More than 500 city officials, partners gather in Yakima for AWC’s Annual Conference

YAKIMA – Representatives from 138 cities and towns across Washington are in Yakima this week for the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Annual Conference. The event kicks off on Wednesday at noon and concludes Friday morning.

The conference offers leaders from Washington’s cities and towns, as well as exhibitors and other partners, a city-focused agenda with general sessions, concurrent sessions, and mobile tours designed to educate and inspire. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear presentations on pressing city issues including homelessness, economic development, fish passage, and more.

This year’s conference marks AWC’s 85th anniversary. Yakima Mayor W.W. Stratton summoned city officials from across the state to Yakima in 1933 to stand together on issues affecting cities and towns. It was at this conference that AWC was born.

AWC serves its members through advocacy, education, and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington's cities and towns before the state legislature, the state executive branch, and with regulatory agencies. Membership is voluntary, yet AWC consistently maintains 100 percent participation from Washington’s 281 cities and towns.

AWC also provides training, data and publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and the AWC GIS Consortium.

### Members of the media are invited to attend Annual Conference general sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. However, due to space constraints, breakout sessions are reserved for paying conference attendees. The Wednesday and Thursday evening receptions are for conference attendees and invited guests.

Media contact:
Brian Daskam
Communications Manager
briand@awcnet.org
(360) 890-6844