White House Rural Partners Call
The White House is hosting a Rural Partners webinar on Thursday, November 10 at 3 p.m. with USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres-Small and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and COO Dennis Alvord who will provide updates on the Rural Partners Network.
There are many ways to define “rural.” Funders and assistance providers may set different thresholds for rural depending on the size of community, type of challenge, or goal their programming aims to address. Your community or project may be considered rural if:
The community has a low density of residents or smaller population that aligns with program-defined limits.
The area is geographically considered remote or frontier.
Access to professional staff expertise or financial resources for community and economic development projects is limited because of the community’s small size, geographic remoteness, or historic lack of investment.
We encourage you to participate. Advanced registration is required for the webinar.
Contact: Paul Penna, Senior Legislative Analyst, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.
Conference Connections
Session Spotlight: Public Safety & Public Health
The pandemic, weather events, and public safety challenges illustrate the importance of communication and preparedness when dealing with a crisis. The sessions below will explore how to plan and properly create a plan and establish communications in a crisis and manage the available resources to create a healthy and resilient community.
Tuesday, November 15
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lead Paint Law Inspections and Lead Remediations/ Abatement Grant Programs (Room 311). This expert panel will provide a general overview of lead-based paint hazards, the associated requirements for municipalities under P.L. 2021, Chapter 182 as well as information on financial assistance programs to address lead-based paint hazards.
Communicating in a Crisis (Room 409). Don't wait for a crisis to hit to start planning--have a plan created and a spokesperson designated BEFORE you find yourself in an emergency. This panel will share strategies for communicating with residents and the media and discuss the importance of generating talking points for your spokesperson and elected officials.
2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Bringing Wellness to Your Community with the Mayors Wellness Campaign (Room 414). Join the NJ Health Care Quality Institute Mayors Wellness Campaign to learn innovative strategies from NJ mayors. The panel will share their experiences with MWC, give tips on starting a program in your community, and share the benefits of bringing health & wellness to your town. A must for any mayors or community members to start or enhance their Mayors Wellness Campaigns.
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Resiliency in Planning (Room 315). It's no longer just a buzzword, it’s a requirement. In recognition of the critical need for climate science to inform land use planning, Gov. Murphy signed into law P.L. 2021, c6, amending the MLUL. We will explore how municipalities are required to incorporate a climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment into any Master Plan Land Use Element. CEUs are free to NJPO members; non-members' all-inclusive conference fee is $50. Courses require NJPO & League Conference registrations.
Wednesday, November 16
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Safer Cities! National Model for Advancing Public Safety Strategies (Room 409). Newark Mayor Baraka’s vision to create a safer city is being realized by using a collective approach of alternative violence reduction initiatives to help prevent violent conflicts; information-based strategies; and collaboration between residents, grassroots organizations, and law enforcement. Learn more about this community-based approach to public safety that is producing extraordinary results.
The Future of Volunteer EMS and Fire (Room 309). As municipalities continue to struggle to fill their volunteer ranks, especially in fire and emergency medical services, what does the future of volunteer fire departments and volunteer rescue squads look like? This panel will discuss how municipalities are addressing the problem and what the future may hold.
The State of Public Health in New Jersey (Room 402). This session will provide an update on the State of Health in New Jersey by the Commissioner of Health highlighting priority areas for the year ahead.
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Resources to Build an Environmentally Healthy/Resilient Community (Room 322). It's more important than ever to understand the stressors that affect community and environmental health, and to identify ways to address them. The NJDEP and NJDOH have developed resources to aid municipal officials with these tasks. Join this discussion on the intersection of community health and resilience, and ways to improve the well-being and security of NJ’s communities.
Thursday, November 17
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) (Room 301). Join the NJ YMCA State Alliance in COPE! Session gives participants an opportunity to move beyond stereotypes to a more holistic understanding of the causes/effects of poverty as well as the role that the broader community plays in their interactions with low-income families. The experiential nature of this training helps organizations and communities understand the complexities of poverty, paving the way to address the issues more comprehensively. Session generously supported by RWJBarnabas Health’s Social Impact & Community Investment.
Session Spotlight: Cybersecurity
If communities have learned one thing through the pandemic, it’s the importance of keep web-based functions running and protected. Join the League’s cybersecurity sessions for information and tools to ensure digital safety. Visit the Conference app or website for additional affiliate cybersecurity sessions.
Wednesday, November 16
9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Cybersecurity: Navigating Liability Insurance Coverage (Room 404). Human error and social engineering continue to be the primary reasons behind data breaches and financial losses to cybercrimes. Security awareness must be more than phishing simulations and computer-based training. This session goes beyond check-box training and phishing simulation recommendations to discuss the fundamental elements considered when scoping and acquiring Cyber Liability insurance.
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Cybersecurity: You’ve Been Breached-Now What? (Room 411). You’ve done everything possible to prepare, but what happens when a hacker is successful at breaking through? Listen to first-hand experience from those that have survived an attack as they discuss current trends, impacts, and lessons learned.
League Events at the Annual Conference
Don’t miss your opportunity to attend League Events at the Annual Conference. To purchase tickets on site, please visit the 2nd-floor Registration Desk at the Atlantic City Convention Center right of Hall C and ask for Marie Kizer or Johnnifer Harris.
Mayors’ Lunch Briefing
Wednesday, November 16, 12 Noon, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
Join mayors from around the state. Honor your peers for their achievements in the League’s Hall of Fame and the Innovation in Governance awards and build a dialogue with the directors of State agencies. Lively discussions during the event provide information not only from the speakers, but from the audience. Featured speakers include Lieutenant Governor/DCA Commissioner Sheila Oliver and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. ($30 per person. Mayors Lunch Briefing tickets are limited to the Mayor and two (2) guests of the Mayors choosing)
Women in Municipal Government Networking & Awards Event
Wednesday, November 16, 5:15 PM, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
After Annual Conference sessions have concluded, gather with other elected and appointed officials as well as local government supporters to celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding women in New Jersey municipal government. Honorees include Sheena Collum, Village President, South Orange Village and Olga Garcia, City Engineer, Hoboken, and President, NJSME. ($35 per person.)
League Delegates Luncheon
Thursday, November 17, 12 Noon, Crown Ballroom, Sheraton
Gather for this sit-down lunch which puts you in the room with League and State leadership and starts 2023 on the right foot. The League Delegates Luncheon is a gathering of local government officials and those who support their work. Whether a longtime member or newly elected, it’s an inspiring way to wrap up your Conference week. The League will honor David Grubb, Executive Director of the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, and Edward J. McManimon III, League Counsel and Of Counsel at McManimon Scotland and Baumann, with the Distinguished Public Service Award. Governor Phil Murphy is the keynote speaker. ($45 per person).