International Economic Development Council

IEDC applauds the bipartisan effort to include EDA reauthorization in the Senate-passed NDAA FY25. As Nathan Ohle, our President and CEO, says: "IEDC commends this bipartisan effort taken to ensure EDA reauthorization remains on the table for consideration in the 118th Congress. Moreover, IEDC welcomes an opportunity to serve as a resource to the NDAA conference and full Senate and House as a final vote on NDAA FY25 commences." Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gZqA7ERX #EconomicDevelopment #NDAA #Bipartisanship #EDA #IEDC

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our insightful webinar, "Real Applications of Artificial Intelligence: Driving Denver's Economic Success"! We explored how Denver's economic developers are leveraging data to enhance our community: - Optimizing events - Strategizing workforce development - Measuring impacts of capital improvements Special thanks to our speakers: Ian Ross (Placer.ai) Analise Lajeunesse (Downtown Denver, Inc.) William McBride (City & County of Denver) A big thank you to our sponsor Placer.ai for making this event possible! Your support helps drive innovation in economic development. Missed it? Don't worry! You can watch the recording here: https://lnkd.in/gN5eu5wY Stay tuned for future events where we'll continue to explore how data and AI are shaping our cities. Sign up for our newsletters here: https://lnkd.in/gtwZdBXg #IEDC #IEDCWebinars #Denver #AI #EconomicDevelopment

As we reflect on our 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, we're filled with renewed purpose and inspiration. Over four transformative days, we've celebrated economic development superheroes and Hispanic Heritage Month, honored our Excellence in Economic Development Award winners, and explored cutting-edge forward-thinking strategies that will shape our communities for years to come. From AI adoption to climate resilience, from empowering diverse entrepreneurs to addressing the housing crisis, each session sparked meaningful dialogues. Jared Smith, MBA, CEcD, emphasized, "If you're not using AI as your copilot, then you're behind," highlighting the urgency of embracing new technologies in our field. Our discussions on cultural competency, workforce strategies, and overcoming small-town divisiveness highlighted the power of collaboration and adaptability. The Women in Economic Development session, expertly moderated by Julie Curtin, created an intimate space for sharing experiences. Tracye McDaniel's reminder that "everything is negotiable" encouraged women to advocate for their worth, while Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD shared her motivational practice of keeping thank-you notes to remind her of her impact. We explored trailblazing solutions to workforce inclusion, with Next50 showcasing resources for equipping older adults with vital skills. And the climate resilience session, featuring James Kohnstamm, CEcD and Doug Adams, underscored the importance of patience and persistence in this crucial work. As Sherrie C., one of our Economic Recovery Corps fellows, noted, this conference was more than just an event—it was a catalyst for change, growth, and collaboration. The relationships forged and lessons learned will continue to shape our work in the months and years to come. As we return to our communities, we carry not just new knowledge, but a renewed commitment to driving positive change as we're equipped to make a real difference. Thank you to our generous sponsors and to everyone else who made #IEDCDenver possible! Read more about the conference and access our photo album here: https://lnkd.in/gBrtTHna #IEDC #Denver #MeetInDenver #EconDev #EconomicDevelopment #ERC #EconomicRecoveryCore #ExcellenceAwards SeonAh K. Nathan Ohle Southwest Airlines

