INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL'S FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FORUM: The Innovative and Entrepreneurial Environment: Where It's Going and How to Get There
April 13-15, 2008
Westin Alexandria Hotel - Alexandria, VA

SESSION SNAPSHOT
Keynote Luncheon: Congressional Insight into the Entrepreneurial Environment
Monday, April 14 – 11:45 am - 2:15 pm
Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski will highlight upcoming legislative efforts relevant to the competitiveness of our cities and regions and how it will foster a more innovative and entrepreneurial climate for economic developers. As a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, Congressman Kanjorski has been a leader in economic development issues, including improving the ability of small businesses and start-up technology companies to gain access to capital. Congressman Kanjorski helped to spearhead the successful effort to pass the New Markets Initiative, a package of legislation designed to create incentives to invest in economically distressed areas of the country.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS & CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
The Federal Economic Development Forum profiles an impressive lineup of conference sessions and speakers. The following is a sampling:

Special Preconference Workshop: Creating an Innovation Index for Your Region: A How-To Guide
-Erik R. Pages, EntreWorks Consulting
-Graham Toft, President, Growth Economics

Keynote Session: Current Issues in Innovation and Global Competitiveness
-Deborah Wince-Smith, Council on Competitiveness
-Rob Atkinson, Ph.D., Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
-Andrew Ehrlich, B&D Consulting
-Diane Palmintera, Innovation Associates
-Dr. Luis M. Proenza, President, The University of Akron, Member of the President's Council of Advisors of Science and Technology Policy

Keynote Session: Washington Briefing
-Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Keynote Session: The Long-Term Fiscal Outlook and a New Administration
-Chuck Conlon, Managing Editor, CQ Budget Tracker (moderator)
-Robert Bixby, Director, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
-Isabel V. Sawhill, Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution

IMPORTANT REMINDER: BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM
Cutoff date for group room rate is next Thursday, March 20. Call Today: Westin Alexandria at 703-253-8600 to secure the $199 rate. After 3/20/08, reservations are subject to availability and prevailing rates.

POST CONFERENCE EDUCATION COURSE
Technology-Led Economic Development
April 16-17, 2008

Related Link: Federal Economic Development Forum Website

For more information contact:

Jill Frick
International Economic Development Council
734 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington
DC 20005
USA

Phone: 202-223-7800
Fax: (202) 223-4745
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.iedconline.org/