October 4-7 l Reno, NV

Register today: http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/Registration.html

With the economy in a state of depression, major employers are downsizing, factories are closing, unemployment is on the rise and retailers are struggling to survive. How are communities equipping themselves to navigate the minefields ahead? What ammunition does your community need to win the battle and create a path towards recovery? Serious times call for a serious conference and IEDC's 2009 Annual Conference is the single most important conference to attend during this global economic crisis. It will be an unprecedented experience with highly relevant sessions and top speakers tackling the tough issues economic developers are facing now.

TRACK HIGHLIGHT: RESILIENCY

In a global economy, change is unrelenting, creating challenges and opening up new opportunities. Having a well-skilled, adaptable workforce, being prepared for and able to bounce back from community altering events, building international and regional networks to strengthen resources, and adapting marketing and branding to new exigencies are now integral components of resilient economies. This track will highlight best practices in responding to globalization, building, retaining and retooling workforce skills, regional approaches, marketing, disaster preparedness and other strategies that help communities adapt to change and manage a more volatile economy.

Featured sessions include:

HOW COMMUNITIES HAVE CREATED LOCAL STIMULUS INITIATIVES
Even before the Federal Government stepped in with its stimulus plan, local governments have implemented strategies, large and small, to stimulate their local economies. Examine what local strategies are available to stimulate the economy and what is working.

ARE THERE INTERNATIONAL DEALS IN THE CURRENT ECONOMY?
Can foreign direct investment help accelerate the economic recovery for communities? This session will discuss and answer the question.

WHEN THE FACTORY CLOSES: SURVIVAL STRATEGIES FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES
Learn how to look for signs an employer is facing difficulties, how to strategically plan should a major employer close their operations or lay off part of their labor force, and what to do if it happens.

USING METRICS TO STEER RESURGENCE
Learn how your EDO can create a metric system that it can use to report its progress, understand and steer the local economy, and use it as a recovery tool.

USING WEB 2.0 FOR HIGH-IMPACT, LOW-COST MARKETING
Learn how EDOs can embrace social media as an important tool to support local companies as well as to attract companies and/or talented workers to their communities.

RESTRUCTURING, RE-THINKING AND RECREATING MARKETING MODELS FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Examine the opportunities arising from the economic crisis and what communities' strategies communities can use to access these prospects.

HOW PARTNERSHIPS CAN ENABLE A STRONGER, FASTER ECONOMIC TURNAROUND
Learn how communities have each found ways to capitalize on the assets and strengths of related organizations in and around their markets to retooled workforces, evolved core competencies, build alliances and leveraged limited resources to build growing economies.

Experience a come-back city: Learn from Reno, a city that has faced many challenges and risen from the ashes each time!

As a living laboratory, the Greater Reno-Tahoe region provides an amazing range of examples of how a community can combat numerous obstacles. The region has dealt with blighted areas, drops in tourism, and loss of industry. Through it all the region has diversified and survived. Learn and experience this come-back city first hand through sessions and tours.

View the conference program: http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/Program.html

Expert speakers: http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/Speakers.html

Register today: http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/Registration.html