Sponsors

 

CO-SPONSOR


CareerSource Florida provides oversight and policy direction for workforce development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. To accomplish our mission and vision, we work closely with industry, education and community development leaders as well as local, regional and state economic development partners, among others, to build and sustain a globally competitive workforce. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.


Hillsborough County Economic Development works to improve Hillsborough County’s business climate and make the county more attractive for job and wealth creation. The department focuses on a wide array of economic drivers, including offering employers a well-trained workforce, attracting high-wage jobs, and diversifying the county’s economic base while helping traditional industries like convention, tourism and sports. Our services include business development, business relocation and expansion support, business resources and training, competitive site information, economic development reports, entrepreneurial services, historic preservation challenge grant, minority or women owned business support, targeted redevelopment programs, and a tourist development.


The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high-wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace.

 

CHAIRMAN'S CLUB


Accrisoft Corporation provides a finely tuned blend of technology and services that empower your economic development organization to accomplish your goals and better serve investors. Accrisoft Freedom™ is a comprehensive software solution that spans across your organization's operations, finance, marketing, and sales departments, allowing your entire team to work together harmoniously on a single platform.


Buxton is the industry leader in consumer analytics. More than 5,000 clients in the retail, restaurant, healthcare, private equity and public sectors have relied on our insights to guide their growth strategies. Our city government division works with local leaders to conduct in-depth market research of the trade area, identifying the retailers and restaurants that are most likely to thrive there based on the metrics retailers consider in their site selection process. Buxton’s site score reports are known and trusted throughout the retail industry, giving communities a competitive advantage in the retail recruitment process. Communities also turn to Buxton for insights to guide initiatives focused on tourism, business retention, city services, downtown revitalization, and much more. Our analytics solutions are deployed via the Buxton Analytics Platform, our proprietary web-based market intelligence tool, giving you on-demand access to data and the ability to track economic development activity. For more information, visit www.buxtonco.com.


Chmura Economics & Analytics is an applied economic consulting firm specializing in delivering advanced economic analysis. Our core competencies include economic consulting, economic development, workforce development, economic impact studies, custom publications, and data and software solutions. Chmura has the experience and expertise to transform data into information that drives effective strategy and business solutions. Our premier technology platforms - JobsEQ®, and LaborEQ® - are in widespread use across the United States. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Chmura was founded in 1999 and operates regional offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Spokane, Washington.


DCI is celebrating its 60th year as "The Leader in Marketing Places." Since 1960, we have worked with more than 500 cities, regions, states, provinces and countries, helping them to attract investors, visitors, and talent. We specialize exclusively in all phases of economic development and tourism marketing including websites, branding, public relations, social/digital media, talent attraction, research, prospect development, travel trade, and special events. Current clients include a range of states (Texas, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, South Dakota, and New Jersey), cities/regions (Charleston, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Columbus, Houston, Research Triangle Region, and Birmingham) and countries (Netherlands, Thailand, Costa Rica and Japan), to name a few. With a team of more than 60 place marketers, DCI is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Denver, Los Angeles and Toronto.


Research Consultants International is the global leader in lead generation and qualification services for economic development organizations. Through our global partnerships we cover the globe with our network of 75 economic development consultants in over 20 countries. Our consultants speak over 15 languages and can work with your region to attract inward investments within the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Founded in 2010 our company has contacts in over 43 countries around the world and can connect you with the decision makers that are making the investment decisions for their companies. FDI365 a proprietary tool launched in 2017 and developed to answer the needs of our clients that were searching for a targeted lead generation software. FDI365 combines the newest technologies along with human curated business intelligence to provide customized profiles of companies that match your region’s criteria and that we believe to be poised for an expansion project.


ROI Research on Investment is an award-winning global authority on lead generation and investment attraction for economic development organizations. Since 2003, ROI has worked with over 400 clients worldwide to attract job-creating, capital intensive, expansion projects. ROI's core areas of expertise include benchmarking/target industry analysis, lead generation, BR&E strategies, representation services, and customized training covering best practices in modern BR&E and investment attraction.

In September 2017, ROI launched Gazelle.ai; the first business intelligence platform that deploys artificial intelligence to prognosticate corporate expansion. Gazelle.ai’s custom-built machine-learning algorithms, coupled with human curated intelligence, provide insights to firm-level expansion around the world. This unique platform includes profiles for over 9 millions corporate establishments, features over 900 industry profiles and 20,000 proprietary industry heat maps. In 2019, Gazelle.ai was nominated as Canadian AI company of the year, was a finalist for the Ernst & Young International Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was a finalist at the Collision Conference PITCH Competition. The solution is now used by over 750 subscribers in over 20 countries making it the fastest growing AI powered business intelligence platform.


