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

Register before this Friday, July 23 and save with our early registration rates! Rates increase $100 after Friday.
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 will be discussing the power of brand, social media, and how to get your community noticed in a global economy.

In the age of social media, economic developers are finding themselves rethinking and retooling their marketing strategies to attract and retain businesses and workforces within their community. Today's global economy is driving communities to compete even harder to get noticed by site consultants, corporate real estate executives, talented workers and other targeted markets. Thanks to the Internet, and social media, we now have the ability to reach thousands of people in just seconds – how can your community take center stage? At this year's conference, learn how to build your toolkit and understand how to target markets.

SESSIONS ON BUILDING YOUR TOOLKIT INCLUDE:

What Would Google Do? Rethinking Economic Development in the Internet Age
Tuesday, September 28
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
In 2009 well known journalist turned entrepreneur Jeff Jarvis produced "What Would Google Do?" a book that caught the attention of business world. In the book, Jarvis argues that the world is now "upside-down, inside-out, counterintuitive and confusing to nearly every company, executive or institution with one exception: Google. This session will look at the new rules of the Internet Age and proposes answers to the question "What Would Google Do to Rethink the Economic Development Industry."

Branding Your Community: The Power of Reputation
Tuesday, September 28
2:15 - 3:45 pm
Attracting investment into a community means more than simply wooing business and industry to expand and relocate there. In most cases a community's reputation or the perceptions of the community by outsiders' acts as a major gatekeeper for the success of economic development efforts. As more and more cities look to economic development for their fiscal health, it is imperative that economic developers have a say on the impression the community as a whole has on their prospects. This session will explore the importance of reputation to a community's bottom line, discussing ways to leverage community strengths and assets into a positive image, brand and competitive identity.

Social Media: Linkage to Multiple Markets
Wednesday, September 29
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
In the globalized economy, communities need to reach multiple markets in and outside of their region. As marketing budgets are tight, many communities are turning to social media as an inexpensive tool to complement their marketing plans. With multiple changes in technology and tools, attendees will learn the new social media applications to reach different markets.

SESSIONS ON UNDERSTANDING TARGET MARKETS:

Growing Your Region's College-Educated Workforce
Tuesday, September 28
2:15 - 3:45 pm
There are many paths to a more robust and competitive workforce. Why not go right to the source-local colleges and universities. Rather than watch your local students leave once they receive their degree, plug up your community's brain drain by creating a location-based higher education / civic collaboration strategy. The collaboration with the local higher education institutes can be an effective partnership to increase the number of college students who choose to remain in the region after earning a degree creating a brain gain for your community. This session will examine how to leverage a campus-community collaboration strategy for a talent attraction and retention brain gain.

Site Consultants Forum
Wednesday, September 29
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
The unique format used in the session is immensely popular and gives the attendees the opportunity to learn the ins and out of site selection, latest trends to ensure their communities are doing what they need to attract the site consultants and the opportunity to have their questions answered. Your community cannot afford for you to miss gaining this valuable information.

SAMPLING OF OUR MARKETING, BRANDING & SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERTS:

• Tracy Hyatt Bosman, CEcD, Director, Strategic Consulting Group, Co-Leader, Clean Energy Practice Group, Grubb & Ellis Company
• Edward Burghard, Retired Harley Procter Marketer, Procter & Gamble, Executive Director, Ohio Business Development Coalition, Columbus, OH
• Todd Hoffman, President, Collegia, Wellesley, MA
• Paul M. Saldana, CEcD, President & CEO, Tulare County Economic Development Corporation, Tulare, CA
• Jennifer Wakefield, APR, Director, Public Relations, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Orlando, FL