Annual Conference
September 26-29, 2010
Columbus, OH
http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/index.html

Register by Friday, July 23 to save with our early registration rates:
http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/Registration.html

At the International Economic Development Council's 2010 Annual Conference, September 26-29, 2010 in Columbus, OH, we'll explore how economic developers are making innovation investments in order to be ready for and to obtain the new prosperity and competitive industries of tomorrow.

Economic developers are creating new jobs and competitiveness within their communities in this period of economic restructuring by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation infrastructure. Venture capital, angel investments and long-term strategic planning are just some of the tools that will enable you to move into the more knowledge-driven, global economy. Through a series of conference sessions, we will discuss how your innovation investments will help shape the future of economic development and your community.

SESSIONS OF INTEREST INCLUDE:

New Venture Financing: What Works
Sunday, September 26
4:00 - 5:30 pm
One of the biggest challenges new firms face is finding access to capital. Understanding what venture capitalists and angel investors are looking for in startups companies is key to assisting new businesses attract investments. This session offers the opportunity to hear from speakers in the venture financing industry about successful methods of funding entrepreneurial endeavors.

Fostering Innovation Capacity
Monday, September 27
10:00 - 11:30 am
Regional innovation and entrepreneurship are driven by the strength and integration of many elements, including the corporate base, workforce, physical infrastructure, leadership, networks, financial resources, and the entrepreneurial environment. Functioning together, these elements drive the development of knowledge-based economies. This session will examine how to create a strategic plan that drives and nurtures innovation and entrepreneurship, and includes a look into Ohio's highly successful Third Frontier program.
Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture early-stage companies, and foster technology development that makes existing industries more productive, Ohio Third Frontier creates opportunity through innovation.

Leveraging the Job Creation Power of High-Growth Firms
Monday, September 27
2:00 – 3:30 pm
High-growth firms are responsible for an overwhelming majority of job growth within regional and national economies, even during recession. However, firms with exception growth are rare, regardless of general economic conditions and those that strive to sustain growth face an array of operational challenges. This session will discuss the challenges high-growth firms face in sustaining growth, ways local and regional initiatives can support these firms and help other business towards the path of exceptional sustained growth.

Cultivating Your Region's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Tuesday, September 28
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Encouraging growth in entrepreneurship is an important element in many regional economic development plans. It is most successful, however, when all the elements of the entrepreneurial ecosystems are in place to support entrepreneurs' development of skills and nurtures their ventures and sources of ideas. This panel will discuss best practices in development entrepreneurial economies by leveraging public programs and private partners and the considerations that should be weighed in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem. IEDC's Economic Development Research Partners will also be releasing their guidebook entitled "Unlocking Entrepreneurship: A Toolkit for Economic Developers," a handbook for cultivating your community's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

SUGGESTED TOUR HIGHLIGHT:

Technology and Higher Education ($)
Monday, September 27
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Price: $45
In March of 2008, Forbes named Columbus the #1 Up and Coming Tech City. In this mobile workshop, you'll visit a few of the reasons why Columbus received this designation and explore the critical role of technology and education in encouraging economic development.

Tour stops include:
• The Ohio Supercomputer Center
• TechColumbus
• Dublin Entrepreneurial Center

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