LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith is heading to Washington, D.C., for the 93rd winter meeting of the Conference of Mayors this weekend.
The City of Lima has been associated with the U.S. Conference of Mayors for more than thirty years.
The City of Lima has been associated with the U.S. Conference of Mayors for more than thirty years, and Smith has continued the networking that has been formed, attending the sessions and being an active part of discussions that can bring changes to cities across the nation.
"Our engagement with the U.S. Conference of Mayors has continued to pay off. Over the last 3 years, we've been able to bring in several resources from the conference to help with our day-to-day programming. And we've also been able to do some new initiatives as well through those relationships that we've built with the conference," stated Mayor Sharetta Smith, City of Lima.
Mayor Smith has continued the networking that has been formed, attending the sessions and being an active part of discussions.
Those being funding for brownfield remediation and for the floating solar panels at Twin Lakes. The mayor will be on two panel discussions about the 2025 Jobs Act and adult education services in communities.
Mayor Smith Joins Nation's Mayors in Washington, DC for the US Conference of Mayors’ 93rd Winter Meeting
Mayors to engage with top federal officials and discuss cities’ pressing challenges including affordable housing, public safety, and infrastructure
January 15, 2025, Press Release from the City of Lima: Lima, Ohio - This week, Mayor Sharetta Smith will attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 93rd Winter Meeting in Washington, DC, bringing together a bipartisan group of more than 250 mayors from across the country. The three-day conference provides an opportunity for mayors to discuss the biggest challenges facing cities, collaborate, share best practices, and engage with top federal officials on the issues most important to cities like quality, accessible housing, public safety, and infrastructure.
The meeting will feature conversations with top White House and Cabinet officials, members of Congress, and other leaders in the public and private sectors. In one of his final engagements as president, President Biden is expected to meet with mayors to discuss American cities’ achievements throughout his administration and how mayors can support the rapidly approaching presidential transition.
“In order for Lima to thrive, we have to be connected with other cities across the nation. Active participation and leadership in organizations like the US Conference of Mayors allows us to connect to resources, build partnerships and also share new ideas. This conference provides an opportunity to engage with top federal officials and fellow mayors to ensure that Lima can effectively utilize resources to create a safer, more resilient, and inclusive city for all our residents,” states Mayor Sharetta Smith.
“The United States Conference of Mayors’ annual Winter Meeting provides mayors with the chance to gather in the nation’s capital to exchange ideas, discuss solutions to shared challenges and bolster support for cities from key federal officials. The 93rd Winter Meeting will also highlight how mayors from across the country hope to collaborate with the incoming Trump administration. Our country is at its best when cities and the federal government work together,” said USCM President Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther.
Mayor Smith will be speaking on two panels at the conference: The 2025 Tax Bill: Key Opportunities for Cities and Hiring America's Heroes – Harnessing the Power of the Veteran Workforce. During the panel for the 2025 tax bill, Mayor Smith will be highlighting opportunities afforded to smaller cities through the continued support of Opportunity Zones and corresponding investment funds like the Arctaris-Lima Opportunity Zone Fund. At the Hiring America’s Heroes panel, Smith will be discussing the importance of veterans in our workforce and the role mayors can play in advocating for improved access to adult education through programs like the Ohio Aspire Programs found at Lima’s Adult Learning Center and Apollo Career Center.
