholders at the forefront of their district's revitalization process.

The goals of the NCR program are to:
- Empower community groups to restore productivity of underutilized business and retail areas
-Improve the physical appearance of each district
- Attract and retain businesses
- Create jobs and spur investments
- Promote the districts as destinations for shopping, entertainment, and dining activities