Join Letchworth Gateway Villages and our network of partners for our end-of-year 2021 Genesee Valley Trail Town Summit!
ABOUT THE EVENT
The purpose of this gathering will be to share the results of the visitor survey, insights from our community-level bike arounds, and discuss next steps and funding opportunities to keep the Trail Town initiative going.
Event Cost: Full Day (includes lunch) - $20 | Partial Day (does not include lunch) - Free
Registration is now only available online.
Please see detailed agenda below for more information on how to join virtually.
SCHEDULE + AGENDA
9:30 am | Registration + Coffee
10 - 11:30 am | Welcome + Opening Session (Virtual Option Available - Register Here)
Keynote Speaker: Amy Camp, Founder of Cycle Forward and Author of Deciding on Trails, 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns.
Panel Discussion with Parks & Trails NY: Trails Across New York - The Time is Now
11:30 am - 12:15 pm | Year in Review: Translating Insights into Action (Virtual Option Available - Register Here)
Presenters: Michele Archie, Harbinger Consulting and Nicole Manapol, LGV Director
From your initial Trail Town assessment to the visitor survey to community bike-arounds, you have invested a lot of effort into gathering data and generating insights in 2021. This session will explore what we learned together, common themes across all ten Trail Town Action Plans, and how you can use these insights to tackle priority next steps for your community.
12:15 - 1:00 pm | Lunch + Networking
1 - 2:00 pm | Breakout Sessions Part I:
Building our Brand + Maximizing Reach: Online Engagement and Visibility
(Virtual Option Available - Register Here)
Presenters: Emily Ashworth, Project Manager, Nina Piccini, Social Media Manager and Digital Coach and Erica Schneider, Parks & Trails NY
Acquire the skills you need to create and promote your community assets by developing a marketing and promotion strategy to increase and improve your online visibility. This presentation will provide you with insider access to various tools you can use to bolster your online presence through social media, a presence on Explore Genesee Valley, and other third-party sites in an effort to maximize your reach and showcase areawide attractions, amenities, services, and community character.
Who should attend? Hospitality businesses, attractions, tourism professionals, trail and outdoor recreation groups.
Mobilizing around a Shared Trail Town Vision: Community-level Engagement and Support
Presenters: Rick Hauser, Village of Perry Mayor and Downtown Revitalization Expert and Michael Doyle, Friends of the Palmer Opera House, Cuba
Gain a deeper understanding of the impact that relationship building can have in your community. Organizing a diverse network of stakeholders committed to developing and implementing a shared vision for the Genesee Valley Region requires strong leadership and open communication. This presentation will showcase various techniques you can use to help mobilize a critical mass of doers, thinkers and investors ready to redefine what a sustainable and thriving future looks like for rural America.
Who should attend? Municipal leaders, local chambers of commerce, community / main street groups, residents, planners, economic development, trail and outdoor recreation advocates.
2 - 3:00 pm | Breakout Sessions Part II:
Funding for the Future in Genesee Valley Trail Towns
Presenters: Nicole Manapol, LGV Director, Carl Schoenthal, FOGVG Trail Town Committee President, and Dylan Carey, Parks & Trails NY
Learn more about the Genesee Valley Trail Town Grants and how to secure competitive matching grants to support initiatives in your community. This presentation will walk you through the application process and provide examples of eligible projects that help create safer streets for cyclists and pedestrians in trail town communities, enhance connectivity between participating communities and the greenway, increase visitation on the Genesee Valley Greenway, and assist local leaders and businesses with place-making efforts.
Who should attend? Municipal leaders, Trail Town Committee Members, Parks and Trail Managers, economic development
Facts Tell, Stories Sell: Advocating for a Completed Greenway
(Virtual Option Available - Register Here)
Presenters: Fran Gotcsik, FOGVG Treasurer and Veteran Trail Advocate, Rebecca Murray, Parks & Trails NY, and Marjorie Byrnes, NY State Assemblywoman for the 133rd District.
Discover strategies you can use to influence decisions made by state officials. Through effective storytelling, driven by personal experience and research, you can help shape public policy. This presentation will help you identify a target audience and capture their attention, craft and communicate a clear message, and take advantage of tools that can help demonstrate broad public support.
Who should attend? Trail groups and advocates, municipal leaders, planners, parks and trail managers
3 - 4:00 pm | Closing Session - Next Steps (Virtual Option Available - Register Here)
4 - 5:00 pm | Happy Hour at the Museum's Freight House Pub (optional)
Event Supporters: Letchworth Gateway Villages, Parks & Trails NY, Genesee Country Village & Museum, Friends of the Genesee Valley Greenway, and the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park.
COVID-19 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
ALL attendees will be required to wear a mask indoors for the duration of the event and remain socially distanced.
If you are unvaccinated, you will be required to show proof of a negative viral test 1-3 days before the event.
Anyone feeling ill or exhibiting COVID-like symptoms should stay home.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Nicole Manapol | director@letchworthgatewayvillages.org or (585) 237-8079