Tours and Special Events
Tours
Tour: Atlanta BeltLine (Sold Out)
The Atlanta BeltLine, one of the largest urban redevelopment and revitalization projects currently underway in the U.S., directly interacts with 45 neighborhoods in the city. Atlanta BeltLine’s activities are directed toward redeveloping a 22-mile rail corridor to enhance mobility and connectivity throughout the region by building multi-use trails, and a future transit corridor, and encouraging the redevelopment of non-producing properties. Atlanta BeltLine will catalyze the advancement of programmatic goals in job creation, affordable housing, transportation, parks and green space, historic preservation, environmental remediation, and public art. The tour will emphasize modern day placemaking, areas of future redevelopment, areas of current and past success, and an overview of the attraction of $4.1B in new private investment. Explore the diverse geographic and economic segments of this project and see progress toward the goal of 5,600 affordable housing units and 30,000 new permanent jobs!
Host organization: Atlanta Beltline
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 1:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Price: $55
Tour: Center for Civil and Human Rights ($)
Join the Education Team from the Center for Civil and Human Rights for a tour and discussion about equity and bridging the gap between diverse communities. Learn through The Center's exhibitions on civil and human rights the various ways equity has been addressed and what challenges we still have to overcome. Following the tour, participate in a conversation on how the Center upholds its mission and reflect on the work that you have done and continue to do to bridge the gaps regarding equity.
Host organization: Center for Civil and Human Rights
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Price: $55
Tour: Aerotropolis Atlanta (Sold Out)
Get a firsthand look at Atlanta’s next up and coming international district, Aerotropolis Atlanta. Sights and stops will include the world’s most traveled airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the international headquarters of Delta Air Lines, the North American headquarters of Porsche, and the redevelopment of Fort McPherson.
Host organization: Atlanta Regional
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 8:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $55
Tour: Georgia Film Academy and Georgia State University Creative Media Industries Institute (Sold Out)
The film industry in Georgia is booming - currently ranked third in the nation and fifth in the World for number of productions (behind only Hollywood and New York). Industry growth over the next 3-5 years is projected to generate 3,000 - 5,000 new jobs in Georgia, most of which are on the set. The average earnings in these jobs are $84,000 a year.
The state has partnered with the University System of Georgia to help provide training to meet the demand. You will hear from local film industry and state economic development leaders on the evolution of the film industry in Georgia, the impact of the industry on Georgia and tour the Georgia Film Academy and the Georgia State University Creative Media Institute.
Host organization: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 12:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Price: $55
Downtown Walking Tour (Sold Out)
Downtown Atlanta’s central business district is the region’s economic and cultural engine. Home to over 154,000 employees, four Fortune 500 companies, 15 million annual visitors, and over 26,000 residents, there is something that everyone can enjoy. Join local redevelopment staff from Central Atlanta Progress for a walking tour through Downtown highlighting some of the city’s major redevelopment projects. Along the route, learn how the city’s historic core is being “rediscovered” thanks to major investments from both private and public sectors such as Georgia State University. Hear from property owners and developers about how their projects came to fruition and how they took advantage of innovative financing tools.
Host organization: Atlanta Downtown
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 7:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $55
Tour: Technology Square (Sold Out)
Take a walking tour of some of the highlights at the epicenter of high tech collaboration. Technology Square (Tech Square) is the main hub of innovation at Georgia Tech. It’s here that Georgia Tech’s collaborative partners tap into the expertise of students, faculty, and researchers to transfer ideas and technology from labs to the marketplace. Within Tech Square’s 1.4 million square feet and surrounding areas are over 20 corporate innovation, design, development, and technology centers. A diverse set of companies such as Delta Air Lines, Honeywell, UCB, AT&T, Siemens, Stanley Black and Decker, Home Depot, Chick fil A, NCR, and Anthem leverage the talent, technology, and innovation found here. In 2019 Tech Square will expand with the addition of Coda, a nearly 750,000 square-foot mixed-use innovation hub of advanced computing that will create new opportunities in interdisciplinary research, commercialization, and sustainability. During this site visit and tour you will learn about top ranking incubation and accelerator programs and the spaces they have created to attract entrepreneurs, startups, and corporate labs as well as discuss the elements that create communities of innovation here in Midtown.
