The ITGA received an invitation to speak at the Town & Gown Relations Colloquium and the South African Student Cities Network (SASCN) Workshop in Cape Town by Mr. Segomotso Sebokedi, Programme Manager and Stephen Ngobeni, Programme Coordinator, SASCN. Dilna Cama, Department Manager, Office of Student Life; Susan Stafford, Director, Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations; and Beth Bagwell, ITGA executive director, presented on leading practice models in the United States, off-campus housing challenges and building strong city/university partnerships with the hope of positively impacting the student retention rates across the country of South Africa. A contingent from South Africa will attend the ITGA City & University Relations Conference in Columbus. To see pictures of the workshops and pre-post events, click here. We are excited about this new partnership!

The City of Salisbury and Salisbury University are in the process of applying to establish a new tax credit zone by the university, which officials say would help boost business and spur economic development. It's all part of the RISE Zone Program through the Maryland Department of Commerce. The program creates partnerships between qualified higher learning institutions and local governments with the aim of using financial incentives to push economic development. "When you move in a college town, you have a costumer base. This is a city of roughly 30,000 people, but we're a college town of just under 9,000 students," said Salisbury University Director of Government and Community Relations Eli Modlin. WBOC 16

Last June, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan hung out the "we're hiring" sign and dangled grants of up to $1 million to try and lure some of the best and brightest international researchers to come to work in Canada. Nine months later, 24 scientists have been given the nod, 10 of whom are Canadians coming home from all over the world. Duncan calls it a "brain gain." "We're in a global talent competition," Duncan said. Duncan said "thousands" of people applied, their applications were peer reviewed and 24 have been chosen. Many scientist say the fact that Canada chose to celebrate its 150th birthday with a major investment in scientific research was a big reason why they applied. Ottawa Citizen

Registration is open for the 2018 ITGA City & University Relations Conference, hosted by The Ohio State University and City of Columbus, May 29-June 1. To see the schedule, click here. Be sure to register before the conference rates increase April 16th. Space is limited for Certificate workshops Level I and II. Register today and join us in COLUMB US.

The San Marcos Main Street Program announced that their efforts in beautifying and improving downtown has won multiple awards, grants and recognition. "Our program would not be successful without out loyal and supportive community," said San Marcos Main Street Program Coordinator Josie Falletta. "The people of San Marcos are the driving force and motivation behind our efforts to foster a downtown that is a unique and culturally vibrant destination." Main Street's recent accomplishments on behalf of Downtown San Marcos include: Downtown San Marcos recognized as a "2018 Great Place in Texas, and San Marcos receives national accreditation as a Main Street City. SM Corridor News

On Thursday March 15, the Frostburg City Council held a monthly meeting where SGA President James Kirk and Benjamin Forrest, SGA Student Affairs Committee Chair, delivered speeches to the council advocating for the reestablishment of an active Town-Gown Committee between the City of Frostburg and FSU. The proposed five-member committee would consist of one representative each from the Frostburg State SGA, University administration, the City Government, the Frostburg Community Coalition and the Frostburg City Police Department. Kirk stressed the importance of forming a working Town-Gown Committee, stating, "We have a long way to go in improving town-gown relationships and this work should never be considered completed." The Bottom Line