Earlier today, Monday, April 15, 2024, Mayor Keith R. Sydnor, and the Laurel City Council, along with City of Laurel’s Management staff, were honored to welcome the National League of Cities Centennial Roadshow to our beautiful City!
The National League of Cities (NLC) was founded in 1924. At that time, “ten state leagues came together at the University of Kansas to create a new, national organization to serve as a clearinghouse for information about municipal government. Over the next 100 years, the organization has grown in size and influence, serving as a trusted resource for mayors, city council members, and municipal government staff, providing them with unparalleled research and technical expertise.”
NLC kicked off their Centennial Roadshow: 100 Cities 100 Years, in the founding state of Kansas in February 2024 and it was Laurel’s privilege to welcome the NLC Roadshow today to celebrate their 100-year milestone in our growing City.
Laurel is proud to be a long-standing member of NLC. Many of our past Mayors and Council members have held positions on NLC Committees that focused on Infrastructure and Public Safety. When it was time to submit our application to be a part of the NLC Centennial Roadshow, we looked at all we have accomplished over 150 years and with so many milestones, and only so much time, we chose to highlight the newest jewel in our crown, the Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center. And it was because of a past Council member that was appointed to the NLC’s Human Development Committee, that became the impetus for Laurel’s vision to create a facility to assist the vulnerable population in the Laurel area.
Leaders from NLC and the City of Laurel united at the new site, were welcomed and given a tour, and told the story of our vision for this 24,000 sq. ft. facility, starting with the founding of the Homelessness Task Force in 2019, which was then followed by the Task Force recommendations in 2020. The data exposed the need to create a site to enhance wellness and reduce homelessness within the Greater Laurel Area. This would be accomplished through a streamlined provision of human services, that work to limit transportation barriers, increase resource access, and strengthen the economic and social stability of our vulnerable community.
By giving our community a voice through the Task Force, we came together to create this shining, innovative facility that will help many families and individuals in the Laurel area. Mayor Sydnor and the Laurel City Council are proud to provide NLC validation of how our membership has been used to its fullest potential.
“It was an honor to show how the quality services and resources NLC provides, created paths for our City to be a better government that can provide a great place for our community members to have a place they can live, work, play and thrive,” stated Mayor Sydnor about today’s NLC visit.
