National Association of Counties

Meeting

2019 Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Summit: Bridging the Economic Divide

Oct. 10, 2019 – Oct. 12, 2019
Essex County (Lake Placid), N.Y.
Contact Arthur Scott (202) 942-4230

Data-driven decisions – at all levels of government – are essential to addressing the breadth and depth of issues facing any community. Consequently, complete and accurate data is the keystone of truly effective public policy. The 2019 “Bridging the Economic Divide” Summit will focus on the intersection of 2020 Census data and the Federal Communication Commission’s national broadband maps. Collectively, these two aggregates will set the pace for federal investments in our nation’s critical infrastructure systems over the next decade.

Register

DRAFT AGENDA

October 10

10:00am – 2:00pm

[OPTIONAL] Cascade Mountain Small Group Hike

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Welcome Reception
October 11

8:00am – 9:00am

Networking Breakfast

9:00am – 10:30am

Making the 2020 Census Count
The majority of “hard-to-count” counties (79 percent) are rural – accounting for roughly 16 percent of all rural counties in the country. Unfortunately, undercounting critical communities could result in decreased federal assistance for rural counties. This session will examine the challenges and opportunities to ensuring complete and accurate counts in rural counties.

10:30am – 12:00pm

Breakout Session #1 (Census)
The first of two breakout sessions, this peer-led exercise will allow participants to share county-specific experiences with Census counts. Each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization to help identify challenges and opportunities for Census data collection to include in the year-end report.

12:00pm – 1:00pm

Networking Lunch

1:00pm – 2:30pm

Mapping a Path Forward
Access to affordable high-speed internet has been widely recognized as essential to one’s ability to compete in today’s economy. Unfortunately, inaccurate data is severely limiting our ability to identify and allocate broadband resources to best leverage economic opportunities. This session will look at how counties can leverage mapping data to increase their economic competitiveness.

2:30pm – 4:00pm

Breakout Session #2 (Broadband)
During this breakout session, each group will be joined by a representative from a RAC Partner Organization for a moderated discussion on the challenges and opportunities to connectivity and economic competitiveness.

6:00pm – 9:00pm

Reception/Dinner
October 12

8:00am – 9:00am

Networking Breakfast

9:00am – 12:00pm

Plenary Workshop (Bridging the Economic Divide Report)
Our discussions throughout the course of this summit will serve as a foundation for this plenary workshop which will bring together both narratives as we deconstruct our conversations and begin assembling a comprehensive report on Bridging the Economic Divide.

12:00pm

Adjourn

1:00pm – 4:00pm

[OPTIONAL] Olympic Complex Tour

NACo has negotiated reduced hotel rates for the symposium at the Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, but rates will expire on September 3, 2019 or when the block is sold out, whichever comes first. The rate is $224/night + tax (currently 12%) and requires a two-night minimum stay. Call the hotel directly at 518-523-2556, press option 0 and ask for the RAC Symposium room block to receive the group rate.

The Crowne Plaza offers complimentary self-parking and is about a two hour drive from the Albany International Airport (ALB), a 30 minute drive from the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) or a 50 minute drive from Clinton County owned and operated Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG.) Shuttle transportation can be arranged to and from the Albany airport by Trailways.

Register Today

Webform

2019 Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Symposium

Essex County (Lake Placid), N.Y.

October 10-12, 2019

Essex County, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid

Contact

  • Arthur Scott
    Associate Legislative Director – Political Outreach Manager  
    (202) 942-4230

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