Are States Missing the Bus? Study on Connection Between Economic Development and Public Transit to Be Released Thursday in Atlanta

9/9/2003

From: Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First, 202-626-3780 ext. 27

News Advisory:

A major new study exploring the connection -- or lack thereof -- between state economic development incentive programs and public transit access will be released this Thursday at noon at a press conference in Atlanta. The press conference is being held in association with Rail-Volution, the nation's largest annual gathering of transit advocates.

The 50-state study, based on interviews with more than 170 officials across the country, as well as extensive statutory research, explores how well -- or poorly -- states coordinate their massive development expenditures with transit systems.

Speaking at the press conference will be: Greg LeRoy, executive director of Good Jobs First and co-author of the study; Anne Canby, President of the Surface Transportation Policy Project, the nation's leading transit advocacy network; Charlie Flemming, president of the Atlanta Labor Council; and Von Nkosi, director of the Mixed Income Communities Initiative at the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership Inc.

Date: Thursday, Sept. 11

Time: 12 noon

Place: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kennesaw Room, 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Ga.

Conference Call-In Service: Media unable to be in Atlanta but wishing to participate please call Zoe Lane 202-626-3780 ext. 34 for call-in instructions.

Good Jobs First is a non-profit, non-partisan research center promoting best practices in economic development; it is based in Washington, D.C.