This is Your Town Alabama’s 18th year anniversary! The workshop consists of highly informative presentations and problem-solving activities for participants. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to network with other leaders from communities throughout Alabama. You will make contacts with presenters who work throughout Alabama in the planning, design, economic development, and resource preservation fields. The focus of the workshop aims specifically to introduce small town and rural technical assistance providers and decision makers to the role of design in community planning. Former participants remark that the workshop is FUN and invigorating and opened their minds to many possibilities. If you or other community leaders are interested in attending this workshop, please complete the application on-line by July 29, 2016. The number of participants we accept is limited, therefore, you are strongly encouraged to apply early. The preferred method of registering is to complete the application and pay on-line. You can register and securely pay online using a credit card by visiting http://yourtown2016.eventbrite.com  and follow the instructions. If you wish to register via U.S. mail, (download the application in Microsoft Word format). Please print or type the application and mail it with your check payable to “Your Town Alabama” to the address on the application.

Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Camp McDowell. The workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 31 and ends at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 2. Participants must stay for the ENTIRE workshop; if you can not attend the FULL 2 ½ days, you will need to register for the 2017 workshop, NO EXCEPTIONS! Feel free to visit the Camp McDowell website at:www.campmcdowell.com for directions. Lodging for 8/31 – 9/2 are REQUIRED at Camp McDowell in Bethany Villages. If you need lodging for Tuesday, 8/30, due to your travel distance, a list of local hotels in Jasper is included. Your Town Alabama participants will be housed in Parsley Commons in Bethany Villages, which includes 6 lodges – each lodge has 11 bedrooms (6 upstairs and 5 downstairs – all rooms have two queen beds/one bath). There are NO TV’s, radios, alarm clocks or telephones in the lodges; you will be surrounded by a beautiful natural environment! Feel free to bring your bicycle as we will be walking, cycling or driving to the eating facilities. Dress for the workshop is very casual (shorts/jeans/T-shirts/tennis shoes).

The cost for the workshop is $230 per participant for double occupancy (roommates will be assigned) OR$265 per participant for single occupancy. Single rooms are limited; if you prefer a single room, you areencouraged to apply EARLY as they will be filled on a first-come/first-serve basis. The registration fee includes ALL workshop materials, lodging and “healthy” meals (lunch and dinner on Wednesday; three meals on Thursday; and breakfast on Friday). On-line registration is suggested, however if you can not register on-line, please include payment with your application and send via U.S. mail; make checks payable to: “Your Town Alabama.” NO REFUNDS will be given after July 29, 2016. If you need additional information, call Nathan Willingham at (256) 412-0775 or e-mail workshop@yourtownalabama.org.

Participants must apply for and be accepted to attend the Your Town Alabama workshop prior to arrival. There will be NO on-site registration since extensive preparation must be made well in advance.

The workshop is sponsored by a host of organizations including the Alabama Historical Commission, the Alabama Association of Regional Councils, Alabama Communities of Excellence, Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama State Council on the Arts, The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, Auburn University Urban Studio, the Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council, and Walker Area Community Foundation.

Please complete the application online or return the completed downloaded application (download the application in Microsoft Word format here) via U.S. mail by the July 29, 2016 deadline. If selected, information will be e-mailed to you with more specific information. All late applications will be considered for the 2017 annual workshop. We look forward to a fun, challenging and rewarding workshop!!