?? Day 2 of our Annual Conference: Rural Prosperity, Diversity, and Women in #EconDev! ??? ? ?? Rural Prosperity took center stage, sparking excitement about sustainable growth in small communities. The domino effect of rural investment is huge! We were honored to have Mayor Mike Johnston and Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small join us to give us insight into their stories and the magic of Denver. ? ?? Our session about overcoming small town divisiveness tackled community integration strategies, emphasizing developer engagement and National Welcoming Week activities. ?? Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, our "Unlocking Superhero Strategies in Hispanic Communities" session highlighted cultural competency, trust-building, and patience in community outreach. Key takeaway: Bilingual staff and elected official support are crucial for long-term success! ?? The Women in Economic Development Luncheon was electric! Panelists shared insights on overcoming gender bias, salary negotiation, and work-life balance. Mary Ellen Wiederwohl's observation on the growing representation of women in the field was a highlight! ?? The "Denver After Dark" tour wowed attendees with sunset cocktails, food truck dining amid street art, and specialty drinks at a historic speakeasy. ?? When talking about competitive advantage in small towns (generously sponsored by Amazon), Gregg Robinson advocated for ROI-based, ratio-driven incentive packages, urging local economic developers to consider the long-term community impact when offering cash incentives. John R. Bristol, MPA, CEcD complemented this by emphasizing the power of non-cash, community-specific incentives, encouraging personalized offers with creative, unique-to-the-community perks. Another day of transformative ideas, collaboration, and local flavors at #IEDCDenver! What insights are you taking back to your community? #EconomicDevelopment #RuralProsperity #WomenInEconDev #HispanicHeritageMonth?#IEDC

Day 1 of?our 2024?Annual Conference?has set the bar high! The conference kicked off with an electrifying opening plenary, which included?hearing from ?? Akeem Shannon on how he continued to rewrite his story until he reached?success. Our dynamic duo of MCs, Julie Curtin and SeonAh K., CPA, have captivated the audience with their expertise and skillful guidance, which has truly elevated the conference experience. But we're just getting started! Today, we've been diving deeper into cutting-edge topics like AI and innovative workforce strategies. The momentum is building, and we can't wait to see what breakthroughs emerge. Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor, Southwest Airlines, for enabling us to create such a captivating experience. #IEDCDenver #IEDC #Denver Nathan Ohle Kim Woodworth Raymond H. Gonzales Adam Palmer Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEcD Chris Fair

?? One day to go! Tomorrow, we kick off our 2024 Annual Conference in Denver. Economic developers from across the globe will converge to tackle pressing challenges, share innovative solutions, and shape the future of our communities. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, prepare for intense learning, networking, and collaboration. Let's harness our collective expertise to drive meaningful and valuable change. See you in Denver! #IEDCDenver #EconomicDevelopment #Denver #Conference #IEDC

We’re #hiring ?? The International Economic Development Council is looking for an experienced Conferences Director to lead our event strategy and execution. Details below! #IEDC #IEDCJobs #EconomicDevelopment #Conference #EventPlanning #Job #Career

Srijita Ghosh, an inspiring ecosystem builder, will present on "Best Practices, Programs, and Emerging Trends in Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Building" at our 2024 Annual Conference this upcoming week. Her journey, influenced by thought leaders like Philip Gaskin, offers valuable insights into community-driven economic growth. Srijita's perspective on ecosystem building, from soul food analogies to the importance of grassroots efforts, promises to be both enlightening and inspiring. We can't wait for you to hear Srijita, along with other ecosystem builders like Rob Williams, EDP, Tiffany Henry, John Bozek, CEcD, and all of the other incredible speakers, as we shape the future of economic development. See you soon in the beautiful Colorado mountains! ??? Add to your agenda here: https://lnkd.in/g2Gk6uhF #IEDCDenver #EconomicDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #EcosystemBuilding

Meet Janie VanWinkle, one of our 65 #EconomicRecoveryCorps #Fellows! VanWinkle is supporting the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center (BIC) in Colorado as an #ERCfellow over 2.5 years. With agriculture accounting for 40% of the region's economy, BIC's AgriWest initiative aims to future-proof the industry by diversifying the agricultural sector, creating jobs, and strengthening the local economy. As a rancher herself, VanWinkle has played a crucial role in uniting diverse agriculture industry stakeholders across western Colorado to advance regional economic development solutions for a resilient agricultural future. Learn more about her impactful work in greater Grand Junction, CO: https://lnkd.in/ghfZH9MQ Find an ERC project near you: https://lnkd.in/g5geNX3K ERC is proudly supported by the #EDA. #ERC #EconomicDevelopment #Agriculture

"Be willing to fail." - Nathan Ohle, our President and CEO. Tune in to hear Nathan's insights on driving economic change through small business innovation. #IEDC #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #EconomicDevelopment #Podcast