(Washington, DC) The Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grants Development, the Washington Council of Agencies, and Citibank, are partnering to present the Fourth Annual Public Private Partnership Conference, with assistance from Raffa Associates. The event promotes multi-sector collaboration within the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area through meaningful and sustainable partnerships in which ideas, resources and talents are pooled to address public policy issues.

The conference will provide opportunities for District Government agencies, neighboring county governments, federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, foundations, businesses and individuals to learn about tools for building and sustaining public private partnerships that will support priority neighborhood issues in the Washington region.

"Our region today faces many tough challenges," said Lafayette Barnes, director, Office of Partnerships and Grants Development. "At the same time, however, the region has the human and intellectual resources to address every issue. Giving up or thinking small have never been options. What is needed is to continue strengthening partnerships that ensure everyone has access to the resources they need to build stronger communities."

This year, the conference theme is "Partnerships: Now More than Ever." According to Barnes, issues such as the economic slowdown, corporate misconduct, the tarnished reputation of the United Way, fewer grants, stiffer competition for more limited resources characterize the times in which we live. "Times such as these can be challenging especially for governments and nonprofits trying to serve constituents while dealing with fewer resources and increased needs," said Barnes. "However, times such as these also provide opportunities for creativity, resourcefulness and working together. In fact, the times demand this. Now more than ever, result-driven partnerships that ensure that timely issues are being addressed and that progress continues into the future are critical to building and sustaining vigorous and thriving communities."