Strada Education Network is a national social impact organization dedicated to connecting today’s learners to the jobs of tomorrow. Our mission is to improve lives by forging clearer and more purposeful pathways between education and employment. We do this in three ways: Through research that yields fresh insights into how postsecondary education can best adapt to meet the demands of consumers and address evolving workforce needs. Through philanthropy that seeds promising, scalable, evidence-based strategies to give people, especially those from low-income backgrounds, the knowledge and experiences they need to have fulfilling careers. Through a network of seven affiliate organizations developing on-the-ground solutions to the needs of students and colleges, from providing better information on career options to serving adult learners more effectively. Learn more at StradaEducation.org.

 

PLATINUM


Formed in 1987, the Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is the lead economic development organization dedicated to the overall growth and prosperity of Pasco County through the development of a sustainable and diversified economy. Pasco EDC is a private, non-profit organization that promotes countywide economic development and continues to be a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Pasco EDC is committed to positive growth to make Pasco County a great place to live and work. You won't find a more supportive county in which to do business.


Resource Development Group (RDG) was established in 1995 to provide experienced fundraising counsel to economic and community development organizations. RDG has worked with a wide variety of clients including Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Corporations, Community Improvement Corporations, and Regional Partnerships in communities of all sizes. Our specific expertise includes managing multi-faceted fundraising initiatives in complex regions comprised of multiple political jurisdictions. We build organizations that build communities!

We have managed more than 200 economic/community development funding projects generating close to $2 billion in operating revenue for our clients. In addition to revenue generation solutions, we also consult in areas designed to improve your organization’s ability to provide crucial solutions for your communities – organizational design, best practice work, performance benchmarking, and board restructuring to name a few. Our products range from “turn-key” capital campaigns to specific consulting solutions, all designed with your unique challenges and opportunities in mind.

 

GOLD


The BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies, with a rail network of 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. It is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply and power American homes and businesses every day. Its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve. BNSF’s Economic Development team works closely with companies, communities and consultants to establish transportation and distribution solutions that are customized to their enterprise. With our knowledge and expertise, we can help bring businesses and jobs to locations where our network operates by expediting rail development and increasing businesses’ speed to market. For more information, visit bnsf.com/rail-development.


The Central Florida Development Council is Polk County’s economic development partnership responsible for recruiting new businesses to Polk County and helping existing businesses expand. Its mission is to grow an economy based on high-skill, high-wage sustainable businesses while focusing on domestic and international business recruitment and expansion, business advocacy and facilitating collaborative partnerships in Central Florida’s Polk County. With its strategic central location, Polk delivers regional access, connectivity, competitive costs and workforce talent businesses need to thrive. Putting Florida Within Reach. For more information visit www.cfdc.org.


Conway is the world's only full-service agency in the global corporate investment and FDI industries. Conway has published the award-winning Site Selection magazine since 1954, and through offices all over the world we maintain an industry-best network of corporate expansion planners. Our suite of services includes:

SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE celebrating 66 years of publishing has consistently been an award winning, highest-rated and most respected publication covering foreign direct investment (FDI), airport cities and global corporate real estate. Site Selection – is published every other month and mailed directly to over 48,000 c-suite level corporate executives. Providing exclusive insight into strategies, real estate markets, relocation costs and available incentive programs.

LEAD GENERATION – connecting clients with decision-makers responsible for hundreds of billions in new investment projects each year
EVENTS – Conway has managed events across the globe, including the annual World Forum for Foreign Direct Management
FDI TRAINING SEMINARS – Site Consultants and corporate leaders teach economic developers the best strategies for connecting with their target audience
CONWAY ANALYTICS – a web portal and monthly reports featuring global project announcements and exclusive Lead Signals
PR & MARKETING – from brand development to media placement, we deliver your message to the world
CUSTOM CONTENT – Creating editorial excellence for more than 200 global clients
IAMC – Conway has managed the Industrial Asset Management Council since its inception.