Host organization: Georgia Tech
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 8:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Price: $55
Tour: Atlanta University Center (Sold Out) ($)
Journey through the corridors of history to where civil rights leaders and contemporary greats studied. Tour the Atlanta University Center (AUC), America's oldest consortium of African American private institutions of higher education. From Clark Atlanta University to Morehouse, Spelman College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center, you're in for an enlightening experience. These schools, several dating back to the American Reconstruction Era, have all intertwined throughout history. Explore where prominent African Americans like Dr. Martin Luther King, Spike Lee, Alice Walker, and Pearl Cleage studied, honed their crafts, earned their degrees, and later changed the world.
The Consortium supports numerous programs and partnerships like West End Community Improvement District, University Community development Corporation, and Atlanta Promise Neighborhood, among others. Members of the Consortium play a significant role in supporting development in West Atlanta through capacity building and resource development, housing and economic development, environmental sustainability, service learning, volunteerism, and other strategies.
Hosted by Atlanta University Center
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 1:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Price: $55
Special Events
Golf Outing at Golf Club of Georgia ($)
Join fellow golfers at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta! Golf Club of Georgia was designed by the famous golf designer Arthur Hills is consistently recognized as one of the finest 36-hole golf clubs in the country.
Date: Saturday, September 29
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Price: $100
Come volunteer with us as we help Park Pride on a project designed to keep community parks a vital part of the city. We will walk from the hotel to two downtown parks and work on landscaping projects such as gardening and mulching throughout the parks. Park Pride is a nonprofit organization that engages communities in their neighborhood parks through volunteer projects, community gardens, and community-led park redesigns and by providing grants for capital park improvements. The registration fee covers a volunteer t-shirt.
Date: Saturday, September 29
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Price: $15. Fee covers transportation costs and a volunteer t-shirt.
Women's Mentoring Luncheon ($)
In the spirit of women’s empowerment, this luncheon is designed to help women receive support for their professional development. The luncheon will foster mentoring relationships between attendees, and participants will hear insightful stories from trailblazing female leaders across the country. Speakers will address inclusiveness, fostering innovation, and creating change in our communities. Attend this luncheon to network, build relationships, and support female economic development professionals. Wear purple to demonstrate your commitment and dedication to the empowerment and support of others! The Future is Female!
What you will learn:
• An understanding of the existing biases around female leaders
• Practical steps to support other women in the economic development profession
• The value of self-care and how it impacts your team
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Price: $55
First Time Attendee Briefing
Interested in learning how to successfully navigate your first IEDC Annual Conference? Find everything you need to know to make the most of your time and experience at this event, IEDC’s largest annual gathering of economic developers from around the world.
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required
Chairman's Reception
Join Board Chair Craig Richard as IEDC welcomes you to Atlanta! This is a great opportunity to kick off your networking and meet the exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall.
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
International Dinner
A dinner to celebrate the many countries and cultures that are a part of the IEDC family.
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails
Price: $75
LGBTQ & Friends Social Event ($)
Network with fellow economic development professionals in the LGBTQ community. Learn how your peers navigate the profession, leverage their unique perspectives, and support inclusive, more diverse communities. All while having fun!
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Price: $25
Young Professional and Student Networking Event at Meehan's Public House ($)
Are you a young economic development professional? Come get involved with your fellow professionals, have a good time, and take this opportunity to expand your networking field.
Please note: This event is limited to students and professionals under 35 years of age or younger.
Date: Sunday, September 30
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Price: $10
New Member/Non Member Breakfast
Join us to connect with other new IEDC members and members of the IEDC Board of Directors and Membership development Advisory Committee. Learn more about IEDC member benefits and resources, along with information on the Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) program, Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation, Excellence in Economic Awards, and other ways to become more involved through IEDC's advisory committees.
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required
Economic Development Ethics Workshop (Sold Out)
Are you faced with ethical dilemmas in your professional life? Do you have the tools to deal with ethical issues? Economic developers regularly encounter situations that require sound judgment and strength of character. Saying no is not always easy but may be the right thing to do. This session will provide essential instruction on ethics in economic development and will provide you with the tools to foster a culture of high standards in your organization. No theoretical lecture, this workshop will focus on real life ethical situations faced by economic developers where your decisions could mean the difference between success and failure in your career and life.
