City leaders and business owners are preparing for the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, which will be held in Springfield next spring.

The city will likely award $1,000 to the Clark County Transportation Coordinating Committee to help organize the event, while the Center City Association will install bike racks downtown before the event.

The one-day cycling conference will be held on May 31st at the Hollenbeck Bayley Conference Center.

The last summit, held in Dayton in 2011, brought at least 300 cyclists from 12 cities and 40 area organizations.

City leaders are expecting the number to increase to at least 500 in 2013.

“It brings people in from the region,” said Mayor Warren Copeland. “For a whole lot of people, it’ll be a chance to come to Springfield and spend some money.”

Copeland said the city has some unique opportunities with bike paths, but officials are working on a way to connect the south end with downtown.

The summit will also help educate people about cycling and could attract more cyclists to Springfield.

“When they come, they stop and eat and spend money,” Copeland said.

Center City Association Executive Director Maureen Fagans said 12 bike racks will be installed before the summit at various locations downtown.

The inverted-U racks hold two bikes, but can also be moved to an area where more racks may be needed. Fagans said they’re also small enough to be placed parallel to the curb in front of retailers.

“They’re a good option for us,” Fagans said.

Fagans said cycling has “untapped potential” for helping create business downtown.

“We are surrounded by bicycle trails that are used regionally,” Fagans said. “There are always people from Springfield coming through those trails, and we’d like to give them the opportunity to get off the trail and explore downtown and feel safe while they’re doing it.”

Fagans expects bike racks to be placed outside City Hall, Un Mundo Cafe, the new businesses on North Fountain Avenue, the Bushnell Building/WesBanco area, Champion City Guide and Supply, Lee’s Famous Recipe and possibly one in front of the Clark County Administration Building or Municipal Court.

She said the response to the bike racks by local businesses has been great so far.

“We won’t have any problem (distributing them),” Fagans said. “You’re going to see 12 downtown.”