Emsi is a one-stop shop for labor market data, helping economic development organizations fuel community success with data-driven decisions. With detailed data and expert analysts, Emsi is a must-have for economic developers. We are trusted by 300+ organizations in the U.S., powering 60% of state EDOs and ranked as the #1 information resource by C2ER. Our data, software, and consulting services help economic development professionals understand and communicate their communities’ workforce strengths, quickly respond to business inquiries, benchmark their regions against their peers, and boost their business retention and expansion efforts.


Established from St. Petersburg’s community and economic development strategy, Grow Smarter in 2016, the Greater St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation spearheads the effort to assist companies to create high-wage jobs in the targeted industry sectors of Financial Services, Data Analytics, Marine & Life Sciences, Specialized Manufacturing, and Creative Arts & Design. The EDC works to generate leads out-of-market and increase the visibility of St. Petersburg as a premier business and career destination. Structured as a public-private partnership, the EDC exists because of the generous support of the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and more than 50 corporations.


ICSC serves the global retail real estate industry and consists of a diverse group of businesses that includes the developers and operators of retail properties, as well as the tenants who occupy them, ranging from retailers to professional services to restaurants. Our mission is to ensure the retail real estate industry is broadly recognized for the integral role it plays in the social, civic and economic vibrancy of communities across the globe. Founded in 1957, today we are a 70,000-member network joined together in one vibrant global community.


Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to Central Florida's Gulf Coast. Through investment tools, professional courses and business counseling sessions, trade missions to open new markets, as well as local, regional and statewide partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business climate in Pinellas County, Florida.


The race is on...for jobs, talent and capital investment. Is your organization ready? We can help. Founded in 2010, POWER 10 is a national capital campaign management firm specializing in campaigns to fund economic and community development programs at the city, county, region, and state levels. Our staff has managed more than 100 campaigns coast to coast and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. We are equally adept at managing first-time campaigns and “renewal” campaigns to fund second and subsequent programs. Founder and CEO Sean Mikula leads the firm together with Executive Vice President Amity Farrar, Vice President of Operations Laura Lilly, and a team of professional Development Directors and Planners. We play the role of “quarterback” in the capital campaigns we manage, provide on-site management of day-to-day campaign operations, and “make the Ask.” What distinguishes POWER 10 in the marketplace? It is the talent and tenacity of our team, the consistent quality of our services, and the fresh ideas we bring to each client. We do not rent out campaign directors, we do not “pop in” to our clients’ offices once per month and dispense counsel - we are “hands on,” all in and focused on WINNING.


St. Pete, Florida, the fifth largest city in the third largest state, is a city on the rise. Business, arts, adventure and waterfront views – St. Pete is the right city, right now.

St. Pete, FL - “A Secret Art Haven”
Garden & Gun

20 of the Top Places to Visit in the US in 2019
Trip Advisor – January 2019

Florida’s First Green City
Florida Green Building Coalition

St. Pete Ranks No. 1 in FL and 15 in U.S. for Parks System
ParkScore – July 2018

#1 – Best Cities for Women to Start a Business in 2018
Business.org – March 2018

We invite you to experience our sunshine. More info at stpete.org.

 

SILVER


Business Facilities is the leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. In print, online, and face-to-face, Business Facilities has created a dynamic community that connects corporate site selectors with economic development organizations from across North America and around the world. Business Facilities magazine is read by 40,000 C-level executives, corporate real estate executives and other site selection decision-makers. Published six times a year, each issue profiles state, regional and international locations. In addition, the full range of the site selection experience is covered, from "how-to" information on comparing the financial incentives offered by different communities around the world, to profiles of the latest relocations undertaken by major corporations. BusinessFacilities.com is the share of market leader among all site selection websites, providing up-to-the-minute site selection news and industry-specific features. Resources for site selectors include a 50-state Incentives Guide, the Online Site Seekers' Guide directory, Location Spotlights and more. Business Facilities LiveXchange is an invitation-only matchmaking event that connects corporate executives and site consultants that have active projects with economic development organizations from across North America. Representatives from Fortune 500 and mid-sized growth companies, plus leading site consultants meet with EDOs to discuss their relocation or expansion projects in prescheduled and confidential one-on-one meetings.


The Hunden Strategic Partners is a full service real estate development advisory practice. Our professionals provide a variety of services for all stages of destination development, including market and financial feasibility studies, economic impact analyses, and RFP processes and owner’s representation. Some of the firm’s primary areas of specialty include mixed-use and destination districts, hotels, convention and conference centers, sports complexes, arenas, and stadiums. Over eighty percent of our clients are public entities empowered to conduct real estate, economic development, and tourism activities.


