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IEDC is heading to Toronto, Ontario, Canada this fall for the first ever international Annual Conference. Why Canada? Winston Churchill might've said it best:
"Canada is the linchpin of the English-speaking world. Canada, with those relations of friendly, affectionate intimacy with the United States on the one hand and with her unswerving fidelity to the British Commonwealth and the Motherland on the other, is the link which joins together these great branches of the human family, a link which, spanning the oceans, brings the continents into their true relation and will prevent in future generations any growth of division between the proud and the happy nations of Europe and the great countries which have come into existence in the New World."
- The Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom
As economic development changes with more globalization, Canada is the perfect setting to discuss global trade and foreign direct investment, and other trends emerging in the profession. IEDC's 2017 Annual Conference will offer plenty of these discussions, as well as networking opportunities and educational tours of Toronto. Don't miss out - register now and begin planning your travel.
You'll hear from these incredible speakers and hundreds of other economic development experts.
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Angelos G. Angelou
Founder & Principal Executive Officer
AngelouEconomics
Austin, TX |
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Tracey Hyatt Bosman, CEcD
Managing Director
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co.
Chicago, IL |
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Gene DePrez
Founder & Managing Partner
Global Innovation Partners, Ltd.
Sparta, NJ |
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Michael Langley, FM
CEO
GREATER MSP
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
2017 IEDC Board Chair |
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Susan Liberty
Vice President, Infrastructure & Economic Development
McGuire Woods Consulting
Tysons, VA |
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Barry I. Matherly CEcD, FM
President and CEO
Greater Richmond Partnership
Richmond, VA
Immediate Past Chair - 2016 IEDC Board of Directors |
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Lauren Millier, BES, MCIP, RPP
Vice-President Consulting
MDB Insight Inc.
Toronto, ON, Canada |
Check out a sample of discussion topics you may have during concurrent sessions at 2017 Annual Conference:
 Building Local Linkages and Expanding Global Trade
Global trade, especially in terms of exporting, is vital to sustained economic growth. It creates local jobs, generates capital investments in machinery and equipment, encourages innovation, increases productivity and attracts foreign direct investment (FDI). This track will explore examples of successful trade and investment relationships between international cities and regions.
 Cashing in on Creative Capital
Culture, sports, film, music, and other creative industries are major contributors to communities around the world. From major movie productions to backend business and professional services, supporting creative industries can drive a new workforce, generate new revenue streams, and transform local economies. This track will explore how economic development organizations can support the advancement of creative industries to further the workforce, business development, and cultural economy of their communities.
 Nurturing the Startup Ecosystem
Supporting entrepreneurship and small business creation is an economic development trend that will never go out of style. The majority of new jobs and innovation are developed from startups and small businesses. This track will examine the ways economic development organizations can embrace the startup ecosystem strategy within their communities through the bolstering of support for local startups and industry expansion.
 Regional Collaboration for Investment Promotion
The benefits of inward investment are well-known; whether from foreign sources or the next town over, investment brings new capital and jobs to a region and the spillover benefits of new knowledge and talent can give the local economy an innovation boost. This track will look at how you can strengthen your community's assets in order to offer a total and irresistible package for prospective companies.
 The Nuts and Bolts of Economic Development
From BRE to financing, some of the fundamental tasks of economic developers remain constant throughout the years and are the building blocks on which new trends and initiatives are built. This track is intended to help us revisit some of the nuts and bolts of economic development, take stock of current best practices, and anticipate future trends. This track will cover topics such as real estate development and reuse, marketing and attraction, neighborhood development strategies, and workforce development strategies.
See full topic descriptions on the conference site.
Submit your application for ED Talks by next Friday.
Here's your chance to speak in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! IEDC is debuting a new session format for the 2017 Annual Conference in Toronto: ED Talks. The most compelling speaker nominations will demonstrate that the speaker will bring a fresh and unique perspective to the conference in terms of topics such as but not limited to local or global issues, culturally significant breakthroughs and advancements, and finding a deeper meaning in professional or personal endeavors. The application deadline is April 14. See details and requirements.
 Justify Your Annual Conference Expenses
Need help explaining why you need to attend IEDC's 2017 Annual Conference? Look no further, we've created a justification letter and benefits page.
Don't wait till the last minute. Spaces will go fast. Book your room now to stay at the Annual Conference headquarters hotel:
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2M9
IEDC Room Rate: $249 CAD single/double
Group Rate Cutoff: Friday, August 25, 2017
Book your room now.
Other important dates:
Conference Dates: September 17-20, 2017
Early Bird Registration Rate Cutoff: June 30, 2017
Sponsor Annual Conference
IEDC offers a range of sponsorship packages and exhibit opportunities to fit any marketing budget. Your sponsorship allows us to provide world-class speakers, a dynamic and enlightening program, and a valuable networking forum for economic professionals. Whether you are looking to market your services as an exhibitor or gain unparalleled exposure as an event sponsor, we have the perfect opportunity for you. See sponsorship packages and more information.
Contact IEDC's Director of Sponsorship, Shari Nourick, for information: snourick@iedconline.org or 202.545.7339.
Pre-Conference Training Course:
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This highly interactive course lets participants work in small teams to help understand the complexity of strategic planning and its challenges. Economic developers must build consensus among board members, stakeholders and the community as a whole, creating a unified vision for the future. Learn techniques to build consensus among stakeholders who represent different values and interests. Also, participants will learn the quantitative techniques used to better understand their community including: location quotients, shift share, input-output and cluster analyses.
Course Highlights:
- Stakeholder analysis, structuring participation, planning fundamentals
- Consensus building, group facilitation and conflict
- Defining geography, competitive advantage and SWOT
- Determining vision, mission, goals and objectives
See them all
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Instructors:
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Eric McSweeney, CEcD, EcD(F), CCIM, ALC
President
McSweeney & Associates
See bio |
Jon Roberts
Principal
TIP Strategies, Inc.
See bio |
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Anne Roise, CEcD MCP
Instructor, Urban Studies & Planning
Savannah State University
See bio |
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Accommodations/Training Location:
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2M9
IEDC Room Rate: $249 single/double
Group Rate Cutoff: Friday, August 25, 2017
Join IEDC in Canada for 2017 Annual Conference. You won't want to miss out on global discussions and regional talks. Arrive early for our strategic planning course. Register now to save with the early bird rate.
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