Note: Due to the large number of attendees at these workshops, we are unable to accommodate requests to transfer registration between the Sunday and Monday ethics sessions. Ethics workshops will also be held at the 2019 Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, January 27 - 29, 2019 and at the 2019 Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 13-16, 2019. Ethics training is a requirement for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) recertification processes. CEcDs who seek recertification are required to have two hours of ethics training each time they recertify.
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required
Student and YP Mentorship and Networking Lunch
This unique mentorship opportunity should not be missed. Students and young professionals will meet and interact with seasoned economic developers. Mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wealth of experience to share. Students and young professionals bring new energy that experienced economic developers find exciting for the profession. After the initial mentorship session, participants will have the opportunity to have lunch together to continue conversations and make more lasting connections. Box lunches will be provided.
Note: Registration is free, but registration is required. Limited to students and professionals under 35 years of age or younger. Mentors will be selected by invitation.
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Note: Registration is free, but limited to students and professionals 35 years of age or younger. Mentors will be selected by invitation.
Defining Issues Luncheon ($)
The opioid epidemic has impacted communities across the country, in cities large and small, and in members of all social and economic demographics. Economic developers are being faced with the implications of this scourge, from workforce to the resource drain occurring as communities respond. Our 2018 Defining Issues Luncheon will focus on the economic impact of the epidemic, the response, and the outlook for the future.
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Price: $55
Networking Luncheon: Elected Officials and Board of Directors EDOs ($)
IEDC extends a special welcome to elected officials and members of EDO boards. Join this luncheon to network and discuss economic development strategies in your community. All registered attendees of the conference are invited to register.
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Price: $55
Recognition Dinner at the Georgia Aquarium ($)
Join IEDC and your peers in honoring the year's most influential economic development leaders at THE social event of the conference. Honors to be conferred are:
• Fellow Members (FM)
• Honorary Life Members (HLM)
• Young Economic Development Professional of the Year
• Leadership Award for Public Service
• Citizen Leadership Award
• Institutional Leadership Award
• Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development, in honor of Edward deLuca
Date: Monday, October 1
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Price: $100
DCI Fun Run/Walk
All IEDC attendees are invited to join their economic development peers for an early morning group run/walk through downtown Atlanta starting in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. There will be options for a 6 Mile or a 3 Mile route. The first 50 participants receive a limited edition t-shirt! Hope you can join us prior to beginning your day at IEDC Annual Conference!
Meet in lobby of Hyatt Regency Atlanta (conference hotel). Groups will run either a 6M or a 3M.
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Preparing for the CEcD Exam Workshop
If you are planning to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam, it's never too early to start planning and learning more about the process. All participants and attendees at this workshop will be provided with a complete overview of the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam process, from application to the oral examination. Attendees will learn tools and techniques for preparing for the exam and witness a mock oral interview.
Note: First-time candidates sitting for the certification exam are required to participate in the Preparing for the CEcD Exam Workshop, either in-person or via webinar format. Questions regarding this requirement can be sent to Marjorie Rose at mrose@iedconline.org.
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required
Economic Development Ethics Workshop
Are you faced with ethical dilemmas in your professional life? Do you have the tools to deal with ethical issues? Economic developers regularly encounter situations that require sound judgment and strength of character. Saying no is not always easy but may be the right thing to do. This session will provide essential instruction on ethics in economic development and will provide you with the tools to foster a culture of high standards in your organization. No theoretical lecture, this workshop will focus on real life ethical situations faced by economic developers where your decisions could mean the difference between success and failure in your career and life.
Note: Due to the large number of attendees at these workshops, we are unable to accommodate requests to transfer registration between the Sunday and Monday ethics sessions. Ethics Workshops will also be held at the 2019 Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, January 27 - 29, 2019 and at the 2019 Annual Conference in Indianapolis, October 13-16, 2019. Ethics training is a requirement for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) recertification processes. CEcDs who seek recertification are required to have two hours of ethics training each time they recertify.
Date: Tuesday, October 2
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required