Downtown Albany BID to Hold 13th Annual Meeting June 23

ALBANY, NY (06/22/2009)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) will hold its 13th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 23 from 11:30am - 1:30pm, at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Albany. The event is sponsored by Legacy Banks. The two-hour event will mark the organization's progress toward its strategic priorities and outline its plans for future initiatives. The luncheon will feature a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, William Kennedy. There will be the presentation of the organization's 2009 Compass Award to the Sports Foundation of New York's Capital Region.

"The BID's Annual Meeting provides a forum to communicate to our stakeholders the continued progress made on our strategic priorities as downtown continues to evolve with Great Dining, Great Events, and Great Performances and so many other opportunities and challenges," said Tracy Metzger, Board Chair of the Downtown Albany BID. "With the Quadricentennial as the theme this year, along with a focus on Albany's rich history, William Kennedy is a perfect fit for ringing in this historic celebration; though Mr. Kennedy claims not to be a fortune teller, he assures us that what he can see for Albany's future is one we will all approve of."

The meeting of BID members, key stakeholders and corporate partners will also include an overview of the organization's highlights and accomplishments, and an address by Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings. Tracy Metzger, President of TL Metzger Associates, will formally welcome newly elected board members and recognize outgoing members. Nearly 250 people are expected to be in attendance.

William Kennedy's writing centers around life in Albany during the 19th and 20th centuries. His works have been recognized worldwide, earning him a Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and a PEN-Faulkner Award, along with being chosen as one of the best English-language novels of the 20th century by the Modern Library. Some of his most notable works include: Ironweed (1983), Legs (1975), Very Old Bones (1992), and Roscoe (2002) to name a few. Albany has always been the main theme in his writing and in 1983 he wrote an impressionistic history of the city in O Albany! Along with his novels and histories, he has participated in writing the screenplays for The Cotton Club and Ironweed, as well as writing his first play, Grand View, that premiered at the Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany in 1996.

The BID's 2009 Compass Award will be presented to the Sports Foundation of New York's Capital Region. The award recognizes individuals and/or foundations which have demonstrated a strong commitment to partnering with the downtown Albany BID to improve the quality of life in downtown Albany. The Sports Foundation has played an essential part in getting high school as well as college athletics in the Albany region recognized for their achievements and successes. Through the diligent efforts of the Sports Foundation, Albany is now home to regional and national athletic organizations, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), which together bring in more than 500,000 fans and $40 million to Albany and the Region. The Sports Foundation is working hard to make Albany a first-class destination for sporting events and fan experience.

The BID's 2009 Annual Meeting luncheon sponsor is the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). Media sponsors include WNYT News Channel 13 and The Times Union.

Members of the media interested in arranging an interview with William Kennedy are encouraged to contact Nancy Bielawa at the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District via email at nbielawa@downtownalbany.org or by calling 518-465-2143x11.

Tickets at the door: $35 for Downtown Albany BID members/$40 for non-members.