Mayors Name Mayor Rybak ‘Friend of Greater Minnesota’

For second year in a row, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities honors Minneapolis Mayor at annual conference; Mayor delivers keynote address

August 5, 2010 (MINNEAPOLIS) Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak received the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities’ "Friend of Greater Minnesota" award last night at the Coalition’s annual summer conference in Grand Rapids. The Coalition recognized Mayor Rybak’s work with the " Thank LGA" coalition during the 2011 legislative session, which included meeting with mayors and civic leaders in several cities to highlight the critical role that Local Government Aid plays in creating strong communities.

Mayor Rybak also delivered the keynote address at the conference.

This year marks the second year in a row that mayors from around Minnesota have honored Mayor Rybak with the "Friend of Greater Minnesota" award. The Coalition also honored Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman with the award.

"Working closely with Greater Minnesota mayors is one of the best investments that Minneapolis has made," Mayor Rybak said. "I am particularly grateful to mayors throughout Greater Minnesota for standing up for Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Duluth this year when the Legislature unwisely proposed eliminating all LGA for our core cities.

"Greater Minnesota mayors know what we all know: we’re one Minnesota and we’re all in this together. They can count on me to keep defending strong communities in Greater Minnesota," Mayor Rybak continued.

"Having Mayor Rybak’s support and leadership has been critical to greater Minnesota cities. His optimism and energy in promoting our communities is exactly what Minnesota needs at this time," said Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh, president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing 77 cities outside the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area that advocates at the State Capitol for strong, healthy communities in Greater Minnesota.

Published Aug. 5, 2011