The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Serving more than 50,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.8 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the top 25 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2018, the Florida Board of Governors designated USF as a Preeminent State Research University, placing USF in the most elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF). The mission of The Corridor is to grow high tech industry and innovation through partnerships that support research, marketing, workforce and entrepreneurship

 

BRONZE


The city of Clearwater is committed to supporting the economic growth and vitality of the community with comprehensive support services that foster a pro-business climate. Our team of dedicated professionals works with businesses, site selectors, developers, and property owners to attract, retain and expand high-wage, high-value employment opportunities. The Economic Development team negotiates and manages incentive programs, assists in site location, and supports its clients through site development and building construction permit processes.The city of Clearwater is a diverse and growing business destination. Downtown Clearwater and the US 19 corridor offer high density office, light industrial, residential and mixed-use development opportunities. New zoning and development standards in these areas ensure long term commitment to meet the growth needs of businesses and the community today and for years to come. Explore our recently enhanced web tools that now include demographic, workforce, education, zoning and property data. Visit myclearwater.com/BizGrowth.

 

EXHIBITOR


AACSB International is a global membership association for the business education industry. Our member network, known as the AACSB Business Education Alliance, is a network of business educators, business, nonprofit, and public-sector organizations dedicated to sharing knowledge and best practices that accelerate innovation in business education. The global business community relies on over 1,700 AACSB member organizations to develop the talent and skills of future leaders. The AACSB Business Education Alliance connects corporate professionals to business education to facilitate valuable partnerships and share industry insight. For more information, please visit aacsb.edu.


Coastal Cloud, a Salesforce.com Platinum Level Partner, is a disruptive IT consulting company that delivers innovative business solutions built upon leading edge cloud computing technologies. Our team of experienced business technology consultants are 100% Salesforce Certified and 100% On-Shore. We have enjoyed significant market success from our headquarters in Palm Coast, Florida and are embarking on our next US expansion with new solution centers serving the country from Louisville, Kentucky and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Our focus on nimble, innovative, citizen-focused technology solutions for state & local government organizations could help you accelerate your Economic Development success immediately. Please contact our team to learn more about our Economic Development Customer Relationship Management Quickstart Platform today. See us at .


Convergent Nonprofit Solutions is a national fundraising consulting firm that specializes in managing feasibility studies and capital campaigns for chambers, economic development organizations, community colleges, and other nonprofits. Capital campaigns can play a key role in community development efforts, including those related to both business and talent retention and attraction. Thanks to our extensive background in chamber, economic development, and workforce development fundraising throughout the country, we are able to provide your organization with valuable insights and customized solutions as to how a capital campaign can help you reach your goals.


Creative Vitality™ Suite is the industry standard data solution for measuring the for-profit and nonprofit arts, culture, and creative sectors. CVSuite makes it easy for organizations working within the creative economy space to access data, explore data, and most important, use creative economy data to demonstrate their impact, now, and in the future.

CVSuite™ is a cloud-based tool used by state and local arts agencies to analyze both for-profit and nonprofit creative labor market data at the state, MSA, county, and ZIP Code level. Users of the CVSuite™ can easily access the number of creative jobs and creative industry earnings, in a select geographic area. A deeper dive into the tool includes wages and salaries per creative occupation, location quotient, non-profit contributions, and comparisons by region and demographic breakdown. A downloadable report summarizing key data can be quickly downloaded from the tool. CVSuite contains multi-year data collected by national sources, so geographic comparisons, year-over-year analyses, and benchmarking are easily accomplished.


DatabaseUSA provides the most cost effective and comprehensive business and consumer databases, email service and analytical tools to service Economic Development professionals. We have over 40 years of experience in collecting, compiling, building and maintaining dynamic databases. DatabaseUSA is the country’s leading provider of Business & Consumer Databases for all your Economic Impact Solutions. Our over 15 Million U.S. Business database is Triple-Verified and includes over 50 Million Executive Emails. We have 6 Million Medical Professionals (with Specialties), 245 Million Consumers (270 Million Consumer emails) and 150 Million Homeowners. DatabaseUSA also offers Email and Database Append, Enhancement and Analysis with Postal Qualification, Address Hygiene and our Business Verification service. As always we offer a Money-Back Guarantee. DatabaseUSA -- our mission is to provide a total customized solution, as we not only provide better data – we PROVE its value.


