Carrie Fox, special event assistant for the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, will be attending the Rural LISC Seminar on May 24-26 in Washington, D.C. The annual national conference for rural community development professionals provides unique opportunities to visit with congressional representatives on Capitol Hill, gain valuable insight into ways to improve communities, and offer networking opportunities with rural colleagues from around the country.

"Rural LISC helped Tamaqua start a National Night Out, complete the Dear Tamaqua Project and restore Liberty Hall and Hazle Street's Boot & Shoe Factory," said Micah Gursky of the TACP. "This conference is a chance to share Tamaqua's experiences, good and bad, and learn what others are doing across the nation."Lisa Mensah, USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development, will be the keynote speaker, addressing rural issues and the USDA."The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership exemplifies the very best in innovative programming to their community, and we are delighted that they are attending this year's seminar," said Suzanne Anarde, Rural LISC program vice president.TACP is a nonprofit charity encouraging local people to work together for the betterment of the community, including projects focusing on historic preservation, economic development, arts and culture, housing and neighborhoods, and leadership development. Since 1994, TACP has been promoting cooperation and community projects that improve the quality of life in the Tamaqua area, including the Tamaqua Community Art Center, Dear Tamaqua and Leadercast Tamaqua.Launched in 1995, Rural LISC is the rural component of the largest community development support organization in the country - Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Rural LISC provides a wide range of services, including training, technical assistance, information and financial support, to help rural community developers address the problems rural communities face.