DCA & HMFA Host the 2008 Governor's Conference on Housing and Community Development

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – On September 23 and 24, more than 1,500 developers, planners, government officials and representatives of New Jersey community organizations will fill the halls of the Atlantic City Convention Center for the 2008 Governor’s Conference on Housing and Community Development. 

The conference gives attendees the opportunity to exchange information and ideas on such topics as affordable housing, property management, green building, housing design, neighborhood revitalization and smart growth, as well as discuss the state’s plans to achieve its goal of producing and preserving 100,000 units of affordable housing for low, moderate and middle-income families and individuals over the next 10 years.

During the two-day conference, participants attend workshops on five different tracks: Housing Credit and Finance, Property Management, Supportive Housing, Cooperative Funding and Community Initiatives.  Continuing education credits are available for the Property Management track, and professional planners can earn AICP Certification Maintenance Credits by attending specific sessions.  Housing Authority Members can attend a three-hour elective course designed for Housing Authority Executive Directors and Housing Authority Commissioners.

Conference highlights include:

Tuesday, September 23

Keynote Address Luncheon - 12:15 p.m.
Governor Jon S. Corzine (invited)
Ray Suarez, Author and Senior Correspondent of “The NewsHour”

Pleasantville Bus Tour - 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tour Pleasantville’s City Center area and learn how the city is transforming the downtown area into a pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented development with a comprehensive mix of commercial, office, residential and other uses.

Wednesday, September 24

Excellence in Housing Awards Luncheon – 12:30 p.m.
HMFA will present the annual Governor’s Excellence in Housing Awards.  This year’s award recipients include eight affordable housing organizations and individuals from Sayreville, Paterson, Trenton, Tewksbury, Elizabeth, Highland Park and Camden.  Awards will go to projects that have demonstrated outstanding housing development in the areas of affordable housing, green/sustainable development and community revitalization.

The annual Governor’s Conference on Housing and Community Development is hosted by the Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, a DCA affiliate.  For more information about the conference, please call (609) 278-7400 or visit HMFA online at www.nj.gov/dca/hmfa/.