The day-long event attracted over 150 participants representing over 60 community groups, local governments, and public interest organizations from across Washington State. The conference was the first of its kind in Washington State and represented a new wrinkle in public policy discussions of growth. The event brought academic, public, and government leaders together to engage in a serious discussion of the real costs of growth. After a brief introduction by Jeffrey Cain, Executive Director of the Columbia Public Interest Policy Institute, Rosemarie Ives, mayor of the City of Redmond, gave a provocative morning keynote address that detailed growth problems facing one of Washington State's fasting growing cities.
Organizations can participate in a number of ways.
Several organizations, including the Carnegie Group, Alternatives to Growth Washington, and Washington Audubon sponsored and presented their own panels throughout the day. Other organizations sponsored tables and poster sessions in the reception area.