Hickory – The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) will hold its annual CityVision conference in Hickory from May 14 through May 16. CityVision 2019, the League’s premier event of the year, will bring municipal leaders from across the state to Hickory to discuss topics affecting local government, like broadband and technology, infrastructure, branding, and grant funding.

“The City of Hickory is proud to be the host city for such a high caliber conference. With all of the exciting projects currently underway in Hickory, we can’t wait to showcase our vibrant community and all it has to offer to both residents and visitors,” said City Manager Warren Wood. “The CityVision Conference will give us the opportunity to show municipal leaders from all across the state just what it means to enjoy Life. Well Crafted. in Hickory.”

The conference will be held at the Hickory Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, with special mobile workshops throughout the City and an evening of entertainment provided by the City of Hickory.

Mandy Pitts Hildebrand, Chief Executive Officer for the Hickory Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, commented, “Hickory is known across the state and beyond as being the perfect location for annual conventions like the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM). The NCLM held its annual conference in Hickory in 2005 and 2013, and we are thrilled to have this spectacular organization and group of city and town officials in our community again. This type of convention is a win-win for our community, as it brings visitors who will stay overnight in hotels, and in their free time, they will shop, eat, and fill up cars with gasoline – which benefits the local economy.”

As the host city for the conference, the City of Hickory will present a night of fun and music in Trade Alley in the heart of Downtown Hickory. Get ready to “Rock the Block” with live entertainment from power rock band, Trial by Fire Tribute to Journey.

The public is invited to attend the “Rock the Block” concert on Wednesday, May 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m., in Trade Alley on the parking deck. Trade Alley, as well as Third Street NW from First Avenue NW to Government Avenue SW, and Main Avenue NW in front of Lowes Foods City Park will be closed from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. for the event.

Attendees to the concert can also enjoy the Hickory Downtown Development Association’s Art Crawl from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. In the event of rain, the free outdoor concert portion for the public will be cancelled.

For more information about the NCLM and the CityVision 2019 Conference, please visit https://www.nclm.org/.