Inner city, urban area development featured at City's 2009 Community Development Summit
-Early bird registration ends tomorrow-

While San Antonio and other metropolitan cities have experienced a surge in urban sprawl, there are ways to spark redevelopment in the inner city. This is one of several topics that will be featured at this year's Community Development Summit, September 16 and 17 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Scheduled for the morning of September 16, New Market Tax Credits is a three and a half hour training presented by the National Development Council, the nation's leading non-profit in community development. Because the economy faces some of its toughest challenges, it's increasingly important to leverage resources for community and economic development projects. Federal tax credits provide an opportunity to attract private investment into distressed and underdeveloped communities. This growth will not only create jobs and increase the tax base, but it can also change negative perceptions for these areas, all the while proving a market and creating affordable housing. The New Market Tax Credit program is operated through the Community Development Financial Institution Fund, a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Businesses can also benefit from a session on Infill Entrepreneurs, scheduled for the afternoon of September 17. In order to have a strong inner city, strong businesses are needed. Janie Barrera, president and CEO of ACCION Texas and Jerry Ross, executive director of the Disney Entrepreneur Center, will discuss creative ways and policies that could be used to encourage more people to support and start up new business in the inner city, which are key to revitalizing the urban core.

Produced by the City of San Antonio and the Urban Land Institute, these training sessions, panel sessions and workshops are part of the 2009 Community Development Summit-Creating Great Places: From House to Market. Get the early bird registration rate until September 10. Summit attendees will also enjoy free rides, courtesy of VIA. For more information, call 207-2731 or visit www.sanantonio.gov/summit.