Next City will host its fifth annual Vanguard conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. next year from April 24-26 inviting 40 young leaders from around the country for a three-day series of presentations, workshops, tours and other activities. We will accept applications for the 2014 Vanguard Conference until February 14, 2014.

The only requirement? Applicants must be under the age of 40.

Vanguard is an annual urban leadership forum that gathers of the best and brightest young leaders working to improve cities across sectors, including urban planning, community development, entrepreneurship, government, transportation, sustainability, design, art and media. Past Vanguards have gone on to work for the Obama administration, hold municipal office, start their own businesses, and climb the ranks of think tanks such as The Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, and philanthropies such as ArtPlace and the Surdna Foundation. Many come back to participate in subsequent conferences.

The 2013 Vanguard class was more geographically diverse than ever before, with members hailing from 28 locales including, for the first time, a Canadian city. Next year will mark the first time a Southern city has hosted the event. The changing location and increasing diversity of the Vanguard classes exemplify the many new collaborations, partnerships and innovative ideas that the conference generates.

Lisa Flint, program adviser for the Footprint Foundation and member of the 2014 Vanguard host committee, first suggested Chattanooga as a host city. “Chattanoogans have come together to recreate a city that is now seen as a model for community revitalization, private-public partnerships, urban design, environmental stewardship and civic engagement,” Flint says. “We are a community that believes in continuous improvement and innovation. The Vanguard conference epitomizes the forward thinking and leadership that was necessary in turning Chattanooga around.”

Chattanooga, in one sense or another, has always been a city about making connections. Due to its location on the Tennessee River and position by the borders of three states (Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama), the city grew as both a port and railway hub. It is also a historic center for Southern manufacturing. But as in many post-industrial cities by the 1980s, alleviating blight and developing its urban core were two things high on Chattanooga’s task list.

Today, the city is in a state of renewal. The conversion of a major bridge into a pedestrian walkway, the expansion of a riverside aquarium, and the construction of a new pier and park are just a few examples of how it has reclaimed its riverfront and continues to redevelop its downtown. Chattanooga has become a home for tech start-ups, popups and incubators, attracting professionals and giving the city a new face. During the conference, Vanguards will have the opportunity to explore the host city’s innovations and get a window into current challenges.

Click here to learn more about applying to become a 2014 Vanguard. Applications must be received by Friday, February 14, 2014. The 2014 Vanguard class will be publicly announced by the end of March.