in This Issue

welcome aboard

building bridges

from around the  region

housing update

upcoming  meetings

   Region 2020 is pleased to announce our four new co-chairs for Implementation.  They are Charles Nash, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University of Alabama Systems; Elise Penfield, Director of Leadership Birmingham;Claude Nielsen, President and CEO for Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc. and Hatton Smith, President and CEO for Royal Cup Coffee. Their role will be to provide support and resources for the work being done by the Implementation Teams. Dr. Neal Berte and Sheila Blair will remain Chairman and Secretary/ Treasurer of the Board of Directors .

 Building Bridges

   Region 2020 in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Building Bridges 2000. Building Bridges, sponsored by Alabama Power, was a goodwill effort to establish closer ties between neighboring counties within Central Alabama. Community leaders and local officials from Jefferson County, including Mayor Bernard Kincaid, Jefferson County Commission President Gary White and Region 2020 Executive Director Ann Florie, met over lunch with community leaders from Shelby, Blount, St.Clair, and Walker Counties.

   Area leaders voiced key concerns on local and regional issues followed by a discussion on how counties could better cooperate on mutually beneficial issues. Other members of the Jefferson County delegation included: Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Adkisson, Region 2020 Board President Dr. Neal Berte, Metropolitan Development Board President Ted vonCannon and Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Larry Watts.

Downtowns Downtown Gadsden Inc. and Region 2020 will host the 2nd Annual "New Perspectives" Downtowns Conference.  The conference is scheduled for Winter 2000 and will be held in Gadsden, Alabama.

Arts and Entertainment   Region 2020 is working in partnership with Operation New Birmingham and the City of Birmingham to bring a regional perpective to the masterplanning process for downtown Birmingham and to facilitate the development of a Cultural and Arts District.

Education Region 2020 is currently planning a meeting with school superintendents of the 12 counties on Techonlogy, prefessional development and early childhood education. The meeting is scheduled for September 13,2000.

Government Region 2020 held meetings with elected officials in each county to encourage the formation of County Roundtables. The sixth Regional Roundtable of elected officials will be held in October,2000.  Region 2020 has also held meetings with state agencies and elected officials concerning Home Rule. Currently, we are working in partnership with PARCA  to plan an August meeting to begin the development of Home Rule proposals and to develop a strategy for implementation. 

Greenways, Parks & Trails Currently, meetings are being scheduled to form the Implementation workgroup to create a Regional Greenways System using the Jefferson and Shelby County greenway systems as a model.  We have already met with potential funders and have begun mapping existing greenways in the region.

Human & Race Relations   A workgroup has drafted Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to establish the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission.  A meeting is planned with elected officials to pass a joint resolution establishing the Commission. Partial funding for the commission has already been committed.

Leadership Region 2020 hosted joint meetings with eight Leadership groups in Central Alabama to discuss regional issues and the promotion of a regional perspective in lacoal programs.  Leadership Pell City is already incorporating a focus on Regionalism in its Fall program.

   Work on the Housing Initiative has really taken off.  Since our April issue, the Region 2020 Housing Initiative has received $190,000 in grants to further the efforts of providing affordable housing as well as a Best Practice Award from The Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Award from HUD celebrates the Housing Initiative as an efficient and progressive way to address affordable housing.

    Region 2020, along with Grace by Day, Grace Episcopal Church, Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., Outreach International, Woodlawn Community Volunteers, YW Homes and several private sector developers have joined together to rebuild and rejuvenate housing in the nine blocks between Woodlawn High School and I 20/59.  The Woodlawn Demonstration Initiative marks the first time that private sector developers, non-profit housing providers, and a local neighborhood association have come together to transform a neighborhood by providing safe, decent, and affordable housing.  The lessons that are learned in Woodlawn will be duplicated throughout the Central Alabama Region.

    The project will take place over the next few years, and the first house is already underway.  Renovations will include refurbishing existing houses and selling them to low-to-moderate income families. Vacant lots will be acquired for new home construction, and for those who do not wish to be homeowners, apartments will be acquired and refurbished, and new duplex rental housing will be built.  

    Region 2020 is still pursuing the goal of addressing affordable housing on a regional scale!  A subcommittee led by Ted Kennedy of BE&K has formed to study strategies for long-range financing earmarked for affordable housing.  Several models used across the country will be studied, and a funding mechanism appropriate to Central Alabama will be determined.  Look for more exciting news on what we are calling the "Legacy Fund."

upcoming meetings and events

Regional Awards Symposium and Conference Region 2020 and the Regional Planning Commission of Birmingham will celebrate organizations and individuals in Central Alabama who have made exemplary efforts and contributions to furthering regional cooperation.  The Awards Symposium will coincide with the Making Choices Workshop, sponsored by the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce on September 29th.  The goal of the workshop is to focus on best practices.  The conference will be an opportunity for participants to hear the newest and best thinking about regional development and cooperation.  The conference will also focus on the choices we can make as counties and a region which will make us even more successful in the future.  Nationally recognized speakers will present information and be available for questions.  The Symposium and Making Choices, will be held on September 28-29, 2000 at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Joint registration is available.  Brochures will be mailed in late August.  If you do not receive one please contact the Region 2020 office at 326-1100 or 888-326-1101.          

Neighborhoods, Community and Environment Workgroup On August 4th, the Region 2020 Places Plus workgroup will hold their first public meeting to work on a development principles based on citizen input. A detailed work agenda  for the creation of a regional conservation and development plan will also be dissussed.  The meeting will be held at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be served.  Please R.S.V.P to Region at 2020 326-1100 or 888-326-1101.

Region 2020 has spoken to over 50 organizations in the last year.  If you need speakers for your organization or special event, please contact the Region 2020 office.

For more information on how you can get involved in ongoing Initiatives: