Montana Economic Developers Association Conference

Montana Economic Development Conference

The Newberry in downtown Great Falls

November 14-16;

see Montana Economic Developers Association.

Register here

Tentative Event Agenda:

Monday, November 14

12:00–7:00 PM: Registration & Resource Tables Open | The Newberry

1:00–3:30 PM: Economic Development Ethics Workshop | The Newberry

3:45–5:15 PM: MEDA Board Meeting | Haute Hive

3:45–5:15 PM: MEDA Task Force Working Meetings | The Newberry | Haute Hive | Rendezvous

5:30–7:00 PM: Opening Reception | The Newberry

7:00–9:00 PM: Topic Discussion Dinners | Restaurants TBA

Optional registration required; pay for your own dinner.

     Topics: Broadband, Brownfield, Downtown Revitalization, Infrastructure, Revolving Loan Funds, Workforce Development.

Tuesday, November 15

8:00 AM–5:30 PM: Registration & Resource Tables Open | The Newberry

8:00 AM–9:15 AM: Opening Plenary | The Newberry

     MEDA Welcome

     The Future of Economic Development: Peerspectives from Outside Montana

9:15–10:15 AM: Housing Panel | The Newberry

Economic Development Strategies to Keep Montana Affordable

10:15–10:45 AM: Networking Break | The Newberry

10:45–11:45 AM: Agriculture Value Add Panel | The Newberry

Pursuing Opportunities to Grow Food, Ag and Bio Processing Across Montana

11:45 AM–12:00 PM: Networking Break | The Newberry

12:00–1:45 PM: Keynote Luncheon | The Newberry

     Building Team Montana

     Collaboration with Industry Trade Associations

1:45–2:00 PM: Networking Break | The Newberry

2:00–3:00 PM: Business Attraction Panel | The Newberry

     Taking Team Montana to the Next Level

3:00–4:00 PM: Tourism & Economic Development Panel | The Newberry

     Partnerships that Drive Maximum Impact

4:00-4:30 PM: Networking Break | The Newberry

4:30–5:30 PM: Talent Attraction Panel | The Newberry

     Strategies that Work for Every Size Community

6:30–9:00 PM: Montana Economic Development Awards Reception & Dinner | The Newberry

     Silent Auction to Support MEDA Scholarship Fund

Wednesday, November 16

7:00–8:00 AM: Achieving Excellence in Economic Development Breakfast (Optional Registration)

     Professional Certifications – EDFP, CEcD, and EDP | Rendezvous

     Organization Accreditation — AEDO | Rendevous

8:30–9:30 PM: Tribal Economic Development Panel | The Newberry

     Innovative efforts across Montana’s tribes

9:30–10:30 AM: Closing Plenary | The Newberry

     MEDA’s Economic Development Vision

     State/Federal Leaders’ Economic Development Visions

11:00AM–12:30 PM: Economic Development Master Classes (Optional Free Registration Required)

New Financing Collaborations | Haute Hive

          SSBCI, CPACE and other opportunities for banks, credit unions, CDFI’s and EDO’s to collaborate

     Supporting Entrepreneurs & Local Businesses | Rendezvous

          Entrepreneurial eco-systems, accelerators, cohorts, and other proven tactics for increasing entrepreneurial activity and success

The Building a Winning Montana Team conference will feature exciting panels discussing key Montana economic development issues such as housing, business attraction, talent attraction, tourism and economic development, tribal economic development, and value added agriculture. Keynotes will bring perspectives from other states and provinces, and from leading Montana industry associations and state leaders. Workshops include economic development ethics, new financing collaborations, and supporting local entrepreneurs and existing businesses. Download preliminary agenda. Sponsor a session! Contact Rebecca Myers at medaexec@gmail.com or me at BDoney@GrowGreatFalls.org.