(Meeting Agenda)

Reservation Information

This meeting is by invitation only. If you have received an invitation, please register by sending an email confirmation to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it giving your name, organization, number of persons in your party, and dates of attendance. If you are interested in attending, but have not received an invitation, also email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it giving your name, organization, dates you plan to attend, number of persons in your party, and why you would like to participate.

1) Hotel: Our meeting will take place in the River’s Edge Convention Center at 10 4th Avenue (www.stcloudriversedgeconventioncenter.com). Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Best Western Kelly Inn, 100 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301, 1-800-528-1234. Request the Mississippi River Cities & Towns block. Reserve your room by June 12 at a reduced rate.

2) Airport Transportation: The St. Cloud Convention Center is 80 miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The most efficient and cost effective method of transport from Minneapolis airport to St. Cloud is via Executive Express. Go to www.executiveexpress.biz or call 1-888-522-9899 to reserve your ride. Reservations are $41 for one-way, or $72 for a roundtrip.

3) Day-Trip to Headwaters Region: On Friday, June 28 mayors (and guests if space allows) may have the option of taking a short excursion to the breathtaking headwaters region of the Mississippi River. See where the largest navigable river system in the world begins and actually jump across the Mississippi River where it makes it start next to beautiful Lake Itasca. If confirmed, mayors (and guests if space allows) will board National Guard helicopters and ride to the headwaters region from St. Cloud. Buses will board around 2:00pm in front of the Convention Center after the Annual Meeting closing luncheon. The helicopters will return to St. Cloud at approximately 6:00pm. PLEASE NOTE: arrangements for this excursion will not be confirmed with the State of Minnesota until very close to the date of the meeting. However, we need to provide a list of mayors and guests interested in participating as soon as possible. If you are interested, please reserve your place by contacting Julie Lunning of the St. Cloud Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at 1-800-264-2940 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Space is limited and mayors will be given the first option for all seats. If there is room left over, seats will be allocated to non-mayors on a first come—first serve basis.

“Congressman Fincher (TN-8) speaks during the MRCTI press conference announcing the formation of the Mississippi River Caucus. Mr. Fincher was joined by Senator Harkin as well as Congressmen Kind (WI-3), Walz (MN-1), and Crawford (AR-1). 12 Mayors from 9 of the River states also joined the members.”

Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative Capitol Meeting March 19-21

Mayors from along the entire length of America’s Great Waterway will gather in Washington, DC to give a new and powerful voice to the growing national chorus for the Mississippi River.

The official meeting flyer can be found here and a working agenda can be found here.
This event is by invitation only. For further information, please email the projector director, Colin Wellenkamp at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI) received a grant from the Walton Family Foundation to create a new and influential voice for the Mississippi River dramatically increasing demand for effective river protection, restoration and management in Washington, DC in 2012. NEMWI Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) addresses matters of mutual concern, including:

• River water quality and habitat restoration,
  
• Flooding and floodplain issues,
  
• River-focused recreation,
  
• Sustainable economies,
• Celebration of the River culture and history.
  

Over 3 million residents collectively populate the 124 Mississippi River main stem cities and towns. These riparian population centers are soundly River-centric. MRCTI gives a common voice to those who depend most upon the River, and by virtue of doing so, spans political and economic interests.  That is, it taps a natural source of the longed-for integration of transportation, farming, industrial, municipal and environmental interests to launch lasting solutions to River management issues.

The outcome of the MRCTI is designed to be tangible improvement of Mississippi River:

• Water quality,
  
• Flood and floodplain management, and
• River economy and environmental protection.
  

The MRCTI articulates and helps drive multi-stakeholder solutions to recurring federal and state policy problems that impede environmental and economic health of river communities. This project also builds capacity of the MRCTI members to undertake effective local initiatives to attract green jobs, move to sustainable economies and achieve local environmental protection goals.  Ultimately, this work helps protect and restore the Mississippi River as a natural system that can sustainably support human culture and economies as well as wildlife.

MRCTI is a local government-lead effort empowering the ten States and over one hundred cities that border the Mississippi River to act for its continued prosperity, sustainability, and economic growth. Through MRCTI mayors and other leaders cooperate to give new urgency to issues facing the Mississippi River, and new strength to effectively resolve them. Contact: Colin Wellenkamp, Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 202-464-4010.

MRCTI Roster, 1st Quarter 2013