Duff & Phelps is the global advisor that protects, restores and maximizes value for clients in the areas of valuation, corporate finance, investigations, disputes, cyber security, compliance and regulatory matters, and other governance-related issues. As experts in site selection and incentives advisory, Duff & Phelps has a proven track record of assisting companies with location strategies in the U.S. and around the globe. We offer the industry’s premier digital marketplace that streamlines the site selection process for corporate real estate teams and Economic Development Offices (EDOs). Powered by StageXchange, Site Selector is a one-stop service that provides growing companies with the digital tools to efficiently identify, analyze, select and negotiate new locations. For more information, visit www.duffandphelps.com.


GIS WebTech provides the most advanced technology solutions available for for economic development and site selection. The company’s technology helps economic development organizations attract, retain, and expand businesses within their communities and helps corporate site selectors identify and analyze ideal locations. GIS WebTech is the fastest-growing provider in the market, and serves economic development organizations of all sizes, from small, rural communities to large states. GIS WebTech’s solutions are built natively on the Esri ArcGIS platform, the world’s most powerful mapping software, and include the most accurate demographic and workforce data available. For more information, please see www.giswebtech.com.


Established in 1993, Impact DataSource is an Austin, Texas-based economic consulting firm. Impact DataSource provides high-quality economic research, specializing in economic and fiscal impact analyses. Our firm is highly focused on supporting economic development professionals and organizations through consulting services and software. Impact DataSource has conducted thousands of economic impact analyses of new businesses, retention and expansion projects, developments, and activities in all industry groups throughout the U.S. Impact DataSource developed and supports the only impact software built for economic developers, Impact DashBoard. Impact DashBoard is the result of our 25+ years of experience helping economic developers change their communities.


Neon Cloud Productions is a leader in the Economic Development Video Marketing Industry having produced over 600+ impactful videos in the past 6 years using our unrivaled Motion Graphics to uniquely tell our client’s stories. We specialize in brand building, using our digital expertise and innovative approach to bring your story to life visually with a video specifically designed to meet your needs, while also providing you with much needed Social Media content by creating short video clips and high-resolution photos. Creativity fuels our design style and cutting edge technology allows our team to produce the impossible. Ultimately, our passion and creativity drives us to deliver uniquely crafted products. We are a smart, fun firm whose clients become family, and we are eager to get to know you, your brand, and your audience in order to create dynamic videos you will be proud to showcase. Let us tell your story.


PDDG is a national marketing communications agency with over 40 years of experience working with municipalities of all sizes across the U.S., including long-standing client partnerships with economic development, tourism, workforce development, transportation, and related organizations. PDDG offers a wide range of services including branding, creative, graphic design, website design, marketing strategy, content creation, social media, and event planning.


ProTRACKPlus is a cloud-based software and mobile application designed exclusively to help economic development organizations and their staffs be more successful. This all new system automates Transparency, Relevance, Accountability, Credibility and converts Data to Knowledge (TRACK) to meet the increasing stakeholder-demand for better reporting. Using ProTRACKPlus all day every day maximizes automation to minimize your time and keeps your leadership better informed. ProTRACKPlus is “Six Apps in One” created to be the most intuitive and powerful tool available for making you and your organization more successful in the new era of economic development. This all new system automates:

• Robust CRM including Projects, Contacts & Companies
• Customer Service (BRE)
• Document Management
• Dynamic & Static Reporting
• Incentives Forecasting
• Confidential Document Management
• Fully Customizable Administration


A full-service firm, The Sports Facilities Advisory assists clients in the planning and funding of sports tourism complexes, local recreation centers, mix-use developments, and more. Since 2003, our firm has influenced the development of more than $10 billion in sports facility projects. The Sports Facilities Management assists clients in the opening process and provides a turn-key management solution. In 2016 alone, our managed facilities hosted more than 20 million visitors and produced millions in economic impact.

 

MEDIA SPONSOR


fDi Intelligence is a specialist service from the Financial Times established to provide industry-leading insight into globalization with a portfolio of world-class products, services, and business tools that allow organizations such as economic development organizations, companies, services providers and academic institutions to make informed decisions regarding FDI and associated activities. The partnership of fDi Intelligence and GIS Planning makes us the world’s leading online economic development service, with the most powerful and comprehensive portfolio of online products and services to help you to drive investment to your location.

 

Partnering in Economic Recovery and Resilience


In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 56,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.