The Institute’s Regional Leadership Council brings together a select group of business, education, labor, nongovernmental, state, and other stakeholders to provide advice and recommendations to the Institute and to share their concerns and issues directly with regional state and federal policymakers.

Members of the Regional Leadership Council have an important role advising the Institute on one of its critical tasks—providing policy and legislative support to the Revitalizing Older Cities (ROC) Congressional Task Force. With 65 percent of the nation’s most challenged older cities located in our 18-state region, Congressional leaders recognized the need to have a regional focus and approach. With Institute support, they recently formed a task force whose mission is to develop a federal agenda to address the cities’ issues: transportation, infrastructure, economic and workforce development, brownfields redevelopment, energy efficiency, climate change, and healthy communities. Members of the Regional Leadership Council are a valuable resource for informing sound federal policy.

Membership is extended to those who agree to be engaged in helping support the Institute’s mission, as well as participate in a meaningful dialogue with regional state and federal policymakers. Members donate a minimum of $10,000 to the Institute annually. Nonprofit organizations agree to a $500 annual donation.

Members are invited to:

• Participate in Institute-sponsored policy briefings that bring together high-level decision makers from Congress, the administration, and the private sector;
• Attend semi-annual meetings with the Institute’s staff and Board of Directors to discuss key issues affecting the region; and
• Participate in the Institute’s regional outreach and networking events.

In addition, members will receive:

• Expert technical and policy information on key issues affecting the region, as well as timely legislative news from Institute staff; and
• Regular updates on federal actions and programs that impact the region.

The Institute, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, is funded by private foundations, federal agencies, member states, and individuals. Donations to the Institute are tax-deductible.

For more information about the Regional Leadership Council, contact J. Thomas Wolfe, Executive Director, at  202-464-4014 .