The Austin Chamber of Commerce will bring more than 100 community leaders from Central Texas for a trip to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, next week to meet with their region’s leaders to exchange ideas about solving some of Central Texas' most pressing challenges.

The annual trip has leaders from local government, the business community, the education sector, healthcare, and non-profit organizations traveling to a different city each year for three days of meetings and speakers.

“The intercity trip is a program that has the potential to bring great ideas from around the country back to Central Texas,” said Jeremy Martin, President and CEO of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. “Learning about another region through their challenges and successes can help us envision things we can do here in Central Texas to improve our quality of life.”

The group will meet with elected officials, nonprofit leaders, local chamber of commerce staff, transportation professionals, and government officials.

“This trip is one of my favorite things that the Chamber does each year,” said Rudy Garza, Chair-elect of the Austin Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “We have been privileged to learn from other communities and bring those ideas back to Central Texas to create great programs like Austin Gives, innovation districts, and workforce development partnerships. It’s also an opportunity for local leaders to strengthen bonds with one another.”

Topics on the 19th intercity visit include; workforce and talent, education, corporate, philanthropy, regional collaboration, affordability, and technology and innovation.

The delegation will leave Austin on Sunday morning, begin meetings around noon, and continue through Tuesday afternoon. You can follow along with the trip on the Austin Chamber social media, including Twitter @AustinChamber.